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Introduction to Cybersecurity Tools & Cyberattacks

Introduction to Cybersecurity Tools & Cyberattacks

This course is part of multiple programs.

Instructor: IBM Skills Network Team

538,287 already enrolled

Included with

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Beginner level

Recommended experience

1 week to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

How to apply key cybersecurity concepts, tools, and methodologies to protect digital and physical assets
How to recognize various types of threat actors and malware and explore preventive measures
To identify various internet security threats and common cybersecurity best practices
To understand authentication and identity management concepts for safeguarding your organization

Skills you'll gain

Category: Cybersecurity
Category: Identity and Access Management
Category: Cyber Attacks
Category: Human Factors (Security)
Category: Malware Protection
Category: Multi-Factor Authentication
Category: Security Controls
Category: Authentications
Category: Distributed Denial-Of-Service (DDoS) Attacks
Category: Network Security
Category: Threat Management
Category: Security Awareness
Category: Cyber Security Policies
Category: Incident Response

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

13 assignments

Taught in English

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is available as part of

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be asked to select a specific program.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

According to a recent IBM report, cyberattacks have surged 71%! This alarming statistic highlights a huge demand for cybersecurity professionals. This IBM course will introduce you to fundamental cybersecurity concepts, threats, and preventive measures to start your cybersecurity journey.

In this course, you’ll explore the evolution of cybersecurity and discover the critical thinking model. You’ll also cover threat actors, malware, ransomware, and defenses against social engineering. Additionally, you’ll learn about internet security threats and security controls. You’ll explore the fundamentals of identity and access management (IAM), authentication, and access control. You’ll also look at the physical threats organizations encounter and consider effective security measures. Throughout, you’ll build practical knowledge through hands-on labs and gain technical expertise through insights from industry experts. Your final project will enable you to effectively demonstrate your understanding of cybersecurity principles. This course is for anyone who wants a basic understanding of cybersecurity and is part of a series designed to help you start a career as a Cybersecurity Analyst.

In this module, you'll receive a concise overview detailing the history of cybersecurity, along with insights into key events that influenced the global approach to cybersecurity. You’ll learn about critical thinking, its significance, and how it applies in real-world scenarios within cybersecurity. Additionally, you’ll gain a clear understanding of the five key elements of the critical thinking model. Finally, you will delve into the five critical thinking skills that help form the foundation of critical thinking in every professional field, including cybersecurity.

What's included

7 videos5 readings3 assignments

7 videosTotal 46 minutes

Course Introduction4 minutes
The Impact of the WarGames Movie on Cybersecurity 5 minutes
The Impact of 9/11 on Cybersecurity 7 minutes
The Impact of COVID-19 on Cybersecurity 6 minutes
Critical Thinking in Cybersecurity8 minutes
Critical Thinking Model7 minutes
Critical Thinking: 5 Key Skills8 minutes

5 readingsTotal 43 minutes

Course Overview3 minutes
Helpful Tips for Course Completion10 minutes
The History of Cybersecurity 10 minutes
Module 1 Summary: Cybersecurity Insights10 minutes
Module 1 Glossary: Cybersecurity Insights10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 50 minutes

Practice Quiz: History of Cybersecurity10 minutes
Practice Quiz: Critical Thinking10 minutes
Module 1 Graded Quiz: Cybersecurity Insights30 minutes

In this module, you will discover various threat actors and their motivations, and explore the trends highlighted in the latest IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index. You will also explore emerging trends in cybersecurity. Additionally, you will study malware and ransomware tactics, along with strategies to protect your system against them. The module will also introduce social engineering and its applications by cybercriminals. Finally, you will identify essential tips to safeguard your system against phishing, vishing, and smishing attempts.

What's included

8 videos7 readings4 assignments1 app item1 plugin

8 videosTotal 61 minutes

Types of Actors and Their Motives7 minutes
Cybersecurity Trends5 minutes
What is Malware? Let's Hear the Hacker's Viewpoint5 minutes
What is Ransomware? 4 minutes
How to Prevent Malware Attacks6 minutes
Social Engineering - How Bad Guys Hack Users15 minutes
What is Phishing?8 minutes
Humans vs. AI Who's Better at Phishing?11 minutes

7 readingsTotal 70 minutes

Insider Attacks10 minutes
Malware Types10 minutes
Malware Detection with Rootkit Hunters10 minutes
Types of Social Engineering10 minutes
How to Prevent Social Engineering10 minutes
Module 2 Summary: Cybersecurity Threats10 minutes
Module 2 Glossary: Cybersecurity Threats10 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 60 minutes

Practice Quiz: Types of Actors and Their Motives10 minutes
Practice Quiz: Malware and Ransomware10 minutes
Practice Quiz: Social Engineering10 minutes
Module 2 Graded Quiz: Cybersecurity Threats30 minutes

1 app itemTotal 20 minutes

[Optional] Hands-on Lab: Malware Scan Using Rkhunter20 minutes

1 pluginTotal 30 minutes

Activity: Explore the IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Index30 minutes

In this module, you will learn about a range of internet security threats, including network mapping, packet sniffing, ID spoofing, denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, and injection attacks. You'll also gain insights into system, network, and application security, and engage in practical exercises to implement security controls. Furthermore, you'll delve into vulnerability assessment, incident response, and digital forensics.

