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Penetration Testing Courses Online

Master penetration testing for cybersecurity. Learn to identify vulnerabilities, perform security assessments, and mitigate threats.

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Explore the Penetration Testing Course Catalog

  • Status: New
    New
    Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    I

    Infosec

    Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

    Skills you'll gain: Identity and Access Management, IT Security Architecture, Security Testing, Single Sign-On (SSO), Data Security, Contingency Planning, User Provisioning, Cryptography, Network Security, Application Security, Information Systems Security, Cryptographic Protocols, Asset Protection, Cloud Security, Computer Security Incident Management, Digital Assets, Public Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS), Incident Response, Risk Management Framework, Risk Management

    4.6
    Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
    ·
    32 reviews

    Advanced · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    B

    Board Infinity

    ISTQB Technical Test Analyst Preparation

    Skills you'll gain: Performance Testing, Maintainability, Test Tools, Software Testing, Code Review, Test Automation, Software Technical Review, Test Planning, Software Quality (SQA/SQC), Scripting, Risk Analysis, Software Quality Assurance, Continuous Integration, CI/CD, Regression Testing, Code Coverage, Test Case, Unit Testing, Quality Assurance, Security Testing

    3.4
    Rating, 3.4 out of 5 stars
    ·
    10 reviews

    Advanced · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: New
    New
    Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    I

    Infosec

    CISSP Domain 6: Security Assessment and Testing

    Skills you'll gain: Security Testing, Continuous Monitoring, Cyber Security Assessment, Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Assessments, Intrusion Detection and Prevention, Vulnerability Scanning, Security Controls, Threat Detection, Threat Modeling, Endpoint Detection and Response

    Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: New
    New
    Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    W

    Whizlabs

    Exam Prep: Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect

    Skills you'll gain: Cloud Computing Architecture, Google Cloud Platform, Load Balancing, Dataflow, Kubernetes, Network Architecture, Data Migration, Data Architecture, Network Troubleshooting, Cloud Security, Network Monitoring, Cloud Computing, Cloud Solutions, Cloud Storage, Data Pipelines, Cloud Infrastructure, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Scalability, Key Management, Looker (Software)

    Advanced · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    B

    Board Infinity

    Mastering Usability Testing: Techniques and Best Practices

    Skills you'll gain: Usability Testing, Software Testing, Software Quality (SQA/SQC), Test Planning, Human Centered Design, Technical Communication, User Experience Design, User Research, UI/UX Research, User Interface (UI), Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Stakeholder Engagement

    Advanced · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

  • Status: New
    New
    Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    P

    Pearson

    Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

    Skills you'll gain: Cloud Management, Cloud Security, Application Security, Cloud Computing, Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Applications, IT Security Architecture, Identity and Access Management, Data Integrity, Secure Coding, Private Cloud, Security Awareness, Data Centers, Data Management, Personally Identifiable Information, Threat Modeling, Security Testing, Security Controls, General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Service Level

    Advanced · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

What brings you to Coursera today?

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    L

    L&T EduTech

    Construction Techniques and Practices

    Skills you'll gain: Construction, Construction Inspection, Construction Management, Equipment Design, Construction Engineering, Construction Estimating, Maintenance, Repair, and Facility Services, Product Lifecycle Management, Cost Estimation, Architecture and Construction, Building Codes, Engineering Practices, Commercial Construction, Machine Controls, Plant Operations and Management, Structural Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Facility Management and Maintenance, Automation Engineering, Civil Engineering

    Advanced · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    G

    Google

    Google IT Automation with Python

    Skills you'll gain: Git (Version Control System), GitHub, Version Control, Cloud Services, Debugging, Puppet (Configuration Management Tool), Infrastructure as Code (IaC), Bash (Scripting Language), CI/CD, Cloud Computing, Technical Communication, Unit Testing, Web Services, Email Automation, Configuration Management, Automation, Python Programming, Interviewing Skills, Professional Development, Scripting

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    51K reviews

    Advanced · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    L

    L&T EduTech

    Geotechnical Foundation Design

    Skills you'll gain: Building Codes, Construction, Laboratory Testing, Structural Engineering, Test Engineering, Laboratory Experience, Construction Engineering, Civil Engineering, Environmental Monitoring, Engineering Analysis, Virtual Environment, Experimentation, Research Reports, Structural Analysis, Analytical Testing, Engineering Practices, Penetration Testing, Engineering Calculations, Failure Analysis, Finite Element Methods

    4.8
    Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
    ·
    8 reviews

    Advanced · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    I

    IBM

    IBM AI Enterprise Workflow

    Skills you'll gain: Feature Engineering, Data Ethics, Exploratory Data Analysis, Unsupervised Learning, Data Presentation, Tensorflow, Application Deployment, Dimensionality Reduction, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Probability Distribution, Apache Spark, Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Supervised Learning, Data Visualization Software, Data Pipelines, Design Thinking, Unit Testing, Data Science, Machine Learning, Python Programming

    4.4
    Rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars
    ·
    348 reviews

    Advanced · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    L

    L&T EduTech

    Highway Planning, Pavement Design and Construction

    Skills you'll gain: Construction Inspection, Building Codes, Construction Engineering, Construction, Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Civil and Architectural Engineering, Structural Engineering, Hydrology, Engineering Practices, Hydraulics, Structural Analysis, Materials science, Engineering Plans And Specifications, Laboratory Testing, Engineering Software, Engineering Design Process, Plant Operations and Management, Safety Standards, Engineering Calculations

