Best Cybersecurity Certification Programs of 2024

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Last updated March 6, 2024

In an increasingly connected world in which so many organizations rely on information systems to run their core business day-to-day, demand for internet security professionals is on the rise. Demand is rising so fast, in fact, that the global cybersecurity workforce will need to grow at a blistering 145 per cent each year to keep pace with employer needs, according to cybersecurity association (ICS)2.

Canada’s leading cybersecurity certification programs will give you the job-ready skills you need to identify and manage security threats that risk putting critical private, business and government information in the wrong hands. They’ll also position you for success in a complex and challenging field that attracts an average salary in Canada of more than $90,000 per year.

These programs also help prepare you to qualify for the most in-demand advanced infosecurity certifications such as Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), CompTia Security+, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA).

Whether you are interested in becoming a security analyst, engineer or architect, cryptographer or independent security consultant, this year’s top-rated cybersecurity certificate programs will help give you the knowledge, skills and job support you need to build an in-demand career.

CourseCompare’s annual rankings for “Short Courses & Certificate Programs” are determined using a process that considers several core metrics and principles. Read more about our methodology here.

1.

Lighthouse Labs 4.85/5

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2.

Conestoga College 4.7/5

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3.

Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University 5/5

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4.

BrainStation 4.7/5

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5.

University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies 4.15/5

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6.

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) 3.4/5

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7.

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, Toronto Metropolitan University 5/5

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8.

Seneca College 3.45/5

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9.

York University School of Continuing Studies 3.9/5

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10.

Centennial College 4.35/5

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11.

Toronto School of Management (TSoM) 4.8/5

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12.

Springboard 4.95/5

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13.

Canadian College of Technology and Business (CCTB) 5/5

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14.

Grow with Google 4.4/5

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15.

IBM Training 4.4/5

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16.

Udacity 4/5

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1

Lighthouse Labs

cybersecurity-certification
4.85/5
$ $ $ $

Since its founding in Vancouver in 2013, Lighthouse Labs has quickly taken a leading role in tech education and digital skills training across Canada. The full-stack coding bootcamp, which is consistently among CourseCompare’s top coding bootcamps each year, delivers intensive job training and education alongside upskilling courses to future-proof your career in cybersecurity, data analytics, web development and other highly employable tech skills.

What sets Lighthouse Labs apart?

Lighthouse’s accelerated programs – including its cybersecurity bootcamp – are easily accessible to people with little to tech background, providing a hands-on virtual experience and expert mentoring to establish an in-demand digital toolbox. Recent graduates emphasize the role community plays here, where students, instructors and administrators alike maintain close professional relationships even after graduation.

On top of the expertise and skills training on offer, you’ll receive career coaching and mentorship, interview and resume prep, and ample networking opportunities to help parlay your new cybersecurity savvy into a career.

 

What Students Are Saying

I not only learned to code but went deep into the cybersecurity skills employers are looking for, like incident reporting and encryption and threat detection. I learned alongside great instructors working in the field and students who were mature (22-33) and serious about this career move. Best of all, I completed the program part-time, through live online sessions, in about 6 months. Excellent experience at Lighthouse Labs!

Dave Saunder, Cyber Security Flex Program

The Curriculum

Lighthouse’s state-of-the-art curriculum is based on the principle of “everything you need to know, but only what you need to know,” delivering a comprehensive cybersecurity education in 12 weeks. You’ll develop your skills through a mix of live online classes and self-guided learning.

Following an introductory pre-work prep, students dive into foundational modules covering bases like network administration and incident handling, then moving into advanced concepts like forensics, ethical hacking, secure design principles and threat intelligence. Along the way, you’ll hone your skills in Splunk, Nmap, OpenVPN, GUI, Wireshark and a wide range of cutting-edge tools and platforms.

Lighthouse Labs’ cyber bootcamp launched in 2022, but it’s job placement rate for graduates within six months of graduation is already 89 per cent. Lighthouse Labs’ other award-winning programs continue to maintain similar rates — even in a tough job market for tech workers.

