Cybersecurity · Free

Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners

Start in cybersecurity from zero: the eight security domains, the CIA triad, risk and the NIST frameworks, networks and firewalls, Linux and access control, malware, incident response, and how to communicate as an analyst, with honest advice on landing a first job. Built on Google's public Cybersecurity Certificate lessons.

9 modules 5h 57m of video English · self-paced

Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course cover

Inside the course

Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners: Syllabus at a glance

Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners: What you will be able to do

Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners: Tools and credits

From the lessons

The eight domains, and who a security analyst works with
Grow with Google
Foundations of cybersecurity
Grow with Google
Managing risks, threats and frameworks
Grow with Google
Networks, and how to secure them
Grow with Google
Operating systems, Linux, access control and encryption
Grow with Google
Malware, and how to prepare for it
Grow with Google

Lesson frames belong to the creators named in the Credits below and are shown from YouTube.

What you will learn

Explain the eight security domains and the CIA triad; assess a risk and pick controls using NIST CSF and the NIST RMF; describe how networks work, how firewalls and zones protect them and how common network attacks unfold; read Linux file permissions and apply least privilege; recognise malware types and prioritise vulnerabilities by CVSS; follow the incident response lifecycle and write an incident summary a manager can act on; and prepare honestly for an entry-level security interview.

Explain the eight security domains and where an analyst fits
Describe incidents using the CIA triad
Score risks and use NIST CSF 2.0 and the NIST RMF
Explain networks, ports, firewalls and security zones
Read and set Linux file permissions and apply least privilege and MFA
Recognise malware and prioritise vulnerabilities with CVSS
Follow the incident response lifecycle and write an incident summary
Prepare a portfolio and STAR answers for a first security interview

For you

Taking Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners from the United States

Free in the United States, as everywhere, and self-paced: lessons, notes and the final assessment are open at any hour, so your time zone and shift pattern do not matter.
The optional certificate for learners in the United States is a one-off US$23.99. What you get for it
Plants across the Americas most often run Allen-Bradley, Siemens and Inductive Automation; each has its own free course to take next.
See automation and engineering jobs in the United States, and what the industry looks like in Houston, Detroit and Chicago.
EDWartens also has a regional site for the United States, for classroom training and local support: edwartens.com/us.

The course project · about 8 hours

First security assessment of a freight forwarder: asset inventory, risk register, mailbox-compromise procedure and findings report

Carry out a first security assessment of a 45-person freight forwarding company as its newly hired junior security analyst: list its assets, score its risks, write the response procedure for the incident that started the work, and report findings to the owner in plain language. The sample pack shows each document for a firm in Ipswich, England, and the finished pack doubles as a portfolio piece for interviews.

Sample document pack, 4 documents, filled in for the scenario

Asset inventoryAsset inventory: Portside Cargo Links, Ipswich
Risk registerRisk register: Portside Cargo Links
ProcedureSuspected mailbox compromise: response procedure
ReportSecurity assessment: findings and priorities

Read inside the course and download as a workbook. The project is optional practice, marked when you submit it; the certificate needs only the modules and the final assessment.

Course content

9 modules · 18 lessons · 5h 57m

In order, at whatever pace suits you. Each module ends with a practice task that builds on the last.

01The eight domains, and who a security analyst works with2 lessons12m
02Foundations of cybersecurity1 lesson1h 15m
03Managing risks, threats and frameworks1 lesson1h 28m
04Networks, and how to secure them4 lessons43m
05Operating systems, Linux, access control and encryption4 lessons1h 12m
06Malware, and how to prepare for it1 lesson21m
07Incidents: detection, response and telling the story3 lessons22m
08Your first cybersecurity job2 lessons23m
09Final Assessment0 lessons0m

Show all 9 modules

Requirements

Who it is for: Beginner. No security or IT experience needed. If you can install software and use a browser comfortably, you can start.
Software: A free Linux environment (a virtual machine with Ubuntu, Windows Subsystem for Linux, or a browser-based Linux lab) and Wireshark. Everything used is free. What to download, and how
Hardware: Any laptop or desktop that can run a small virtual machine. 8 GB of RAM is comfortable.

Software you need

What to download, where from, what it costs and how to install it. Every link goes to the maker's own site, never a mirror.

A browser-based Linux lab also works if you cannot install anything.