    Advanced · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    B

    Board Infinity

    ISTQB Usability Tester Certification Preparation

    Skills you'll gain: Usability Testing, Usability, Human Centered Design, Software Testing, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), Surveys, Human Computer Interaction, Software Quality (SQA/SQC), Survey Creation, Test Planning, User Centered Design, Technical Communication, User Experience Design, User Interface (UI), User Research, UI/UX Research, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, User Experience, Risk Management Framework, Stakeholder Engagement

    3.1
    Rating, 3.1 out of 5 stars
    ·
    9 reviews

    Advanced · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

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1234…10

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular pen testing courses

  • Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): Infosec
  • ISTQB Technical Test Analyst Preparation: Board Infinity
  • CISSP Domain 6: Security Assessment and Testing: Infosec
  • Exam Prep: Google Certified Professional Cloud Architect: Whizlabs
  • Mastering Usability Testing: Techniques and Best Practices: Board Infinity
  • Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP): Pearson
  • Construction Techniques and Practices: L&T EduTech
  • Google IT Automation with Python: Google
  • Geotechnical Foundation Design: L&T EduTech
  • IBM AI Enterprise Workflow: IBM

Skills you can learn in Computer Security And Networks

Cybersecurity (33)
Google (25)
Google Cloud Platform (17)
Internet (17)
Cryptography (16)
Network Security (16)
Linux (12)
Software Testing (12)
Information Security (10)
Application Programming Interfaces (8)
Kubernetes (8)
Web (8)

Frequently Asked Questions about Pen Testing

Penetration testing, commonly referred to as pen testing or “ethical hacking,” is the process of conducting a simulated cyberattack on an organization’s computer system. Pen testing is an important technique used by cybersecurity professionals for exposing database vulnerabilities and network security flaws that could be exploited by hackers. With so much of today’s critical business as well as personal information accessible through the internet, cyberattacks can be incredibly costly or even dangerous, making this process of identifying vulnerabilities essential.

Pen tests may use a variety of methods to execute a cyberattack, including brute force attacks, SQL injection, phishing, or even hardware devices. In order to simulate real-world cyberattacks as closely as possible, a “single-blind” test is typically carried out by an outside cybersecurity or IT security analyst with no prior knowledge of the network security systems in place, and in a “double-blind” test the company’s own IT and cybersecurity team is not given advance notice. Pen testing procedures also vary depending on whether the organization wants to simulate an external attack from an outside hacker or an internal attack from a disgruntled employee.‎

Pen testing is an essential part of the toolkit of IT security analysts and cybersecurity consultants, who are responsible for helping companies protect their computer networks and systems against malicious cyber attacks. Unknown network security vulnerabilities can lead to incredibly costly data breaches, potentially exposing private information of an organization, its employees, and its customers, making the identification of these flaws a critically important part of cybersecurity.

Given the elevated and increasing importance of cybersecurity today, professionals in this field are highly sought after. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security analysts earned a median annual salary of $99,730 in 2019, and these jobs are expected to grow by 31% between 2019 and 2029 - much faster than average job growth across the rest of the economy.‎

Certainly. Coursera offers many opportunities to learn about penetration testing and other cybersecurity topics, including individual courses and Specializations spanning multiple courses. You can learn from top-ranked schools like University of California Davis, University of Maryland College Park, University of Colorado, and the University of London, or you can take courses from IBM to earn a professional certificate in cybersecurity. Regardless of where you want to learn from, Coursera lets you view course materials and complete coursework on a flexible schedule so that you can add these important cybersecurity skills to your resume while continuing to pursue your other schoolwork or existing career.‎

Because penetration testing isn't a beginner-level skill, you should have a solid technical background in basic Unix commands, software development, and using Linux. Without this experience and skill set, you'll likely struggle with learning pen testing. You should also have a good foundation in the basics of coding, particularly full-stack skills, including Python, JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. Some classes may have other prerequisites, such as having an understanding of TCP/IP, networking, and/or Bash scripting.‎

If you have a strong drive to understand how things work and to beat hackers at their own game, then learning penetration testing might be the ideal subject for you. As a pen tester, you'll be tasked with finding and fixing vulnerabilities, including ones that were previously unknown. You'll also discover how an attack would impact a business and assess how effectively organizations are able to respond and detect attacks. If working on the front lines in the war against hackers and those who threaten cybersecurity sounds exciting, learning pen testing will get you on your way to creating a career doing just that.‎

Although you don't need a degree to build a career in penetration testing, gaining a formal education in computer science or computer security can help you develop some of the skills you'll need. Common undergraduate degrees for people interested in this field include information security, computer engineering, cybersecurity, and math. Some penetration testers go on to earn their master's degree in cybersecurity or a related field while others go on to work as a network or systems administrator before pursuing certification. Some of the most common certifications include the Certified Ethical Hacker or the Licensed Penetration Tester Master from the EC-Council, the Certified Expert Penetration Tester from the Information Assurance Certification Review Board, and the CompTIA Security+ credential.‎

Any organization within any industry can benefit from pen testing, but some of the industries most likely to hire pen testers include those that are highly regulated, like health care, banking and finance companies, and service providers. Pen testers can use their skills to test for compliance with regulations. For example, pen testers might perform an audit of a medical device company, hospital, or health care information exchange to ensure it's HIPAA-compliant. Other places rely on pen testing to reveal vulnerabilities in their websites, networks, and systems to remain more secure and enact policies to stay that way.‎

Online Pen Testing courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Pen Testing skills. Choose from a wide range of Pen Testing courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.‎

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Pen Testing, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here.‎

This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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