Locations

Live Online

2

Conestoga College

conestoga-college
4.7/5
$ $ $ $

About Conestoga College

Located in Kitchener, Ont., Conestoga College was established in 1967, and now serves approximately 23,000 registered students through campuses and training centres in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, Stratford, Ingersoll and Brantford and is a provincial leader in apprenticeship training. Continuing education programs attract approximately 30,000 enrolments each year.

What sets Conestoga College apart?

This fully online program is designed to give information and digital security professionals the ability to create and manage policy frameworks, standards and procedures, as well as mitigate risk, related to organizations’ most advanced cybersecurity needs. Graduates will attain the skills necessary to become analysts and security specialists in the cyber security profession. 

The Curriculum

Courses include network security and penetration testing, computer forensics and investigation, wireless and mobile device security, ethical hacking and network defence, mobile application security design, hacker techniques, tools and incident handling as well as a cyber security capstone project that integrates the knowledge and skills students have obtained throughout the program. Upon completion, students are able to design and implement comprehensive information security architecture from the planning and design through to the presentation of the final project.

Locations

Online

3

Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst, Toronto Metropolitan University

coding-bootcamps
$ $ $ $

Founded in 2019, the Toronto Metropolitan University Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst is fostering innovation and leadership to advance Canada’s global competitiveness in cybersecurity. The Brampton-based training hub delivers several unique programs, including an accelerator for growing cybersecurity businesses, a gamified learning program for teens and an intensive cybersecurity certification program delivered in partnership with the SANS Institute, a preeminent global cybersecurity educator.

What sets Toronto Metropolitan University Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst apart?

The Catalyst’s flagship offering CLIC (Certifications for Leadership in Cybersecurity) is an immersive six-month program, delivered entirely online with both synchronous and asynchronous elements. The SANS-led training equips students with top-notch practical skills and defensive strategies, and you’ll graduate with two GIAC certifications, an internationally recognized credential that will open doors with any employer.

What Students Are Saying

Hands down, the SANS instructors are the best in the business, and with over 2M vacant cyber jobs worldwide, the Catalyst provides a clear-cut path to a career in cybersecurity.

Junior, Array

The curriculum

CLIC is a deep dive into the essential concepts and knowledge for a successful cybersecurity career, including practical programming, compliance, enterprise infrastructure, cloud security, network security, vulnerability management and more. The later weeks of the program include two weeklong bootcamps and exams to earn your certifications. The program wraps up with cyber range experiential learning, where you’ll test your new skills in an immersive environment with real-world attack scenarios.

Locations

Brampton, Ontario

4

BrainStation

BrainStation-Campus-Online-Bootcamp
$ $ $ $

About BrainStation

Popular with busy professionals who want to add credentials and learn in a dynamic environment while continuing to work, BrainStation has been expanding its education platform since 2012, providing students hands-on learning for today’s fast-moving economy. Instructors are constantly developing the curriculum to meet real-world skills.

What sets BrainStation apart?

The school has a robust network of more than 1,000 hiring partners, giving students a distinct advantage when job hunting. The school also offers access to scholarships, often provided by organizations seeking to hire in the technology, financial and consulting sectors. Graduating students can have their capstone projects featured on the BrainStation website in an online student exhibit, and a Career Success team assists in résumé building and developing job interview skills. On average, 92 per cent of students in BrainStation’s full-time diploma programs find work within six months of graduation.

The Curriculum

Back after a brief hiatus, BrainStation’s cybersecurity certificate enables students to understand technologies used every day by cybersecurity professionals, and how security threats exploit vulnerabilities within those technologies. In five- to-ten  weeks, you will learn how to navigate the complex and changing information security industry, identify security threats and how to create specific strategies to prevent and mitigate real-world security risks for individuals and teams. Instructors cover how to leverage best practices alongside industry-leading techniques to reduce risk, protect against attacks, and be prepared to act when incidents occur.