Required

01
Wireshark
Wireshark Foundation
Free
Runs on
Windows 11 or 10 64-bit (x64 or Arm64), Windows Server 2016 or later, macOS (Universal disk image), Linux
Account
None needed
Free, open source software. No licence fee for any use.
Show the 4 stepsHide the steps
Steps
1. 1.Open wireshark.org/download.html.
2. 2.Download the Windows x64 Installer (or Arm64, or the macOS Universal Disk Image).
3. 3.Run the installer and keep the Npcap option ticked on Windows.
4. 4.Open Wireshark, pick your network interface and click the blue fin to start capturing.
- Npcap is needed for live capture on Windows. The Windows installer includes it.
- Only capture traffic on networks you own or have written permission to monitor.
Official download pagewireshark.org
02
Ubuntu Desktop
Canonical
Free
Runs on
64-bit PC (Intel or AMD) or ARM 64-bit. Recommended: 2 GHz dual-core processor, 6 GB RAM, 25 GB free disk space.
Account
None needed
Size
About 5.9 GB ISO (Intel or AMD 64-bit, current LTS)
Free to download and use. LTS releases get five years of free security updates, which Ubuntu Pro can extend.
Show the 4 stepsHide the steps
Steps
1. 1.Open ubuntu.com/download/desktop and download the LTS ISO. For ROS 2 courses, get 24.04 LTS or 22.04 LTS from releases.ubuntu.com instead.
2. 2.To try it safely, create a new virtual machine in VirtualBox and attach the ISO.
3. 3.To install on a real PC, write the ISO to a USB stick (8 GB or more) and boot from it.
4. 4.Follow the installer, then run Software Updater when it finishes.
- Your course may name a specific release. ROS 2 Humble needs Ubuntu 22.04 and ROS 2 Jazzy needs Ubuntu 24.04.
- Give a virtual machine at least 25 GB of disk space.
Official download pageubuntu.com
Alternatives
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS: Use for ROS 2 Jazzy.
- Ubuntu 22.04 LTS: Use for ROS 2 Humble.
- Windows Subsystem for Linux: Run Ubuntu inside Windows 10 or 11 without a virtual machine.

A way to run Linux

Any one is enough.

03
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
Microsoft
Free
Runs on
Windows 10 version 2004 and higher (Build 19041 and higher) or Windows 11
Account
None needed
WSL is part of Windows and costs nothing. The Linux distribution you install (Ubuntu by default) has its own free licence.
Show the 5 stepsHide the steps
Steps
1. 1.Right-click PowerShell and choose "Run as administrator".
2. 2.Run: wsl --install
3. 3.Restart your PC when asked.
4. 4.Open Ubuntu from the Start menu and wait while it unpacks.
5. 5.Create a Linux user name and password when prompted.
- To see other distributions, run: wsl --list --online, then install one with: wsl --install -d <Name>
- If the install hangs at 0.0%, run: wsl --install --web-download -d Ubuntu
- Check your setup with: wsl -l -v (new installs use WSL 2).
Official download pagelearn.microsoft.com
04
Oracle VirtualBox
Oracle
Free
Runs on
Windows, macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon), Linux and Solaris hosts
Account
None needed
The VirtualBox platform packages are free and open source under GPL version 3. The separate Extension Pack is free only for personal and educational use (PUEL licence); business use of the Extension Pack needs a commercial licence from Oracle.
Show the 4 stepsHide the steps
Steps
1. 1.Open virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads.
2. 2.Click the package for your host system (for example, Windows hosts).
3. 3.Run the installer and accept the network driver prompts.
4. 4.Open VirtualBox, click New, choose your ISO file (for example Ubuntu or Windows) and follow the wizard.
- Turn on hardware virtualisation (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) in your PC's BIOS or UEFI if VirtualBox says it is not available.
- You do not need the Extension Pack for normal lab work. Install it only if you need its extra features and your use is personal or educational.
Official download pagevirtualbox.org

Checked against each maker's own page on 27 September 2026. Trial lengths and editions change; the maker's page is the final word.

Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners at a glance

Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners is a free, self-paced online course from EDWartens for beginners, students and IT staff starting in cybersecurity. It has 9 modules and 5h 57m of video lessons by Grow with Google, with written notes and worked problems, a practical project with a document pack and a 15-question final assessment (pass mark 60%). Learning is free with an account; an optional certificate with a public verification code is issued when you pass. Last updated 27 September 2026.

All course facts

Price: Free, for good. No trial, no card. The only paid item is the optional certificate, a small one-off fee.
Who it is for: Beginners, students and IT staff starting in cybersecurity
Format: 9 self-paced modules, 5h 57m of video, written notes, a practice task per module and one final assessment.
Level: Beginner. Beginner. No security or IT experience needed. If you can install software and use a browser comfortably, you can start.
Brand: Vendor-neutral
Software: A free Linux environment (a virtual machine with Ubuntu, Windows Subsystem for Linux, or a browser-based Linux lab) and Wireshark. Everything used is free.
Hardware: Any laptop or desktop that can run a small virtual machine. 8 GB of RAM is comfortable.
Certificate: Optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, verifiable by code. Not a vendor credential.
Video lessons by: Grow with Google (independent creators, credited below)
Language: English
Last updated: 27 September 2026

A shareable EDWartens certificate

Finish every module and pass the final assessment, and the optional EDWartens certificate is yours. It carries a unique verification code on a public page anyone can check, so it stands up when a recruiter looks it up. See it below.

