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Google · on Coursera

Foundations of Cybersecurity

4.8(41,803)·1.8M enrolled
Beginner 10 hours English Professional CertificateFREE

About this course

This is the opening course of the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate, introducing the cybersecurity profession: entry-level analyst responsibilities, the history of major security events, the CISSP eight security domains, common security frameworks and controls, the CIA triad, security ethics, and the tools cybersecurity professionals use day to day.

The honest take: with 1.75M+ learners and a 4.8★ rating from over 41,000 reviews, this is one of the most validated entry points into cybersecurity on any platform — genuinely no prior experience required, and it sets up the rest of the Google Cybersecurity Certificate well.

What you'll learn

Describe the role and responsibilities of an entry-level cybersecurity analyst
Explain the CISSP eight security domains
Apply the CIA triad (confidentiality, integrity, availability) to security scenarios
Identify common security frameworks and controls used by organizations
Recognize the tools and ethical considerations cybersecurity professionals work with

This course includes

10h
On-demand video
Yes
Certificate
Yes
Mobile access
English
Language
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Prices & availability can change — confirm on the provider's site. We're not affiliated with any single provider.

Instructor

GC
Google Career Certificates
Coursera instructor
learners courses instructor rating

Taught by Google Career Certificates, drawing on Google's internal security practices and curriculum designed with industry input.

Requirements

  • None — no prior experience required

Who this course is for

  • Complete beginners exploring a cybersecurity career
  • Career-changers pursuing the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate

About this provider

CO
Coursera
University-backed online learning platform. 142M learners, 7,000+ courses from 325+ institutions.
4.6 trust score
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Frequently asked questions

No — the course is explicitly designed for complete beginners with no cybersecurity background.
Yes — it's the first course in the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate, an 8-course program.
About 1 week at 10 hours/week, self-paced.
Free to audit. The shareable certificate requires a paid Coursera Plus subscription or individual purchase; financial aid is available.
4.8★ from 41,803 reviews, with over 1.75 million learners enrolled.
Free
to audit
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