What's included

11 videos3 readings3 assignments1 plugin

11 videosTotal 77 minutes

Internet Security Threats: Mapping6 minutes
Internet Security Threats: Packet Sniffing7 minutes
Internet Security Threats: IP Spoofing6 minutes
Internet Security Threats: Denial-of-Service Attacks10 minutes
Internet Security Threats: Injection Attacks8 minutes
Security Controls6 minutes
System Security5 minutes
Network Security 9 minutes
Application Security by Design6 minutes
Vulnerability Management6 minutes
Incident Response and Digital Forensics8 minutes

3 readingsTotal 22 minutes

Types of Controls10 minutes
Module 3 Summary: Cybersecurity Controls2 minutes
Module 3 Glossary: Cybersecurity Controls10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 50 minutes

Practice Quiz: Internet Attacks10 minutes
Practice Quiz: Cybersecurity Controls10 minutes
Module 3 Graded Quiz: Cybersecurity Controls30 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

Activity: Implement Cybersecurity Controls15 minutes

In this module, you will learn about identity and access management (IAM) and its four main categories. You will explore various authentication protocols and methods to verify an individual's identity and gain a clear understanding of different access control schemes. Additionally, you will compare traditional and innovative access control methods and explore multifactor authentication, single sign-on, and passkeys. Finally, you will learn about various threats that can impact an organization's cybersecurity and identify different security measures for deterring them.

What's included

8 videos3 readings3 assignments2 plugins

8 videosTotal 50 minutes

Identity and Access Management (IAM)3 minutes
Authentication 6 minutes
Authorization5 minutes
Access Controls 7 minutes
What is Multifactor Authentication?3 minutes
What is Single Sign-On (SSO)?6 minutes
Passkeys FIDO11 minutes
Physical Threats and Controls8 minutes

3 readingsTotal 22 minutes

Physical Cybersecurity Controls10 minutes
Module 4 Summary: Identity and Physical Controls2 minutes
Module 4 Glossary: Identity and Physical Controls10 minutes

3 assignmentsTotal 50 minutes

Practice Quiz: Authentication and Access Control10 minutes
Practice Quiz: Physical Threats and Controls 10 minutes
Module 4 Graded Quiz: Identity and Physical Controls30 minutes

2 pluginsTotal 20 minutes

Activity: Enable Two-Factor Authentication5 minutes
Implement Physical Security Measures15 minutes

In this module, you will complete a final project on multifactor authentication that will provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in this course. You will also take a graded exam to evaluate your understanding of various cybersecurity tools and attacks.

What's included

1 video3 readings1 app item

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Instructor

IBM Skills Network Team

100 Courses3,031,604 learners

Offered by

IBM

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This curriculum unpacks the fundamental vectors used by modern threat actors to compromise enterprise infrastructure. You will analyze real-world data points, including the latest structural findings from the IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index, to understand how adversaries weaponize automated scanning and AI to accelerate their attack lifecycles. The course deconstructs the mechanics of common digital threats, including:

Malware & Ransomware: Demystifying encryption and extortion tactics.

Network Exploits: Understanding packet sniffing, network mapping, and Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks.

Application Vulnerabilities: Identifying code-level threats such as injection attacks and ID spoofing.

Social Engineering:Analyzing human-centric vectors like phishing, vishing (voice phishing), and smishing (SMS phishing).

Defending an organization requires a multi-layered approach combining system, network, and application security. In the hands-on lab environments, you will study how to implement proactive security controls to detect and neutralize adversarial activity. You will explore the operational phases of vulnerability assessments to patch software flaws before exploitation, learn the fundamental steps of structured incident response to contain active data breaches, and receive an introduction to the collection of evidence through digital forensics.

Identity has become the primary perimeter in modern cybersecurity. This course covers the core mechanics of Identity and Access Management (IAM), breaking down its four foundational pillars: identification, authentication, authorization, and accountability. You will explore advanced, passwordless access schemes—comparing traditional authentication with cutting-edge tools like Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Single Sign-On (SSO), and cryptographic Passkeys. The course wraps up with a practical final project focused on designing an MFA deployment to secure an organization against credential harvesting.

To access course materials, assignments, and earn a Certificate, you'll need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. Eligible learners may also have the option to start with a Free Trial. Some courses may also offer a Full Course, No Certificate option. This lets you access course materials, submit required assessments, and receive a final grade, but you won't be able to earn or purchase a Certificate.