Cyber Security Courses
Break into one of tech’s fastest-growing fields, or move up in it. Start with the fundamentals and progress to analyst, penetration-testing and senior security roles — with recognised certifications, studied online at your own pace.
Online Cyber Security Training
Choose Your Security Course
New to security? Start with the beginner pathway or Security+. Already in IT? Jump to the analyst, offensive or senior credentials that match where you’re heading.
Beginner pathway
Cybersecurity for Beginners
A guided route in if you’re new to security — recognised courses that take you from the basics to job-ready, with full exam preparation.
Entry · CompTIA
CompTIA Security+
The baseline security certification employers ask for by name — the usual first step into a cyber role.
Analyst · CompTIA
CompTIA CySA+
Threat detection, security analytics and incident response — the step up into SOC and analyst work.
Offensive · CompTIA
CompTIA PenTest+
Hands-on penetration testing and vulnerability assessment — the route towards ethical hacking roles.
Advanced · CompTIA
CompTIA SecurityX
Advanced, hands-on security at the practitioner/architect level — CompTIA’s most senior security certification.
Senior · ISC2
ISC2 CCSP (Cloud Security)
Securing cloud environments at a senior level — ISC2’s respected cloud security credential for experienced professionals.
Why cyber security — and why now
Cyber security has a problem that’s good news for you: there aren’t enough people to do the work. Organisations of every size are hiring for it, the salaries reflect the shortage, and the skills apply in any industry — banks, hospitals, retailers and governments all need defending. A recognised certification is the quickest way to show you can do the job, especially when you’re breaking in without a security job title yet.
Where to start
If you’re completely new, the Cybersecurity for Beginners pathway eases you in. If you already have some IT grounding, go straight to CompTIA Security+ — it’s the certification the most entry-level security adverts ask for. We’d steer most beginners towards one of those two before anything more specialised.
The cyber security ladder
Security rewards stacking certifications as you specialise, and the path usually runs like this:
- Get in — Security+, the recognised entry point
- Analyse — CySA+ for SOC and security-analyst roles
- Attack — PenTest+ for ethical hacking and penetration testing
- Lead and specialise — ISC2 CCSP for cloud security, and ISACA’s CISM and CISA for security management and audit
How the exams work
Your course covers the training and full exam preparation; the official vendor exam is sat separately with the awarding body, usually through Pearson VUE. CompTIA courses give you the option to add the exam at checkout. The senior credentials work a little differently — ISC2’s CCSP and ISACA’s CISM and CISA expect several years’ relevant experience for full certification, though you can study and sit the exam first.
Careers in cyber security
These courses point towards roles such as security analyst, SOC analyst, penetration tester, security engineer and, further on, security manager or architect. Most people start in an analyst or support role and specialise from there — the certifications mark each step employers recognise.
Related courses
- CompTIA courses — Security+, CySA+, PenTest+ and the wider range
- ISACA courses — CISM and CISA for security management and audit
- ISC2 courses — the CCSP cloud security credential
Need advice?
Not sure which security certification fits your stage? Our team can map a route with you.
020 3130 4909Common questions
Cyber Security Courses — Frequently Asked Questions
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Ready to start in cyber security?
Begin with the fundamentals or Security+, and build towards the analyst, offensive and senior roles. Recognised certifications, studied at your pace.
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