Rochester Institute of Technology's introduction to cybersecurity, part of its RITx programme. It covers the foundations — network security, threats, cryptography basics and risk — at a university level. A solid, structured grounding, though more academic than the hands-on, job-focused Google certificate.
Good for: Beginners who want an academic, university-backed grounding in cybersecurity.
Less suitable if: You want hands-on, tool-focused job training, or a quick overview.
Skills you'll gain
CybersecurityNetwork securityCryptography basicsThreats and vulnerabilitiesRisk managementSecurity fundamentals
Is this course right for you?
A good fit if you…
You want a university-level foundation
You prefer structured academic learning
You are new to security
Consider something else if you…
You want hands-on tool training
You want a fast job-focused route
You want a short course
Requirements: Some IT familiarity helps.
Realistic time: About 80 hours; a couple of months part-time.
About this course
Cybersecurity Fundamentals is the entry point to RIT's respected Cybersecurity MicroMasters. Over eight weeks it surveys the whole field: core security concepts, information assurance (confidentiality, integrity, availability), cryptography basics, networking and systems administration, and threat detection, prevention, malware and forensics — building the vocabulary and mental model a security career rests on.
What you'll learn
Explain core computing-security concepts
Understand confidentiality, integrity and availability
Grasp basic cryptography
Cover networking and systems administration
Detect and prevent threats and attacks
Introduce malware analysis and forensics
This course includes
80h
On-demand video
Yes
Certificate
Yes
Mobile access
English
Language
What it costs
Free to audit on edX; the verified certificate is paid and can count towards RIT's Cybersecurity MicroMasters.
Comparison · LBS
Compare alternatives for Cybersecurity Fundamentals
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The certificate is issued through edX with RIT and can count towards its Cybersecurity MicroMasters. It is academic and credible; pair it with hands-on practice for job applications.
Instructor
JS
Jonathan S. Weissman
edX instructor
Taught by Jonathan S. Weissman, a Principal Lecturer in the Department of Cybersecurity at the Rochester Institute of Technology and a widely followed security educator.
About this provider
ED
edX
Non-profit online learning platform founded by Harvard and MIT. 45M+ learners worldwide.