Cyber Security Essentials

A practical, hands-on programme covering the full cyber security landscape — from networking fundamentals and threat assessment to ethical hacking, web application security and UK compliance frameworks. You will work in real lab environments using industry-standard tools and leave with skills directly applicable to SOC analyst, IT security and penetration testing roles.

• Module 1 — Foundations: CIA triad, threat landscape, types of attacks and real-world case studies
• Module 2 — Networking: TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/S, firewalls, VPNs and Wireshark packet analysis
• Module 3 — OS Security: Windows and Linux hardening, user permissions and patch management
• Module 4 — Threat Assessment: OWASP Top 10, CVEs, CVSS scoring, Nmap and Nessus scanning
• Module 5 — Ethical Hacking: Penetration testing methodology, Kali Linux and Metasploitable labs
• Module 6 — Web App Security: SQL injection, XSS, CSRF and DVWA/WebGoat lab exercises
• Module 7 — Compliance: GDPR, ISO 27001, NIST, Cyber Essentials (UK) and incident response
• Module 8 — Capstone: Full mock security audit, report writing and career pathways

Designed for career changers, IT professionals, graduates and anyone looking to enter the fast-growing cyber security sector. No prior security experience required — foundational IT literacy is sufficient. On completion you receive a CPD-certified certificate.

Total duration: 8 weeks — structured weekly sessions with hands-on lab exercises throughout.