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

Status: Free
EIT Digital
Mastering Digital Twins
Skills you'll gain: Data Integration, Digital Transformation, Internet Of Things, Product Lifecycle Management, Digital Communications, Product Development, Real Time Data, Business Technologies, Operational Efficiency, Simulation and Simulation Software, Emerging Technologies
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
447 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
SAS
Doing More with SAS Programming
Skills you'll gain: SAS (Software), Data Manipulation, Consolidation, Data Transformation, Data Processing, Data Analysis, Data Presentation
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
939 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
The University of Melbourne
Foundations of International Psychiatry
Skills you'll gain: Psychiatry, Medical History Documentation, Healthcare Ethics, Psychosocial Assessments, Mental and Behavioral Health, Cultural Sensitivity, Patient Education And Counseling, Patient Evaluation, Mental Health, Interpersonal Communications, Interviewing Skills, Rapport Building, Behavioral Health
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
190 reviews
Advanced · Course · 1 - 3 Months
ESSEC Business School
Foundations of strategic business analytics
Skills you'll gain: Business Analytics, Forecasting, Data Presentation, Predictive Analytics, R Programming, Information Technology, Statistical Analysis, Communication, Business Strategy, Business, Statistics, Data Analysis, Data Visualization, Regression Analysis
4.4
Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
655 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Washington
Data Science at Scale
Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Unsupervised Learning, Data Ethics, Statistical Visualization, Data Storytelling, Big Data, Relational Databases, Supervised Learning, Database Systems, Dataflow, Data Visualization Software, Data Science, Statistical Machine Learning, Predictive Analytics, Advanced Analytics, Data Governance, Data Analysis, Predictive Modeling, Data Processing, Data Wrangling
4.2
Rating, 4.2 out of 5 stars
915 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Duke University
Java Programming: Build a Recommendation System
Skills you'll gain: Software Design, Software Design Patterns, Java, AI Personalization, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Data Processing, Data Wrangling, Data Analysis, Data Structures, Algorithms, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML)
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
643 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free
Edureka
Data Storytelling with Power BI
Skills you'll gain: Power BI, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Transformation, Dashboard, Data Visualization Software, Data Storytelling, Interactive Data Visualization, Data Presentation, Data Modeling, Business Intelligence, Microsoft Excel, Data Manipulation, Performance Reporting, Data Cleansing, Report Writing, Data Import/Export
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
131 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Managerial Accounting: Tools for Facilitating and Guiding Business Decisions
Skills you'll gain: Management Accounting, Performance Measurement, Cost Accounting, Variance Analysis, Budgeting, Accounting, Capital Budgeting, Organizational Strategy, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), Financial Analysis, Financial Statements, Organizational Structure, Decision Making
Build toward a degree
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
634 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Osmosis
COVID-19: What You Need to Know
Skills you'll gain: Infection Control, Infectious Diseases, Public Health, Epidemiology, Primary Care, Health Systems, Patient Evaluation, Maternal Health, Health Disparities, Critical Care, General Medical Tests and Procedures, Obstetrics And Gynecology
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Google Cloud
Serverless Data Processing with Dataflow
Skills you'll gain: Dataflow, Data Pipelines, Serverless Computing, Identity and Access Management, Google Cloud Platform, Cloud Security, Performance Tuning, Data Security, CI/CD, Data Processing, Debugging, Real Time Data, System Monitoring, Data Storage Technologies, Unit Testing, Containerization, Disaster Recovery, Data Transformation, Jupyter, JSON
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
120 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Johns Hopkins University
Health Information Technology Fundamentals
Skills you'll gain: Electronic Medical Record, Health Technology, Health Information Management, Decision Support Systems, Clinical Data Management, Technical Support, End User Training and Support, Patient Registration, Databases, Change Control, Data Management, Authentications
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
400 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Free
Georgia Institute of Technology
Materials Data Sciences and Informatics
Skills you'll gain: Dimensionality Reduction, Data Science, Data Mining, Data Integration, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Information Management, Data Processing, Manufacturing Processes, Engineering Analysis, Process Engineering, Big Data, Chemical Engineering, Predictive Modeling, Innovation, Probability & Statistics
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
346 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months