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Free and Low Cost Online Cybersecurity Learning Content

Commercial Products:
Commercial entities or materials may be identified in this web site or linked web sites. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or endorsement by NIST, nor is it intended to imply that the entities or materials are necessarily the best available for the purpose.

Today is the day to explore ways to improve your cybersecurity knowledge, skills, or even prepare for new career opportunities. If you are interested in cybersecurity careers, there are numerous online education providers to choose from. Many online courses are available from your local community college, four-year universities, even the prestigious Centers of Academic Excellence programs – please review all options.

The following links are for free and low-cost online educational content on topics such as information technology and cybersecurity. Some, not all, may contribute towards professional learning objectives or lead to industry certifications and online degrees. Please note that this site will continue to be updated as new information is gathered and edited for clarity and accuracy.

This page is continually updated. Please nice.nist [at] nist.gov (contact us) for more information on how to add additional materials or to correct an error. 

Career and Professional Development

Name and Hyperlink to Materials*Description**
Ascend EducationAscend offers an entire library of cybersecurity and IT courses, (CompTIA A+, Network+, Security+, Linux+, Cloud+, CySA+, PenTest+, Microsoft Azure, Windows Server, Amazon AWS Essentials, Cloud Security Fundamentals, and more) with free evaluation access to try any course that you are interested in. 
Amazon Cybersecurity Awareness TrainingA free 15-minute training that covers secure communication, data classification, phishing, physical security, social engineering, data privacy, third-party/application security, laptop standard, protect data, and acceptable use.
Career Essentials in Cybersecurity by Microsoft and LinkedIn

A Skills for Jobs learning pathway on LinkedIn helps you discover the skills needed for a career in cybersecurity and earn a Career Essentials Certificate. The pathway will help you:  develop an understanding of core cybersecurity concepts; gain fluency in cybersecurity terminology; and explore the cybersecurity threat landscape. (LinkedIn account required, available until 2025).

