Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners
Start in cybersecurity with no experience: risk, networks, Linux, malware and incident response, using free tools.
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 takes about 8.3 hours, with written notes, a practice task per module, a practical project and a final assessment of 15 questions (pass mark 60%). Learning costs nothing and needs only a free account. The optional EDWartens Certificate of Completion, verifiable by code, is a one-off US$23.99 for you; it is not a vendor credential. Updated 1 November 2026.
- Free
- Beginner
- 8.3 hours
- Self-paced
- Certificate optional
- Lab practice in your browser
No card, no trial. The course is free for good. Certificate US$23.99, optional.
- Who it is for
- Beginners, students and IT staff starting in cybersecurity
- Jobs
- Roles that use this skill: OT security analyst, security engineer, network engineer and compliance analyst. No course guarantees a job.
- Tools
- 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.
- Updated
After this course you can
By the end you will be able to:
- Explain the eight security domains and the CIA triad
- Assess a risk and choose controls using NIST frameworks
- Read Linux file permissions and apply least privilege
- Rank vulnerabilities using CVSS scores
- Write an incident summary a manager can act on
Who it is for, and what you need first
Who it is for
Beginners, students and IT staff starting in cybersecurity.
Level: Beginner. Beginner. No security or IT experience needed. If you can install software and use a browser comfortably, you can start.
What you need
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.. What to download, and how.
How this course works
Watch the lessons
Short video lessons, one module at a time, at your own pace.
Read the notes
Open the Reading tab for the written notes and diagrams of the module.
Practise in the 3D labOptional
Try the module in the free 3D lab, in your browser.
Check yourself
Answer the questions to see what stuck before you move on.
Final assessment
Pass the final once you have been through the modules.
Certificate, if you want oneOptional
Optional, with a page anyone can use to verify it.
What you learn
9 modules in order, at your own pace. 8.3 hours of video lessons, with written notes and a practice task in each module.
- 1The eight domains, and who a security analyst works with12m
- 2Foundations of cybersecurity1h 15m
- 3Managing risks, threats and frameworks1h 28m
- 4Networks, and how to secure them, with lab practice: 43m
- 5Operating systems, Linux, access control and encryption1h 12m
- 6Malware, and how to prepare for it, with lab practice: 21m
- 7Incidents: detection, response and telling the story, with lab practice: 22m
- 8Your first cybersecurity job23m
Show the other 1 modules
- 9Final Assessment
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.
Show what to download (4 tools)
Required
- 01Free
Wireshark
Wireshark Foundation
- 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.
Steps
- 1.Open wireshark.org/download.html.
- 2.Download the Windows x64 Installer (or Arm64, or the macOS Universal Disk Image).
- 3.Run the installer and keep the Npcap option ticked on Windows.
- 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 - 02Free
Ubuntu Desktop
Canonical
- 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.
Steps
- 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.To try it safely, create a new virtual machine in VirtualBox and attach the ISO.
- 3.To install on a real PC, write the ISO to a USB stick (8 GB or more) and boot from it.
- 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.comAlternatives
- 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.
- 03Free
Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)
Microsoft
- 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.
Steps
- 1.Right-click PowerShell and choose "Run as administrator".
- 2.Run: wsl --install
- 3.Restart your PC when asked.
- 4.Open Ubuntu from the Start menu and wait while it unpacks.
- 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 - 04Free
Oracle VirtualBox
Oracle
- 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.
Steps
- 1.Open virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads.
- 2.Click the package for your host system (for example, Windows hosts).
- 3.Run the installer and accept the network driver prompts.
- 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.
Practise in the 3D lab
Practise firewall rules, ranking weaknesses, reading logs and responding to an incident in the OT security lab, on a fictional plant network.
- Firewall rules: the minimum, then deny by defaultOT security labOpen in the lab (opens in a new tab): Firewall rules: the minimum, then deny by default
- Patch or protect: choose within the maintenance windowOT security labOpen in the lab (opens in a new tab): Patch or protect: choose within the maintenance window
- Spot the intruder: the events that matter in a day's logOT security labOpen in the lab (opens in a new tab): Spot the intruder: the events that matter in a day's log
- Incident drill: a simulated note on an operator screenOT security labOpen in the lab (opens in a new tab): Incident drill: a simulated note on an operator screen
Optional. Skip it whenever you like: it never blocks your progress or your certificate.
