What is information security?

Information security is the practice of keeping data protected from theft, destruction, or misuse. It's different from cybersecurity in that cybersecurity refers to protecting physical computer assets, while information security concerns defending data from hackers. The practices of information security protect data from accidental breaches, unauthorized access, and malicious attacks. Whether you're storing your data or transmitting it from one place to another, information security keeps your data safe. The term "data" includes printed media as well as electronic information, and information security practices protect your data whether or not it's confidential.

Why study information security?

Our world has become increasingly dependent on data, and malicious people want to get their hands on information, which makes information security vital to our modern society. Piracy, identity theft, and intellectual property crimes are on the rise every year, so the demand for people and software that protects data continues to grow. Data breaches cost money and can damage reputations, so keeping information protected can prevent catastrophic problems. A working knowledge of information security is crucial if you're interested in a career in information technology.

What are typical careers that use information security skills?

You can apply your knowledge of information security in a vast array of industries. Companies all over the country are looking for information technology specialists to help keep their sensitive and proprietary data safe, and jobs are available in the finance, healthcare, government, law enforcement, and insurance sectors, as well as in other areas. Cybersecurity and information technology companies are also hiring, and these businesses work with various clients to protect data from hackers and other attacks. You may even be able to start your own business in information security.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn information security?

Learning information security with online courses on Coursera allows you to gain a foothold in this growing field. You can gain firsthand experience in the issues that drive the information security industry, as well as the methods that data professionals use to combat hackers and data pirates. Opportunities exist to work toward becoming an IBM cybersecurity analyst, learn about cryptography, and understand regulatory compliance.

What are the benefits of taking an online Information Security course?

Online Information Security courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Information Security skills. Choose from a wide range of Information Security courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Information Security courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Information Security, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Information Security Courses - Learn Information Security Online

Explore the Information Security Course Catalog

Vanderbilt University
Introduction to Programming with MATLAB
Skills you'll gain: Matlab, Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Debugging, Mathematical Software, Data Manipulation, Computer Science, Algorithms, Data Import/Export, Data Structures, Linear Algebra, Engineering Calculations, Graphing
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Amazon Web Services
AWS Cloud Technology Consultant
Skills you'll gain: AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Amazon CloudWatch, AWS CloudFormation, Software Development Life Cycle, CI/CD, Amazon Web Services, Professional Networking, IT Automation, Cloud Computing, Amazon S3, Extract, Transform, Load, DevOps, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Software Architecture, Cloud Computing Architecture, Amazon DynamoDB, Cloud Infrastructure, Web Applications, Leadership Development
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6.5K reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
University of Virginia
Marketing Analytics
Skills you'll gain: Marketing Analytics, Marketing Effectiveness, Marketing Strategies, Regression Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Brand Management, Resource Allocation, Customer Insights, Predictive Analytics, Statistical Analysis, A/B Testing, Consumer Behaviour, Return On Investment
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
6.4K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Michigan
Internet History, Technology, and Security
Skills you'll gain: Network Security, Network Protocols, Network Architecture, TCP/IP, Web Applications, General Networking, Computer Networking, Encryption, Innovation, Emerging Technologies, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
2.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Amazon Web Services
AWS Cloud Technical Essentials
Skills you'll gain: AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), Amazon CloudWatch, Amazon DynamoDB, Amazon Web Services, Cloud Computing, Amazon S3, Scalability, Cloud Infrastructure, Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud, Cloud Security, Serverless Computing, Cloud Storage, Databases, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Load Balancing, General Networking, Containerization
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.9K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Colorado System
Cryptography and Information Theory
Skills you'll gain: Cryptography, Cryptographic Protocols, Encryption, Information Systems Security, Cybersecurity, Computer Security, Theoretical Computer Science
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
505 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of California, Davis
Data Visualization with Tableau
Skills you'll gain: Data Storytelling, Data Presentation, Data Visualization Software, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Data Integration, Data Visualization, Dashboard, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Mapping, Tableau Software, Proposal Development, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Graphing, Histogram, Scatter Plots, Exploratory Data Analysis, Storytelling, Performance Metric, Performance Measurement, Infographics
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
8.2K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
ISC2
Security Concepts and Practices
Skills you'll gain: Security Controls, Security Awareness, Change Control, Cybersecurity, Security Management, Data Security, Safety and Security, Cyber Security Policies, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Data Ethics, Data Integrity, Identity and Access Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
70 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Johns Hopkins University
The Data Scientist’s Toolbox
Skills you'll gain: Rmarkdown, Version Control, Data Science, General Science and Research, Data Analysis, R Programming, Statistical Programming, Exploratory Data Analysis, Software Installation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
34K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Michigan
Introduction to Data Science in Python
Skills you'll gain: Pandas (Python Package), Jupyter, NumPy, Data Manipulation, Data Science, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Cleansing, Data Import/Export, Probability & Statistics, Python Programming, Programming Principles
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
27K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Amsterdam
Methods and Statistics in Social Sciences
Skills you'll gain: Qualitative Research, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Scientific Methods, Descriptive Statistics, Statistical Inference, Statistical Analysis, Statistical Software, Probability Distribution, Research, Correlation Analysis, Research Design, Sampling (Statistics), Research Reports, Science and Research, Probability, Interviewing Skills, Data Analysis, Sample Size Determination, Statistical Methods, Social Sciences
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
7.6K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Vanderbilt University
MATLAB Programming for Engineers and Scientists
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization, Image Analysis, Data Visualization Software, Matlab, Machine Learning Methods, Algorithms, User Interface (UI), Applied Machine Learning, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Statistical Methods, Data Analysis, Computer Programming, Programming Principles, Data Processing, Application Development, Data Structures, Scripting, Debugging, Mathematical Software, Data Manipulation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months