Center for Development of Security Excellence Cybersecurity eLearningFree cybersecurity eLearning courses for the Department of Defense (DoD) and other U.S. Government personnel and contractors within the National Industrial Security Program (NISP).
Certified in Cybersecurity NEW! ISC2 launches the new “Certified in Cybersecurity” training program*. Free to the first 1,000,000 people who sign up training program. “Builds solid foundation of entry-level knowledge in security principles, business continuity, disaster recovery, incident response, access controls, network security, and security operations. Free self-study course & exam for the first one million participants.” *Please refer to the ISC2 website for program details, limitations.
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) Workshop TrainingTraining provided by Microsoft that includes a collection of security learnings, principles, and recommendations for modernizing security in your organization.
Cisco Networking AcademyFree 6-hour Introduction to Cybersecurity awareness course, plus additional online courses including certification-aligned pathway preparing learners for entry-level Cybersecurity job roles. All for free through the Skills for All learning platform. Available in English, Spanish, and additional languages.
Cyberbit Range Remote TrainingFree remote training for SOC teams, providing live, simulated cyberattacks on Cyberbit’s cloud-based Cyber Range.
Cyber Million ProgramParticipants have two paths to choose from on the Cyber Million platform: a Cyber Fundamentals Collection, which includes introductory courses in cybersecurity, and a Defense Security Operations Collection that includes exercises for participants to learn and demonstrate the cybersecurity skills they’ve developed.
CybersecurityJobs.com Training FundFree 12-month access to leading cybersecurity training provider StationX‘s 1,000 classes, virtual labs, practice tests, and exam simulation
CyberTraining 365 Online AcademyFree courses and low cost subscriptions  to help you  master cybersecurity techniques such as Analyzing Malware, Penetration Testing, Advanced Persistent Threats, and much more. A low cost lifetime subscription is also available. 
Cyber Skyline ProfessionalHeavily discounted scenario-driven cybersecurity labs/challenges for students (use .edu email to sign up). Over 100+ scenarios ranging from forensic analysis to offensive cybersecurity skills that are delivered on an on-demand platform with no time limits and a vibrant Slack community.
CybraryFree information technology and cybersecurity training portal.
EC-CouncilFree resources for the information security community in the form of webinars, blogs, online video training, and much more.
ElasticFree on-demand Elastic Stack, observability, and security courses.
Ethically Hacking Space YouTube ChannelYouTube channel with free training videos focused on technologies and techniques for cybersecurity operations and cyber resilience in space.
Evolve AcademyThe free Cybersecurity Fundamentals course will help you gain hands-on technical skills to lay the foundation for a challenging and rewarding cybersecurity career. 
Federal Virtual Training Environment (FedVTE)Free online cybersecurity training for federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government employees, federal contractors, and US military veterans.
FedVTE Public CoursesFree online training on topics such as supply chain risk management, reverse engineering, cloud computing, foundations for managers, and more.
FortinetFree access to the FortiGate Essentials Training Course and Network Security Expert courses.
Google Cybersecurity CertificatePrepare for a career as a cybersecurity analyst with a professional certificate from Google. Learn job-ready skills that are in-demand, like how to identify common risks, threats, and vulnerabilities, as well as the techniques to mitigate them. (Coursera membership required; 1 week free, then a monthly $49 fee required; 8 courses; approximately 3 to 6 months to complete.)
Hacker101Free class for web security. 
Hands-On Cybersecurity Training - FREE Career Info SessionBreakthrough barriers to high-paying, in-demand jobs with Kinetic Potential, where you’ll get the hands-on experience employers are looking for, plus the skills and certification to do the job. Funding options for courses available. Discover how you, too, can start a career in cybersecurity by attending a free info session, hosted every Friday.  Explore programs. 
Holistic Information Security Practitioner Institute (HISPI)Heavily discounted (use code HISPI-COVID-19) online, on-demand Cyber Security Management Course.
Hopper's Roppers Security Training Community built around a series of free courses that provide training to beginners in the security field. 
IBM (hosted by Coursera)Free (7-day trial) suite of courses on IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity Specialization.
IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Learning and ResourcesFree courses that help you prepare for a job in cybersecurity.
IBM Security Learning AcademyFree technical training for IBM Security products.
Immersive LabsImmersive Labs is the world’s first human cyber readiness platform. Try Immersive Labs for free using our Community Edition (use promocode GIMMEFREELABS at sign-up).
Infosec SkillsFree access (7-day trial; low cost after trial) to  500+ courses, 70+ learning paths, and 100+ browser-based labs for IT, security, and engineering professionals.
Introduction to Software SecurityThe software security education and training effort covers the range from secure design, secure coding, vulnerability assessment and analysis tools.
(ISC)2 Webinars and CoursesFree technical webinars and free courses for (ISC)2 members ($125/year and pre-qualifications required) to earn Continuing Professional Education (CPEs).
(ISC)2 Utilizing Big DataFree course for (ISC)2 members (low cost for non-members) that provides an overview of Big Data components, architectures and applications.
ITProTVFree membership (65+ hours of IT training content) and low cost memberships (4000+ hours of content, practice exams, and virtual labs). Free access to select CompTIA online courses for educational institutions during the Spring and Summer 2020 semesters – learn more.
Microsoft Cyber Security ArchitectureCollection of best practices that is presented in a series of video trainings that provide clear actionable guidance for security-related decisions
Microsoft Technologies TrainingFree security-related courses on Microsoft Technologies.
Mossé Cyber Security Institute Sixty-five free exercises including Penetration Testing, Red Teaming, Security Tools, Cyber Defence, Governance, Risk, Compliance (GRC), and theory, concepts, and fundamentals of cyber security.
NICCS Education and Training CatalogDatabase of free and for pay, online and in person courses. 
Open P-TECHFree digital learning on the tech skills of tomorrow.
PentesterLabFree exercises that cover everything from basic bugs to advanced vulnerabilities. Access Pentester Lab PRO for low cost.
PluralsightFree access to 7,000+ expert-led video courses and more during the month of April. 
Project Ares by CircadenceProject Ares is a low cost, online, gamified learning platform that provides cybersecurity skill learning through hands on activities including concept-driven games and scenarios that emulate real-world networks and network traffic.
RangeForce Community EditionFree training courses, including red and blue team training, in an on-demand cyber range.
SANSFree cybersecurity community resources and programs including white papers, webcasts, newsletters, tools/workstations, scholarship/community programs, templates, blogs, cyber ranges, and security posters. 
SANS Cyber Aces OnlineFree online course that teaches the fundamentals of cybersecurity including operating systems, networking, and systems administration.
SkillsoftFree trial access to sample 7,100+ courses, 110+ practice labs, and 10+ live online boot camps across 67 subjects. The free trial is currently for 14 days.
TryHackMeFree hands-on cyber security training for complete beginners and experts. Choose from over 300 offensive and defensive real-world security labs.
UdemyHeavily discounted online courses for various certifications. 
Veracode Security Labs Community EditionFree beginner to advanced courses that allow developers to sharpen their secure coding skills.
Web Security AcademyFree online web security training.