Course project, about 8 hours
First security assessment of a freight forwarder: inventory, risk register, patch order, mailbox 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 and score its risks, then rank its patches. Write the response procedure for the incident that started the work. Report the findings to the owner in plain language. The sample pack shows each document for the firm, and the finished pack doubles as a portfolio piece for interviews.
- 4documents in the pack
- 6steps to follow
- 5things to hand in
- 8 hof work, at your pace
- Asset inventoryAsset inventory: Portside Cargo Links
- Risk registerRisk register: Portside Cargo Links
- ProcedureSuspected mailbox compromise: response procedure
- ReportSecurity assessment: findings and priorities
The project is optional practice. The certificate needs only the modules and the final assessment.
After the course, your next step
Show what you can do, then keep going in the same field.
A certificate you can verify
Finish the modules and pass the final assessment (15 questions, pass mark 60%) and you can add a certificate with a public verification page. One-off, US$23.99 for you. It is not a vendor credential.
Want a free certificate? Do the matching Free internship: 4 weeks, nothing to buy, with a free certificate of completion.
Cybersecurity (IT and OT)
Eight short weeks of security basics, networks, access control, a security operations centre, industrial (OT) security, IEC 62443 and incident response: notes, diagrams, a few videos and worked exercises. Finish weeks 1 to 4 and the final, then claim a free Internship Completion Certificate with your real dates and study hours, and a QR code anyone can scan to verify it. Training, not employment.
See the internshipMore free courses
Roles that use this skill
- OT security analyst
- Security engineer
- Network engineer
- Compliance analyst
These are the kinds of roles where the skill is used. We make no promise of a job or an interview.
Plain notes
- Free: the whole course, the notes, the practice tasks, the final assessment and support from practising engineers.
- Paid, and optional: the course certificate, and the Engineer-verified internship (the Free internship costs nothing).
- No job promise: the course teaches a skill. It does not place you in a job.
- Lessons by: Grow with Google. Independent creators; the lessons stream from their own channels. EDWartens wrote the study plan, notes, practice tasks and assessments.
Grow with Google. If you are one of these creators and want a lesson removed or credited differently, write to info@edwartens.com.
Practise what you learn in the free 3D lab
Technical work is judged on what you can do: wiring, commissioning, finding a fault. Doing a task yourself teaches more than watching it a second time, and a lab lets you try it safely before you meet real equipment. It does not replace working on real hardware.
- Practise safely, so a mistake costs nothing.
- The lab checks your work like a site test, so you know when it is right.
- Free, in your browser, with nothing to install.
Why learn with EDWartens
What you get with this course, and what comes after it.
- Free from the first lesson to the final assessment.
- Practice in a free 3D lab in your browser, with nothing to install.
- Video lessons with written notes and a project.
- An optional certificate that anyone can verify online.
- Free internships to keep practising afterwards.
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 9 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.
Do I have to use the lab?
No. The lab is optional practice. You can skip it whenever you like, and it never blocks your progress, the final assessment or your certificate.
Is the lab free?
Yes. Every lab level for this course opens in your browser, free, with nothing to install.
What topics does the Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course cover, module by module?
The Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course has 9 modules. It opens with "The eight domains, and who a security analyst works with", goes through "Foundations of cybersecurity", "Networks, and how to secure them", "Malware, and how to prepare for it" and "Your first cybersecurity job" and ends with "Final Assessment". The full list with minutes is under "What you learn" on this page.
What can I do after the Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course?
After the Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course: 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. These are the practical outcomes the course is written around, and the final assessment of 15 questions checks them.
What software and hardware do I need for the Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course, and does it cost anything?
For the Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course, 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. The course itself is free.
Is the Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course suitable for me, and what level is it?
Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners is rated beginner. Beginner. No security or IT experience needed. If you can install software and use a browser comfortably, you can start. It is written for beginners, students and IT staff starting in cybersecurity, and takes about 8.3 hours at your own pace.
Which jobs use the skills from the Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course?
Skills from the Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners course (for example: explain the eight security domains and where an analyst fits) are used in roles such as OT security analyst, security engineer, network engineer and compliance analyst, and in cybersecurity analyst work. The course gives you practical evidence of the skill; it does not promise a job, and employers decide on experience and interview.
Start free today
Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Beginners, at your own pace. Add the certificate only if you want one.