Beginner · 4 weeks
Introduction to Cybersecurity
Your first step into cybersecurity, with no IT background needed.
- Live online, from anywhere
- 4 weeks
- A 2-hour live class every Monday
- 4 hours a week
- Next cohort: 15 January 2027
Who it’s for
- Complete beginners. New to tech and want a clear, structured way in.
- IT support and sysadmins. You work in IT and want the security side of your day job.
- Career switchers. Coming from banking, telecoms or another field and want a practical first step.
Who it isn’t for
- You already work in security and want offensive skills: start with Ethical Hacking.
- You want a CompTIA certification straight away: start with Security+.
Before you start: None. If you can use a computer and install software, you’re ready.
What you’ll build
A personal threat model of your own digital life: what you’d protect, from whom, and how.
Curriculum
8 modules, 4 weeks
Four weeks on the ideas every security job rests on: how attacks work, how networks and operating systems are defended, and where you could fit in. Built for complete beginners, career switchers and IT support staff.
01What cybersecurity is
- The CIA triad
- Who attacks, and why
- Real breach case studies
- Why every business is a target
02The threat landscape
- Ransomware, trojans and worms
- Phishing and social engineering
- Insider threats
- Organised crime and state actors
03Networking for security
- TCP/IP and the OSI model
- Common ports and protocols
- How firewalls and routers work
- A first look at packet analysis
04Operating system security
- Windows and Linux basics
- Users, permissions and least privilege
- Patching and hardening
- Reading system logs
05Identity and access
- Passwords, MFA and password managers
- Single sign-on
- Role-based access control
- Signs an account is compromised
06Defence
- Defence in depth
- What a SOC, SIEM and EDR do
- Backups and recovery
- The incident response lifecycle
07Governance, risk and compliance
- ISO 27001, NIST CSF and the NDPA
- Risk assessment basics
- Security policies that work
- Audit basics
08Your cybersecurity career
- The career paths
- Which certification to take next
- A portfolio and LinkedIn for security
- Mock interviews
Get the full syllabus
Every module, lab and tool as a one-page PDF. Enter your email and it downloads straight away.
How you learn
A week on the track
Live classes
A 2-hour live class every Monday. The time is confirmed when you enrol.
Mentor hours
Small-group office hours with a practising security engineer, every week
Labs
A hands-on lab every week
Tools
Wireshark, VirtualBox, Kali Linux, Windows Server lab, Nmap, Have I Been Pwned
Two kinds of lab: guided labs in our cloud environment, with nothing to install, and some virtual-machine work on your own laptop. We help you set the virtual machines up.
- MonLive class2-hour instructor-led session with real-world examples
- TueGuided labHands-on lab in our cloud environment
- WedMentor hoursSmall-group office hours with a practising security engineer
- ThuSolo challengeA timed challenge to lock in the week’s concepts
- FriCTF FridayTeam capture-the-flag with a leaderboard
$ nmap -sV -Pn 10.10.20.0/24Nmap scan report for dc01.lab.learncyber (10.10.20.10)88/tcp open kerberos-sec Microsoft Windows Kerberos389/tcp open ldap Microsoft Windows AD LDAP445/tcp open microsoft-ds$ GetUserSPNs.py lab.learncyber/analyst -request[*] 3 service accounts with SPNs found$ hashcat -m 13100 tickets.txt wordlist.txtsvc_backup: cracked (weak password)
Exam and certificate
There’s no external exam. You finish with a LearnCyber certificate of completion and a clear view of which certification to take next.
Certificate, not certification
You receive a LearnCyber certificate of completion. It proves you completed the track, and employers can check it online. A certification is awarded by an exam body such as CompTIA.
What you’ll need
- Laptop
- A laptop with at least 8 GB of RAM and a stable internet connection
- Internet
- A connection that can hold a video call; every class is recorded if yours drops
- Time
- 4 hours a week, including the 2-hour live class
Who teaches
Taught by Hackrowd Technology’s working penetration testers, the team that does this work for clients.
Offensive security
Penetration tests of web apps, APIs, networks and Active Directory for client organisations.
Security operations
SOC work: monitoring, detection and incident response.
Governance and audit
GRC programmes and ISO 27001 audits.
After the track
- Step 1
Train
Live classes, labs and your capstone.
- Step 2
Internship
A three-month internship after the training.
- Step 3
Certificate and letter
A certificate of completion employers can verify, and a recommendation letter.
Admissions
Three steps to your seat
- Step 1Join a free webinar
Meet an instructor and ask anything first.
- Step 2Apply
A short questionnaire, not a test, so we can recommend the right track.
- Step 3Reserve your seat
Pay in full or in instalments. Your place is confirmed when the payment clears.
Questions
Is there a job guarantee?
No. No reputable school can guarantee you a job, and we won’t pretend to. What you do get: hands-on labs, a portfolio piece you can show an employer, and CV and interview coaching.
Do I need a tech background?
No. If you can use a computer, you can follow this track. We start from zero.
What laptop do I need?
A laptop with at least 8 GB of RAM and a stable internet connection. Most labs run in our cloud; for the virtual-machine labs on your own laptop, we help you set everything up.
Can I move to another track?
Yes. If you find you’re ready for something more advanced, we’ll help you transfer credit toward CompTIA Security+ or Ethical Hacking.
What is the certificate?
A LearnCyber certificate of completion. It shows you completed the track; it isn’t a certification. If you want a certification next, CompTIA Security+ is the usual step.
Ready to start Introduction to Cybersecurity?