Educator training and Curriculum

Name and Hyperlink to Materials*Description**
AttackIQ AcademyAttackIQ Academy offers free courses taught by cybersecurity practitioners at the cutting edge of the field. Students gain realistic, hands-on experience in building a threat-informed defense to improve cybersecurity effectiveness.
Ascend EducationAscend Education Free Course Access for IT Instructor Evaluation: Free Ascend Education courses for K12 teachers or College/University instructors.
CertNexusFree online training for teachers and instructors for Cyber Secure Coder, Cybersec First Responders, and CyberSAFE. Additional resources for certifications and curriculum.
CLARK Center Plan CFree cybersecurity curriculum that is primarily video-based or provide online assignments that can be easily integrated into a virtual learning environments.
Computer Security Education Resource CollectionCommunity-sourced collection of free resources related to computer security, cybersecurity, and information security education. The collection is primarily targeted at instructors looking for course materials.
CyberCIEGE Educational Video GameFree network security simulation packaged as a video game with many scenarios, suitable for high school through graduate courses.
Cisco Networking AcademyFree cybersecurity curriculum, hands-on labs, and instructor training. Courses are aligned to industry certifications and prepare learners for entry and associate level Cybersecurity job roles. Available in English, Spanish, and additional languages. 
Labtainers Cyber Lab ExercisesFree Linux-based cybersecurity labs including automated assessment of student work, with over 50 labs prepackaged to run on student laptops.
M.E. KabayFree industry courses and course materials for students, teachers, and others are welcome to use for free courses and lectures.
National CyberWatch Center Cloud-Based LabsHeavily discounted online labs tied to industry certifications and higher education courses; academic institutions and faculty only.
NCyTE Center CurriculumFree cybersecurity curriculum and teaching resources for high school and college instructors. Materials can be incorporated into existing coursework or used to develop new classes.
TestOut Teacher AccessFree Teacher Access to cybersecurity courses, request access now.

Employee Awareness Training

Name and Hyperlink to Materials*Description**
Center for Development of Security Excellence Cybersecurity CatalogFree security awareness resources for learners including games, posters, shorts, videos, and webinars.
Certified Cybersecurity Awareness Professional (CCAP) Certification TrainingLow-cost non-technical course for any individuals using a computer, smart devices, and the Internet. This cybersecurity course provides essential knowledge and skills to protect your information assets against social engineering tools like Spoofing, Phishing, Ransomware, Malware, etc. The over all goal is to protect individuals and companies from financial losses, identity theft, and reputation damage. (Online access for 60 days. Available also in Spanish)
Cybersecurity Education GAMES For Kids and FamiliesA list of free resources curated by the NICE Working Group K12 Subgroup.
Cyber Security for Remote Workers Staff Awareness E-learning CourseLow cost non-technical course help employees remain safe, and understand what to do if and when they experience a cyber attack or phishing scam.
Email Security and Privacy Awareness CourseFree one-hour course to help raise awareness of  email data security and privacy.
Information Security and Cyber Security Staff Awareness E-Learning CourseLow cost course aimed employees who are involved in processing information, use information technology in their daily job, or use the Internet as a means of conducting business.
Wizer Security Awareness TrainingFree Security Awareness Training includes everything you need to train your employees how to protect themselves against cybersecurity attacks, it is 100% free forever with over 20 free videos, quizzes, employee progress reports, and certificates.
Phishing Staff Awareness E-Learning CourseLow cost phishing awareness training.
CertNexusLow cost non-technical course for anyone that uses a computer, phone or device that accesses data at work, or remotely. CertNexus® CyberSAFE® helps ensure that your end users can identify the common risks associated with using conventional end-user technology, as well as how to safely protect themselves and their organizations from security risks.

K12 Education and Games

Name and Hyperlink to Materials*Description**
Education ArcadeEducation Arcade offers free gamified elearning content, with a focus on providing an engaging way for staff to learn about best practice security behaviors. 
Career Explorations: CybersecurityFree cybersecurity curriculum for 5th - 10th graders. 
Culture of CybersecurityFree downloadable kids activities to help your family learn basic cybersecurity concepts and defense strategies.
Fundamentals of Cybersecurity InformationFree (sign up and use class code 2A4E1) courses for middle and high school students.
NICERC at HomeFree activities and Capture the Flag challenges that teach foundational cybersecurity skills and introduction to cybersecurity careers.
Palo Alto NetworksFree activities, lessons and virtual environments that increase a students knowledge of cybersecurity through narrated content, interactions, demonstrations, and knowledge checks.
picoCTFFree computer security game targeted at middle and high school students.
RINGRING (Regions Investing in the Next Generation) is a free, online two-semester course for high school students and includes lesson plans, activities, assessments, games, labs, and instructional slides.
K12 Cybersecurity Resources for at homeCuration of known K12 educational resources for at-home use.

 

*Materials are related to coding, cybersecurity product training, certification preparation or general IT and cybersecurity skills development, and teacher training and curriculum.
**Some of these materials may only be free or low cost (less than $100) for a limited time.

For more information on how to add additional information or to correct an error, please email nice.nist [at] nist.gov (nice[dot]nist[at]nist[dot]gov).

 

Contacts

FOR GENERAL INFORMATION

  • NICE Program Office
    (301) 975-4470
    100 Bureau Dr.
    Gaithersburg, MD 20899
Created April 7, 2020, Updated February 6, 2024