Locations

Online, Toronto

5

University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

uoft
4.15/5
$ $ $ $

About the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies

The School of Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto offers more than 700 courses in over 40 program areas across a range of professions that help people further their careers and keep up with in-demand skills. Instructors are leaders in business and bring a wealth of practical, real-world knowledge to the academic environment.

What sets the University of Toronto SCS apart?

The Cyber Security Management certificate lays the foundation for getting you closer to the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification by studying content that aligns with ISACA’s model curriculum. You will learn to develop and run cyber security programs. Offered in partnership with Trilogy Education, the school also has a part-time, 24-week, Cyber Security Bootcamp for learners interested in an accelerated format.

 

The Curriculum

Learn how to recognize and manage cyber risks, design and run a cyber security program, align IT security strategy with business goals and needs, train teams to anticipate, recognize and respond to cyber security attacks, and cover content broadly aligned with ISACA’s (Information Systems, Audit and Control Association) major domains and model curriculum.

Students not taking the bootcamp have three years from the start of the first course to complete the three required courses for this certificate.

Locations

Toronto, Online

6

Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)

3.4/5
$ $ $ $

About SAIT

Established in 1916, The Southern Alberta Institute of Technology is a polytechnic institute in Calgary, Alta. The school offers more than 100 applied career programs in technology, trades and business, 1,300 continuing education courses and corporate training programs to more than 200 companies annually.

What sets SAIT apart?

The cybersecurity program prepares students for the security profession, providing courses that cover a variety of defensive and offensive tools while learning the fundamentals of networking, malware analysis, reverse engineering, forensics, social engineering and strategy. SAIT has a 92 per cent graduate job placement rate and the median starting salary for this program is $65,000.

The Curriculum

Courses include network protocols and security, military and strategic studies, secure programming essentials, statistics for engineering and tech, security practice and the Canadian legal system, wireless security, malware analysis, operating system exploitation and payment card industry compliance and encryption. A capstone project is done in the final semester.

Locations

Online, Calgary, Alberta

7

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education, Toronto Metropolitan University

ryerson-university
$ $ $ $

About The Chang School at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)

TMU’s roots are in applied technical education that prepares students for the current job market. Today, the career-oriented public research university is known for its business and IT programs. Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, the degree-granting institution leverages its urban setting for real-world learning. Instructors come from academia and industry, providing students with a well-rounded experience.

What Sets TMU Apart?

The faculty at the Chang School not only teach in-demand skills required of today’s IT departments, but they also help students find jobs and connect them with employers in the job market. The program gives students the skills and knowledge required in this specialized field and teaches them how to apply them in everyday circumstances. The course includes the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification program, offered by the (ISC)2 and helps students prepare for the CISSP exam.

The Curriculum

Courses include Computer Network Security, Computer Cryptography and Digital Steganography, Digital Forensics Systems, Security Architecture and Design, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Continuity and Risk Management. In particular, the Cybersecurity, Data Protection, and Digital Forensics program packages these subjects together in a career-oriented learning experience designed to help you break into the cybersecurity field after just one year of part-time studies.

Locations

Online, Toronto

8

Seneca College

early-childhood-education-programs
3.45/5
$ $ $ $

About Seneca College

With campuses throughout the Greater Toronto Area, Seneca’s size and diversity give students the advantage of partnerships with industry leaders, the latest in hands-on computer technology, a variety of class sizes, and full-time, part-time and continuing education options. Seneca also employs various methods of teaching – from in-class lectures and online learning to co-op and field placements – in programs related to applied arts, business, financial services and technology.

What sets Seneca apart?

As a graduate of this eight-month Ontario College Graduate certificate program, you will be equipped with industry best practices and skills in communication, information security, project management, problem-solving and more. The industry capstone project and optional work term will give you hands-on experience and position you for a career in one of the world’s fastest-growing fields. The program was developed in partnership with Toronto Finance International and its members, which include Canada’s big five banks.

