Introduction to IT Security (Coursera)

Students will learn to harden endpoint devices including mobile and IoT devices. Students explore cryptography including symmetric and asymmetric encryption, hashing and digital signatures, and using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to create and manage certificates. Students explore network security including defense in depth, firewalls, IDS/IPS, wireless security, remote access, and cloud computing. Students explore vulnerability management, ethical hacking, and compliance. Then they learn about attackers, social engineering, malware, software/network attacks, wireless and password attacks. Students learn about incident response, forensics, and planning for business continuity. Labs encourage students to apply security concepts to their personal lives, practice applying security to networks, and even include hacking and forensic simulations. At the end of the course, students will complete a capstone project to demonstrate mastery of course objectives and use for personal branding.

This course can be applied to multiple Specializations or Professional Certificates programs. Completing this course will count towards your learning in any of the following programs:

- Akamai Network Engineering Professional Certificate

- Akamai Customer Consulting and Support Professional Certificate

What You Will Learn

Students will learn about security and risk management, IAM, cryptography, vulnerability management, and incident response.

Syllabus

WEEK 1

Security Fundamentals

In this module, you will explore the information security cycle including the concepts of security, risk and the security management process. Then you will leqarn about physical security including the different control types and physical security controls from each type, and addressing environmental exposures.

Authentication and Account Management

In this module, you will explore authentication in depth including learning about authentication factors, multi-factor and single-factor authentication, and strong passwords. You will learn about account management including multiple and shared accounts, single sign-on and access control.

Device Security

In this module, you will learn about securing endpoints including patch management and application control. You will explore integrating mobile and IoT devices, and the effects of location services.

WEEK 2

Encryption

In this module, you will learn the basics of cryptography including the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption, and some of the algorithms. You will learn about hashes and digital certificates and understand the fundamentals of a Public Key Infrastructure.

Network Security

In this module, you will review network components and learn about defense in depth including firewalls and intrusion detection/prevention systems. You will learn about extending the network perimeter including wireless networks, cloud services and remote access.

WEEK 3

Security Management

In this module, you will learn about vulnerability scanning and ethical hacking. You will explore data security, security policies, and gain a deeper understanding of risk. You will also learn about compliance.

Security Threats

In this module, you will learn about attackers and attacks. You will learn about the concepts behind social engineering and some of the more common social engineering attacks. You will learn about web attacks, malware, software attacks, wireless attacks and password attacks.

WEEK 4

Managing Security Incidents

In this module, you will learn about how to manage security incidents including prevention techniques. You will gain an understanding of incident response, forensics, business continuity, redundancy, the disaster recovery process, RAID and backups.

Capstone

Students will demonstrate mastery of the material by creating and uploading a capstone project.