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
Northwestern University
Introduction to Reproduction
Skills you'll gain: Gynecology, Obstetrics And Gynecology, Anatomy, Oncology, Preventative Care, Medical Science and Research, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Biology, Pharmacology, Contraindication
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
533 reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Database systems
Skills you'll gain: NoSQL, Data Warehousing, Database Systems, Relational Databases, Database Management, Extract, Transform, Load, SQL, Databases, Data Mining, Business Intelligence, Big Data, Information Systems, MySQL, Predictive Analytics, Database Design, MongoDB, Analytics, Data Modeling, Scalability, Data Store
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
681 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Accounting Analysis I: The Role of Accounting as an Information System
Skills you'll gain: Balance Sheet, Revenue Recognition, Financial Accounting, Financial Reporting, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Accounting, Income Statement, Financial Statements, Cash Flows, Accrual Accounting, International Financial Reporting Standards, Financial Analysis
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
693 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Universidad de los Andes
Programación en Python
Skills you'll gain: Data Visualization Software, Programming Principles, Computational Thinking, Matplotlib, Python Programming, NumPy, Computer Programming, Algorithms, Pandas (Python Package), Debugging, Data Manipulation, Integrated Development Environments, Data Structures, Data Analysis, Scripting
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
191 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Board Infinity
.NET FullStack Developer
Skills you'll gain: Model View Controller, ASP.NET, .NET Framework, HTML and CSS, Restful API, C# (Programming Language), Front-End Web Development, JSON, Web Services, Web Applications, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Javascript, Web Design and Development, React.js, Application Programming Interface (API), Back-End Web Development, Programming Principles, Maintainability, Software Architecture, Application Security
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
301 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Google Cloud
Google Docs
Skills you'll gain: Google Docs, Google Workspace, Productivity Software, Collaborative Software, Document Management, Data Sharing, Version Control, Cloud Storage
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
275 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Scrimba
AI for Web Developers
Skills you'll gain: Prompt Engineering, Cloud Applications, OpenAI, HTML and CSS, ChatGPT, Application Deployment, API Gateway, Cloud Hosting, Generative AI, Web Development, GitHub, Cloud Security, Version Control, Front-End Web Development, Data Ethics, Application Programming Interface (API), Debugging, Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Pseudocode
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
190 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
EIT Digital
Embedded Hardware and Operating Systems
Skills you'll gain: Embedded Systems, Embedded Software, Internet Of Things, Operating Systems, Real-Time Operating Systems, Wireless Networks, System Programming, Hardware Architecture, Simulations, C (Programming Language), Network Protocols
4.1
Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
625 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Michigan
Building Database Applications in PHP
Skills you'll gain: PHP (Scripting Language), MySQL, Database Application, Database Development, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Authentications, Web Applications, SQL, Server Side, Application Security
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
1.1K reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Splunk Inc.
Splunk Search Expert
Skills you'll gain: Splunk, Correlation Analysis, Data Transformation, Data Manipulation, Data Visualization Software, Data Wrangling, Performance Tuning, Statistical Methods, Dashboard, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Statistical Analysis, Data Processing, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Data Analysis, Data Synthesis, Data Modeling, Ad Hoc Reporting, Time Series Analysis and Forecasting, Exploratory Data Analysis, Transaction Processing
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
259 reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 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
California Institute of the Arts
Web Design: Wireframes to Prototypes
Skills you'll gain: Wireframing, Mockups, Responsive Web Design, Web Design, User Interface (UI) Design, User Experience Design, Prototyping, Web Language, Graphic and Visual Design, HTML and CSS, Typography, Peer Review
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
861 reviews
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months