The Curriculum

Courses include information security principles and policies, OS, mobile and network security architecture, ethical hacking and vulnerability testing, and security for cloud and Internet of things, as well as threat intelligence and IT security forensics. An IT security capstone project rounds out the final semester. Upon completion, students will be able to design and implement comprehensive information security architecture from the planning and design phase through the presentation of the final product.

Locations

Online, Toronto

9

York University School of Continuing Studies

3.9/5
$ $ $ $

About York University School of Continuing Studies

Offering one of the largest rosters of continuing education programs in Canada, York University’s School of Continuing Studies provides specialized knowledge to professionals looking to augment their learning and build on practical work experience. The programs allow individuals to explore career options, prepare for promotion and stay on top of current trends in today’s job market.

What sets York University apart?

York’s two programs, the Certificate in Cybersecurity Fundamentals and the Certificate in Advanced Cybersecurity Fundamentals, can be taken separately on a part-time basis for five months or together part-time over 10 months. There is also an option to take the full-time Cyber Security intensive program over 12 weeks. The programs have credibility in the marketplace because the course is aligned with the eight domains of the CISSP body of knowledge.

Completing both programs will prepare you to present the CISSP examination and help you earn your designation.

The Curriculum

The programs examine the information security knowledge framework as you develop an understanding of the eight CISSP domains and gain the required knowledge for information security projects and the designation. You will also develop an understanding of the ethical, legal and regulatory issues surrounding cybersecurity as you learn about security principles, network fundamentals and how to apply these areas to design networks and policies for security and compliance. The courses also cover mitigating risk and protecting ownership by understanding best practices for data gathering, classification, storage, retention and protection.

Fundamental concepts as well as information on selecting controls and countermeasures, and the application of cryptography, are also covered. Students also learn relevant business skills, like how to apply best practices in vendor procurement, investigations and preventative measures, resource management, disaster recovery, and business continuity.

Locations

Online

10

Centennial College

4.35/5
$ $ $ $

About Centennial College

One of Canada’s oldest community colleges, Centennial has transformed itself over the last 50 years from a local college to a global career enabler, with a presence in China, India, South Korea and Brazil. The focus has always been on providing graduates with the skills to be ready for the job market whether in Canada or abroad. With four campuses across Toronto, the college offers flexibility in full and part-time learning both online and in-class.

What sets Centennial College apart?

Taught at the School of Engineering Technology and Applied Science, this full-time one-year graduate program in Cyber Security is completed over two semesters. To enhance your applied learning experience, you’ll learn current IT security tools, policies and techniques in a modern cybersecurity lab that was established in collaboration with the college’s industry partners.

The Curriculum

The program provides instruction in protecting computers, applications, and networks from unauthorized and malicious users or software. Core cybersecurity concepts will be covered including cryptography, cyber forensics, and network security. In-demand knowledge of mobile network security and cloud security will also be covered.

Locations

Toronto, Online

11

Toronto School of Management (TSoM)

data-analytics-certification
$ $ $ $

About Toronto School of Management

Located in downtown Toronto, the Toronto School of Management brings together seasoned instructors and industry partners who strive to provide students with a solid basis of technical and soft skills to find employment in some of the fastest-growing companies in Canada.

What sets Toronto School of Management apart?

The year-long Diploma in Cybersecurity Specialist includes a 240-hour co-op work placement at one of the school’s more than 100 workplace partners, ensuring that students get important on-the-job training and exposure to professionals who can teach them skills beyond the classroom. The program is powered by CompTIA, giving graduates the knowledge to build a solid foundation towards the Security+ certification.

The Curriculum

The curriculum covers all aspects of cybersecurity, including blockchain, risk management, big data and the Internet of Things (IofT). You will study computer systems and networks and assess risks to determine how security policies and protocols can be improved. Instructors teach students how to identify information security risks and implement new ways to protect an organization’s computer systems and networks, how to handle computer communication across multiple operating systems, respond to security alerts, and uncover and fix flaws in computer systems and networks.

