Security Foundations, Threats, and Network Protection

Updated in May 2025. This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. Master the essentials of cybersecurity with this comprehensive course on security foundations, threat analysis, and network protection. You'll gain a deep understanding of core security principles, risk management, and critical defensive strategies necessary for modern IT environments. Whether you're preparing for the CompTIA Security+ exam or strengthening your cybersecurity expertise, this course provides a solid foundation. Your journey begins with fundamental security concepts, including cybersecurity frameworks, control objectives, and security roles. You'll then explore the evolving threat landscape, learning to identify vulnerabilities, attack vectors, and social engineering tactics used by malicious actors. With a strong grasp of security threats, you’ll be equipped to mitigate risks effectively. Next, you'll dive into cryptographic solutions and identity access management, mastering encryption, authentication, and authorization techniques. You’ll explore key security protocols, certificate management, and access control mechanisms that protect sensitive data and systems. The course also includes hands-on demonstrations to reinforce your understanding of key security technologies. Ideal for IT professionals, security analysts, and those pursuing Security+ certification, this course requires basic networking and IT knowledge. With a balance of theory and practical applications, it’s designed for learners at a beginner to intermediate level who want to build or strengthen their cybersecurity expertise.