Learn by Source
Pluralsight · on Pluralsight

Security Awareness: Basic Concepts and Terminology

Beginner 0.9 hours English
SkillsSecurity awarenessCybersecurity basicsAttack typesSafe practicesThreat recognition

Is this course right for you?

Our take
Pluralsight hands non-specialists here the vocabulary and mental model to stay secure online.

Good for: Everyday security awareness for non-specialists.

Skip if: You want technical security skills or work in security.

In under an hour it explains the common attack types, everyday defences, and how to recognise a threat when you see one — broad awareness rather than technical skill, which is exactly right for general staff and wrong if you already work in security or want hands-on techniques. Access needs a Pluralsight plan (Standard about $29/month or $299/year, Premium about $45/month or $499/year, 10-day trial). The awareness basics it covers age slowly even as specific scams change (as of 2026).

Comparison · LBS

Compare alternatives for Security Awareness: Basic Concepts and Terminology

Same topic, different options. We surface the trade-offs others hide so you can pick the course that actually fits your time, budget, and goals.
Pluralsight
Security Awareness: Basic Concepts and Terminology
Price
Paid
Pluralsight subscription
Duration
0.9 hrs
Level
Beginner
Certificate
DataCamp4.8(1,111)
AI Security and Risk Management
Price
Paid
DataCamp subscription
Duration
1 hrs
Level
Beginner
Certificate
Course Certificate
View course →
DataCamp4.8(1,701)
Introduction to Data Security
Price
Paid
DataCamp subscription
Duration
1 hrs
Level
Beginner
Certificate
Course Certificate
View course →
Udemy4.7(18,000)
Wireshark: Packet Analysis and Ethical Hacking
Price
Paid
Paid, frequently discounted
Duration
12 hrs
Level
Beginner
Certificate
Course Certificate
View course →
Prices & availability can change — confirm on the provider's site. We're not affiliated with any single provider.

About this course

Security Awareness: Basic Concepts and Terminology gives non-specialists the vocabulary and mental model to stay secure online. In under an hour it explains common attack types, everyday defense strategies, and how to recognise and report a security incident — the essentials behind the breach reports everyone now hears about.

Browse all Cybersecurity courses Browse all Pluralsight courses

Instructor

JH
Jason Helmick
Pluralsight instructor

Taught by Jason Helmick, a veteran IT professional with 25+ years of enterprise experience, known for clear, practical security and automation training.

Frequently asked questions

No. It is foundational security-awareness training that explains the basic concepts and vocabulary of cybersecurity in plain terms — threats, common attacks, key terminology — without coding or hands-on configuration. It is designed so any employee or general user can follow it, building the shared understanding that underpins secure behaviour, rather than teaching the technical work of a security professional.

Everyday users and employees rather than aspiring security specialists — people who need to understand basic security concepts to work safely and follow good practices. It suits organisations rolling out awareness training and individuals wanting to grasp the fundamentals. If you want a security career, this is only a first orientation; its purpose is baseline awareness across a general audience.

A foundation for everything else in security awareness: once you know what terms like malware, phishing, encryption, and social engineering actually mean, the practical guidance in other training makes sense rather than washing over you. It is the vocabulary layer that lets non-technical people engage sensibly with security topics and recognise risks in their own work.

Yes. Pluralsight offers a free trial (commonly around ten days), more than enough to complete a short foundational course like this at no cost. Beyond the trial it is a subscription, so ongoing access to Pluralsight's wider library is paid — but this focused course fits easily within a trial period.

It is short — typically under an hour — as a foundational awareness course. That brevity is deliberate: it gives you the core concepts and terms quickly, as a stepping stone to more specific awareness topics like phishing, without demanding a significant time commitment up front.
Paid
Pluralsight subscription
Enroll now