Locations

Toronto

12

Springboard

coding-bootcamps
4.95/5
$ $ $ $

What Sets Springboard Apart? 

Springboard’s emphasis on job placement is backed not only by a job guarantee, but access to a student advisor, personal mentor and a career coach. In other words, students get help navigating the hiring process and even negotiating above-market salaries after graduation. UX and Data Science graduates, for example, earned an average salary increase of $26,000 USD in 2020.

The Curriculum

Springboard launched its new Cyber Security Career Track program in 2021, which is the only cybersecurity bootcamp in Canada to offer a job guarantee. The program is delivered in partnership with InfoSec Learning, LLC, as well as globally recognized certification body CompTIA Security+ to ensure all students graduate with the technical skills needed to pass the CompTIA Security+ certification exam and begin an IT security career.

Locations

Online

13

Canadian College of Technology and Business (CCTB)

cybersecurity-certification
$ $ $ $

A central location in the heart of downtown Vancouver and an emphasis on co-op work placement set the Canadian College of Technology and Business (CCTB) apart. Specializing in business and information systems, CCTB has three different cyber security programs.

In addition to cyber security, CCTB offers other co-op programs in business, hospitality and tourism, digital marketing, user experience design, software quality assurance engineering, data engineering, and web development.

What sets CCTB apart?

Whether you are just starting a career in cyber security or looking to advance your skills and climb the corporate ladder, CCTB has a program for you. The Diploma in Cyber Security Analyst Practicum is CCTB’s introductory program that sets you on the path to becoming a Cyber Security Analyst. Through a mixture of in-class lessons and practical work experience, you will gain an expert knowledge of operating systems, data management and general system communications.

Next up is the Postgraduate Certificate in Security Operations Analyst with Co-Op, where you will develop the skills necessary to enhance your career as a cyber security professional. You will learn the in-demand technical skills surrounding Security Operations Center (SOC) processes, procedures, technologies, and workflows.

Finally, CCTB’S Cyber Security Risk Management with Co-Op is a multidisciplinary program that equips learners with a broad range of IT security competencies, enabling you to work across a wide variety of information technology fields in management and consulting positions.

What Students Are Saying

I am very happy at CCTB. The college has great staff and instructors and a high-quality education. I chose to study the Cybersecurity Analyst Practicum program at CCTB because it is in high demand. After I graduate from CCTB, I want to apply to one of the top companies in Vancouver.

Esteban Perez, Diploma in Cybersecurity Analyst Practicum

The Curriculum

Diploma in Cyber Security Analyst Practicum

By the end of the diploma, students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of web programming, implement encryption-based technologies, and run penetration tests on systems to test for potential security risks. The program will close with an opportunity for students to showcase their skills through a Hackathon.

Postgraduate Certificate in Security Operations Analyst with Co-Op

You will gain in-depth knowledge of security threats, attack vulnerabilities, threat actor behavior, the cyber kill chain, and many other SOC-related concepts in this co-op program. You will also identify Indicators of Compromise (IoC), monitor and analyze system logs (IDS/IPS, end-point protection, servers, and workstations), learn Centralized Log Management (CLM) applications and processes, implement and administer Security, Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions (Splunk, AlienVault, OSSIM, ELK), prepare comprehensive analytical security reports and briefings, perform incident detection and response processes, and implement and administer Service Desk Ticketing Systems.

Cyber Security Risk Management with Co-Op

In this multidisciplinary program you will learn enterprise-level strategic security planning; SOC processes, procedures, technologies, and workflows; SIEM solutions; governance, risk and compliance analysis and planning; system, network, and application penetration testing; advanced monitoring, logging, and alert analysis across multiple technology platforms (IDS/IPS, end-point protection, enterprise servers, workstations, and cloud environments); detection, analysis, and remediation of various network, system, and organizational vulnerabilities; Web Application Security Risk Analysis (OWASP Top 10); and Critical Security Controls (CIS Top 20).