Add it to your LinkedIn profile in one click
Link it from a CV or portfolio, the URL is permanent
Publicly verifiable by code, not a PDF anyone can edit
Issued by EDWartens itself, not a third party

The course itself stays free whether or not you ever buy one.

Stuck? Ask a practising engineer

A free course usually means a comment section and hope. This one does not. Every module has an Ask-your-trainer panel that reaches the same engineers who teach our paid programme: people who commission panels for a living, not moderators.

Questions answered in the context of the module you are on
The same engineers who teach the AEP programme
Career tools, CV help and public job listings included
Your progress and notes stay in your account for good

Pairs well with

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More free courses: Free cyber security courses · Free IT security and SOC analyst courses

Learner reviews

No reviews yet

Reviews here are written only by learners who have finished every module of Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners, and they are published exactly as written. Finish the course and yours will be the first.

Common questions

Do I need any IT background?

No. The course starts from what cybersecurity is and builds up. Comfort with installing software and using a browser is enough; the Linux and networking modules explain everything they use.

Is this the Google Cybersecurity Certificate?

No. The video lessons are Grow with Google's public Google Cybersecurity Certificate material, credited on each module, but this course is not that programme and is not affiliated with Google. EDWartens wrote the notes, practice, project and assessments.

Which countries' laws does it cover?

The principles apply everywhere, and India is the worked example, at the level a beginner needs: the Information Technology Act, 2000, the CERT-In directions of April 2022 with their six-hour reporting rule, and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023. Check the equivalent rules where you work.

Will this get me a job?

No course can promise that. It gives you the foundations employers expect and a project you can show in interviews. The career module is honest about what else it takes: practice, a portfolio and clear communication.

Is the Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course really free?

Yes. Every module, the notes, the project and the final assessment. The only paid item is the certificate, if you want it.

What certificate does the Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course give?

An EDWartens Certificate of Completion, issued when you pass the final assessment, with a number anyone can verify on our site. It is not a Google, CompTIA or ISC2 certification.

How long does the Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course take?

About 8 hours of lessons, notes and practice questions, plus about 8 hours for the project. At a few hours a week, that is three to four weeks.

How does it compare with Security+ or the Google certificate?

It covers the foundations both build on, with a worked example of national cyber law (India's) added, and is a good first step before either. It is shorter and does not replace them; EDWartens is not affiliated with Google, CompTIA or ISC2.

What you walk away with

Your certificate for Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners

Finish the course, pass the final, and this is the document with your name on it.

Sample EDWartens Certificate of Completion for Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners — Sample. The issued certificate carries your name, admission number, a unique certificate number and its own QR code.

Verifiable by anyone
A unique certificate number and a public verification page. A recruiter checks it in ten seconds.
Adds to LinkedIn in one click
Issuer, credential ID and URL prefilled, with 5 matching skills to pin to your profile.
QR code on the certificate
Scans straight to the verification page, so a printed copy proves itself.
Names what you can do
Lists the topics covered, from the eight security domains, stakeholders and the cia triad to incident response, security communication and preparing for a first job.
A permanent link
Put it on a CV, a portfolio or an application. The URL never changes.
Earned, not attended
Issued only after every module and a final assessment at 60%, with 3 attempts. That is why it stands up.

Learning is free. The certificate is optional.

Add it now and pay only when you have finished the course, or come back for it later. One-off, US$23.99, with a receipt.

Issued by EDWartens, the training division of Wartens, as a Certificate of Completion for this self-paced course. Sold by Wartens Ltd (England and Wales). It is not a vendor certification, a university award or a CPD-accredited activity, and it does not certify competence on live equipment. Delivered electronically; see the refund policy.

Credits

Who made the video lessons

The video lessons in this course were created by the people below, not by EDWartens. Every lesson streams from its creator's own YouTube channel; EDWartens neither hosts nor sells that footage, and the creators are not affiliated with EDWartens and do not endorse this course. What EDWartens wrote is the study plan, the notes, the practice tasks and the assessments.

Grow with Googlethe Google Cybersecurity Certificate lessons on the eight security domains, stakeholders, foundations, risks and frameworks, networks and firewalls, operating systems and Linux, authorising users, malware, incident response, data stories, communication, and interviews

If you are one of these creators and would like a lesson removed or credited differently, write to info@wartens.com.