Cybersecurity in the Cloud Specialization

• What is the refund policy?

  If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.

• Can I just enroll in a single course?

  Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

• Is financial aid available?

  Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.

• Can I take the course for free?

  When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.

• Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?

  This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

• How long does it take to complete the Specialization?

  Sixteen (16) weeks: each course is scheduled over a 4-week period. Some students may complete some weeks faster, depending on availability of peer review.

• What background knowledge is necessary?

  The course is intended for cybersecurity novices. Learners must be familiar with the following:

  • Major hardware and software components of their computer
  • The role of backups and updates
  • The distinction between a 'local' network and the public Internet
  • Experience writing simple software programs or scripts

• Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?

  The courses are designed to be taken in this order:

  1. Cloud Security Basics
  2. Cloud Data Security
  3. Cloud Application Security
  4. Top Ten Cloud Risks*

  If learners take the courses in a different order, they will encounter topics that are explained in the earlier courses.

  * The Top Ten Cloud Risks course may be taken by itself if the learner already knows cybersecurity fundamentals and, in particular, how the major risks manifest themselves in the cloud environment.

• Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?

  The University of Minnesota's Software Engineering Center offers an in-person graduate program in which you may be able to take the course for credit.

• What will I be able to do upon completing the Specialization?

  You will develop proficiency at assessing cloud vulnerabilities and attack reports in the context of US national documentation standards. You will also learn to navigate cloud provider documentation and apply available features to classic cybersecurity risks.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.