Locations

Vancouver

14

Grow with Google

Grow with Google | CourseCompare
4.4/5
$ $ $ $

Grow with Google is an initiative that aims to help Canadians learn new skills, find jobs, and grow their businesses. It offers free and paid online training, tools, and resources for learners, educators, job seekers, and entrepreneurs. Whether you want to start a new career, advance your current one, or launch your own venture, Grow with Google can help you achieve your goals. You can access various programs, such as Google Career Certificates, Applied Digital Skills, Google for Education, and Google for Startups, and learn from Google experts and partners. You can also join events, workshops, and webinars to connect with other learners and mentors.

Why Study Cybersecurity at Google?

The Google Cybersecurity Certificate is offered by Google through Coursera, a leading online learning platform. The certificate is designed for learners who want to start or advance their careers in the fast-growing field of cybersecurity, even if they have no prior experience or degree. According to Google, 75 percent of certificate graduates report a positive career outcome (e.g., new job, promotion, or raise) within six months of completion. Graduates can advance to jobs such as Cybersecurity Analyst, Security Analyst or Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst. The certificate also prepares learners for more advanced cybersecurity courses and certificates offered by Google and Coursera.

Certificate Programs

The Google certificate program teaches you to Identify common security risks, threats, and vulnerabilities, as well as techniques to mitigate them; how to protect networks, devices, people, and data from unauthorized access and cyberattacks using Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools; and gain hands-on experience with Python, Linux, and SQL.

The program is designed for beginners and can be completed in six months at seven hours of study per week. Upon completion, you will earn a shareable certificate from Google and get access to career resources and employer connections.

Locations

Online

15

IBM Training

IBM | CourseCompare
$ $ $ $

IBM, a global leader in technology and innovation, has partnered with Coursera, a leading online learning platform, to offer a range of professional certificates and courses for learners of all levels. Whether you want to learn new skills, enhance your existing ones, or prepare for a career change, you can access high-quality training from IBM experts and industry leaders on topics such as data science, AI, cloud computing, web development, and more. You can choose from various modes of learning, such as online, instructor-led, self-paced, or blended, and earn credentials that are recognized by employers worldwide.

Why Study Cybersecurity at IBM?

With IBM training, you will work on portfolio-ready projects that showcase your cybersecurity skills and knowledge. You will earn a certificate from IBM that validates your expertise and is recognized by employers. With this certificate, you will be eligible for various job roles in cybersecurity, such as Junior Cybersecurity Analyst, or Cybersecurity Analyst.

Certificate Programs

IBM Cybersecurity Analyst professional certificate can help you develop knowledge of cybersecurity analyst tools, including data protection, endpoint protection, SIEM, and systems and network fundamentals; learn about key compliance and threat intelligence topics important in today’s cybersecurity landscape; gain skills for incident responses and forensics with real-world cybersecurity case studies; and get hands-on experience to develop skills via industry-specific and open source security tools.

The program is designed for beginners and can be completed in four months at ten hours of study per week.

Locations

Online

16

Udacity

Udacity | CourseCompare
$ $ $ $

Udacity is an online learning platform that offers courses and programs in various technology-related fields, such as data science, artificial intelligence, programming, business, and more. Udacity was founded in 2011 by two Stanford instructors who wanted to make their artificial intelligence course accessible online. Udacity’s courses are designed to help learners gain job-ready skills and credentials through hands-on projects, personalized feedback, and mentorship. Udacity also partners with leading tech companies, such as Google, Amazon, and IBM, to create industry-relevant curricula and provide career opportunities for its graduates.

Why Study Cybersecurity at Udacity?

