Free Cybersecurity Courses & Certifications to Kickstart Your Career

Hey there! If you're just starting out in cybersecurity or thinking about switching careers, I’m here to guide you as someone who’s been in the field for 15+ years.

I know breaking into cybersecurity can feel like a big challenge, especially with expensive certifications out there. But guess what? You don’t need to spend a much to get started. There are tons of free (or nearly free) courses that are recognized worldwide, teach real skills, and even give you certificates to show off.

Why These Resources Rock

• Free or super affordable: No need to spend big money to learn real skills.
• Recognized by employers: These courses and certs are known in the industry.
• Hands-on focus: Many include labs or exercises to practice what you learn.
• Certificates for your resume: Add them to LinkedIn or your CV to stand out.
• Beginner-friendly: Perfect for starting from scratch or switching careers.

You’ve got to practice hands-on—without it, the knowledge won’t stick, and you won’t stand out to employers. Let’s dive into a simple, beginner-friendly path to kickstart your cybersecurity journey without spending money or spending very less..

I’ve put together a list of free resources that are solid, credible, and respected by employers. These aren’t just random courses, they come with practical skills, hands-on labs, and certificates you can add to your LinkedIn or resume.

REMEMBER!!!

The key is practice. Don’t just watch or read, set up a home lab (search YouTube for “EVE-NG lab setup” for free virtual labs). Try Capture The Flag challenges on sites like TryHackMe (affordable for beginners) or build small projects to show off your skills. Without hands-on work, you won’t be ready for jobs, no matter how many courses you take.

Here’s how to approach it: start with one, practice what you learn, and build from there. Don’t just watch videos, set up a small home lab (even a virtual one on your laptop) and try things out. Solve Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges, work on projects, and maybe even share them on GitHub. Recruiters love seeing real effort, not just a list of certs.

Here’s the plan, step by step, with free resources to get you going. I’ve checked each link to make sure it’s legit and described what you’ll learn. Let’s do this!

Free Cybersecurity Courses

1. ISC² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
   https://www.isc2.org/landing/1mcc
   
   - This free beginner course and exam (part of ISC²’s One Million pledge) teach core cybersecurity basics like threats, security principles, and risk management. You’ll get a certificate to kickstart your career. It’s free exam but you may need to buy membership, if you email them requesting for membership fee waiver, they may give you for free membership, ISC² Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) is globally recognized, and perfect for building a foundation without spending a dime.
   
2. EC-Council Cyber Novice Modules
   https://www.eccouncil.org/cybersecurity-exchange/cyber-novice/free-cybersecurity-courses-beginners/
   
   - This is a short, practical modules on ethical hacking, network defense, and cybersecurity basics. Each comes with a completion certificate to add to your portfolio. You will get knowledge and certificate for Free, bite-sized lessons with hands-on focus to get you started in ethical hacking and defense.
   
3. Fortinet NSE Training (NSE 1, 2, 3)
   https://www.fortinet.com/nse-training
   
   - Free & self-paced courses on network security, threats, and Fortinet tools. NSE 1-3 certifications teach practical skills like securing networks and understanding attacks. Once completed, you will get free certificates from Fortinet which is a big name in cybersecurity.
   
4. Palo Alto Networks Beacon
   https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia/free-cybersecurity-education-courses
   
   - Free micro-courses on network security, cloud security, and Security Operations Center (SOC) basics. You’ll learn fundamentals of protecting systems and data. Free, quick lessons from a top firewall company, perfect for beginners to grasp key concepts.
   
5. Cybrary Free Courses & Labs
   https://www.cybrary.it/free-content
   
   - Free entry-level courses and hands-on labs on topics like Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and cybersecurity basics. Build skills and portfolio projects. Free labs let you practice real skills, and it’s accessible for beginners on a budget.
   
6. CISA Cybersecurity Training & Exercises (OT Basics)
   https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-training-exercises
   
   - Free on-demand training on incident response, industrial control systems (ICS), and tabletop exercises. You’ll practice handling real-world cyber scenarios. Free, practical exercises from a U.S. government agency, giving you hands-on experience.
   
7. Great Learning Academy Cybersecurity Courses
   https://www.mygreatlearning.com/cybersecurity/free-courses
   
   - Free courses with certificates on intro to cybersecurity, cyber forensics, and network security. Learn basics like analyzing threats and securing systems.
   Its beginner-friendly, and comes with certificates to boost your resume.
   
8. Cisco Networking Academy Cybersecurity Courses
   https://www.netacad.com/catalogs/learn/cybersecurity?category=course
   
   - There are many free courses with certificates, try on intro to cybersecurity, ethical hacking, network defense, endpoint security, and more. Covers basics to practical skills. Free from Cisco, a huge name in tech, learn with hands-on labs to practice real-world skills.
   
9. US Department of Security ICS Cybersecurity Basics
   https://ics-training.inl.gov/learn/register
   
   - Free training on Industrial Control Systems (ICS) cybersecurity basics, with a certificate. Learn how to protect critical infrastructure systems. Free, niche training from a U.S. agency, great for learning a specialized area.
   
10. Attack IQ Academy
    https://www.academy.attackiq.com/catalog
    - Free courses on cyber threat intelligence, MITRE ATT&CK framework, and Azure security mappings. Learn how to analyze threats and map defenses.
    Free, advanced topics with practical applications, perfect for building deeper skills.
    

Key Tips to Succeed

• Practice Is Everything: Don’t just watch videos. Set up a virtual lab (check YouTube for “EVE-NG setup” or “home lab cybersecurity”). Practice, Without hands-on, you won’t be job-ready.
• Understand, Don’t Memorize: If something’s unclear, pause and dig deeper, use YouTube, docs, or even ChatGPT. Get it to click before moving on.
• Show Your Work: Build projects (like a simple network setup or CTF write-up) and share them on GitHub or LinkedIn. Recruiters notice this.
• Start Small, Stay Consistent: Pick one course, finish it, and practice what you learn. Patience and persistence are key.
• English Communication is important : You often need to write things, explain things, English is needed. You do not have to be excellent but atleast you should be able to find correct words while writing or expressing something.

Why Hands-On Matters

You can’t just read about cybersecurity, you have to do it. Set up a virtual lab to mess around with networks, firewalls, or servers. Telling again and again without practice, you’ll struggle in interviews or jobs, no matter how many certs you have.

If you can spend little money ?

I have listed some paid courses which may help you to Building a Strong Foundation In Cybersecurity, Click The Green Button Below:

Otherwise start today—pick one course from the 10 links, dive in, and practice. With these free resources, you’ve got no excuse not to begin. Stay curious, keep practicing, and you’ll be ready for cybersecurity roles in no time.

If you have any question(s), get in touch with me on Linkedin, I would definitely try my best to address. Good luck, and happy learning!