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

IBM
Introduction to R Programming for Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Data Manipulation, Web Scraping, R Programming, Data Analysis, Data Science, Data Structures, Data Import/Export, Exploratory Data Analysis, Programming Principles, Jupyter, Integrated Development Environments
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
563 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Operations Management: Organization and Analysis
Skills you'll gain: Operations Management, Organizational Strategy, Manufacturing Operations, Operational Analysis, Business Operations, Supply Chain, Inventory Management System, Process Analysis, Decision Making, Strategic Decision-Making, Business Strategy, Process Design, Cost Benefit Analysis, Demand Planning, Capacity Management, Service Level
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
1.2K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Google Cloud
Google Drive
Skills you'll gain: Google Workspace, File Management, Collaborative Software, Document Management, Data Sharing, Productivity Software, Cloud Storage, Identity and Access Management, Software Installation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
257 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Fundação Instituto de Administração
Data & Finance for the future
Skills you'll gain: Financial Statement Analysis, Financial Statements, Financial Analysis, Business Analytics, Regression Analysis, Business Valuation, Descriptive Statistics, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Statistical Inference, Financial Accounting, Cash Flows, Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Competitive Analysis, International Finance, Business Economics, Economics, Market Dynamics, Business Planning
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
450 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
DeepLearning.AI
Source Systems, Data Ingestion, and Pipelines
Skills you'll gain: Apache Airflow, Data Pipelines, Data Integration, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Terraform, Extract, Transform, Load, Amazon CloudWatch, Data Quality, Amazon Web Services, CI/CD, Data Processing, NoSQL
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
104 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
IA generativa en el aula
Skills you'll gain: Generative AI, Prompt Engineering, ChatGPT, AI Personalization, Education Software and Technology, Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Creativity, Data Ethics, Computer Vision, Information Privacy, Ethical Standards And Conduct, Intellectual Property
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
589 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Starweaver
Customer Relationship Management
Skills you'll gain: Customer Relationship Management, Loyalty Programs, Customer experience strategy (CX), Customer Data Management, Customer Insights, Customer Engagement, Customer Service, Customer Retention, Customer experience improvement, Personalized Service, Marketing Strategies, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Technology Strategies, Business Technologies, Automation
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
207 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
University of London
Refugees in the 21st Century
Skills you'll gain: Immigration Law, International Relations, World History, Social Justice, Crisis Intervention, Cultural Sensitivity, Cultural Diversity, Conflict Management, Demography, Policy Analysis, Social Sciences, Political Sciences, Student Engagement
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
559 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Georgia Institute of Technology
Engineering Systems in Motion: Dynamics of Particles and Bodies in 2D Motion
Skills you'll gain: Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Analysis, Structural Engineering, Torque (Physics), Vibrations, Engineering, Physics, Civil Engineering, Calculus, Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Modeling
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
742 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Microsoft
Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Microsoft Power Platform, Power BI, Microsoft Power Automate/Flow, Dashboard, Data Visualization, Business Process Automation, Business Intelligence, Workflow Management, Application Development, ChatGPT, Data Analysis Software, Customer Engagement
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
151 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
INSEAD
Introduction to Blockchain for Financial Services
Skills you'll gain: Blockchain, FinTech, Cryptography, Design, Emerging Technologies, Stakeholder Management, Distributed Computing, Data Integrity, Financial Services, Public Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS), Innovation, Governance
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
674 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
EDUCBA
SIEM Splunk Hands-On Guide
Skills you'll gain: Splunk, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Data Modeling, Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), System Monitoring, Dashboard, Incident Response, Threat Detection, User Accounts, Data Transformation, Cybersecurity, Machine Learning, Systems Administration, Performance Tuning, Data Visualization, Event Monitoring, Data Manipulation, Data Analysis, Statistical Analysis, Query Languages
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
271 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months