If you want to start or advance your career in cybersecurity, you could consider getting a “nanodegree” from Udacity, which is more or less equivalent to a professional certificate. Their nanodegree program will teach you the fundamentals of cybersecurity, such as security concepts, tools, techniques, and best practices. You will also learn how to perform security audits, analyze vulnerabilities, and implement security solutions. With the nanodegree, you will be ready to pursue various entry-level cybersecurity roles, such as Security Analyst, Security Engineer, Security Auditor, or Security Consultant.

Certificate Programs

Completing the Introduction to Cybersecurity Nanodegree from Udacity will help you develop the skills and proficiencies that are essential for a successful career in cybersecurity. You will learn how to use various security tools and techniques, such as Nmap, Wireshark, Metasploit, and Burp Suite, to perform security audits, analyze vulnerabilities, and implement security solutions. You will also gain a solid understanding of security concepts, such as cryptography, network security, web security, and data privacy. By the end of the program, you will be able to demonstrate your cybersecurity skills and knowledge by completing a capstone project that involves a real-world security scenario.

The program is designed for beginners and is completed in four months on average.

Locations

Online

MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) 

Online learning platforms like Coursera, edX and Udacity offer access to Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), promising certifications and even degrees. These courses generally consist of pre-recorded videos and online quizzes or exams that can be completed at your own pace — they are flexible, typically low cost, and lean heavily on carefully calibrated Learning Management Systems (LMS’s) designed to break learning into bite-sized chunks and, often, gamify your experience to help keep you motivated.

It’s important to understand, however, what MOOCs are not: they do not offer live instruction, cohort-based learning and interaction with a group of peers, direct and ongoing feedback from professors, or live mentorship, networking opportunities or career support, compared to the benefits of attending an actual coding bootcamp or experiencing life on a college or university campus.

Keep in mind, too, that colleges and universities in Canada are provincially regulated, and each province outlines its own accreditation requirements for certificates, diplomas and degrees. Generally speaking, college certificate programs require the completion of two semesters (or one year) of study as approved by the province’s ministry of post-secondary education. MOOCs offering “professional certificates” are not accredited by provincial education ministries in Canada.

Nevertheless, MOOCs can be a great way to survey new academic territory while you decide if you are indeed ready to pursue comprehensive training at an accredited college or university. Below are some of the most popular platforms for taking that first step toward a cybersecurity certification in Canada or internationally.

Coursera

Coursera is partnered with more than 275 universities and other organizations to provide students with an affordable online way to learn cybersecurity and other in-demand skills.

Coursera operates on a “freemium” model. That is, some courses are free, but if you want to earn a certificate, such as a certificate in cybersecurity, you need to subscribe to Coursera Plus and pay a monthly fee of $79 CAD.

Popular cybersecurity certifications on Coursera include the Google Cybersecurity Certificate and the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst.

edX

edX is a MOOC provider created by Harvard and MIT with a freemium model similar to Coursera. It is now partnered with more than 250 post-secondary institutions and private companies.

edX also offers the IBM Cybersecurity Analyst certificate, but at a different price tag. While Coursera charges a monthly fee until you complete the certificate, edX charges a one-time fee of $1,454 CAD.

Udacity

Udacity is another leading American MOOC provider with 16.9 million registered users. Udacity does not offer professional certificates but rather “nanodegrees” developed in-house, sometimes in collaboration with private companies. The nanodegree programs are built around real-world projects and offer project feedback from reviewers.

The Introduction to Cybersecurity Nanodegree by Udacity is offered through a “pay as you go” model at $$330 USD per month or $1,122 USD for 4-month access. On average, it takes four months to complete the course.

CourseCompare Editorial Team

CourseCompare is Canada's marketplace for education. Its editorial staff consists of award-winning journalists, visual storytellers, data analysts and web developers working together to help prepare people for the future of work.

2 thoughts on “Best Cybersecurity Certification Programs of 2024”

  1. I enrolled at TMU CyberSecure Catalyst, with help from CourseCompare and the amazing advisors on the team. And it all began with this blog post! Thank you and wish me luck!

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