Foundations of Cybersecurity
This is the first course in the Google Cybersecurity Certificate.
Foundations of Cybersecurity is a beginner-level online course from Coursera in Cyber Security. It is structured in 4 modules with 4 stated learning outcomes, over 10h 3m. Learners rate it 4.8/5 from 42.3K ratings on Coursera.
Part of our Cyber Security courses collection, where we compare it against 2 other courses.
Course highlights
| Provider | Coursera |
| Duration | 10h 3m |
| Level | Beginner |
| Mode | Self-paced |
| Language | English |
| Certificate | Yes — shareable certificate |
| Rating | 4.8★ (42.3K reviews) |
| Price | Check price Free |
What you’ll learn
Level and time commitment
What this course covers
4 modulesThe 4-part outline Coursera publishes for this course, across 10h 3m.
Module 1 · Welcome to the exciting world of cybersecurity
Module 2 · The evolution of cybersecurity
Module 3 · Protect against threats, risks, and vulnerabilities
Module 4 · Cybersecurity tools and programming languages
What learners rate it
Rated 4.8/5 by 42.3K learners on Coursera (checked 25 Aug 2026).
This rating is collected by Coursera from its own enrolled learners. We reproduce it as reported and do not accept paid or incentivised reviews. See it on Coursera →
Compiled by the 10courses editorial desk. Fees, ratings, duration and certificate details for the 1 course shown are read directly from Coursera course pages — we never estimate a price or a rating. Last verified 25 August 2026.
How we compare and rank courses · Our review policy · Affiliate disclosure
Compare with alternatives
Same topic, different trade-offs — here's who runs each one and what it's best at.
| Course | Provider | Rating | Price | Duration | Why pick this one |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations of Cybersecurity This |
 Coursera
|
4.8★ | Check price | 10h 3m | Highest rated (4.8★ from 42.3K reviews) |
| Certified in Cybersecurity |
Coursera
|
4.7★ | Check price | 1 month | Beginner-friendly · 1 month |
| AI for Cybersecurity |
Coursera
|
4.3★ | Check price | 3 months | Beginner-friendly · 3 months |
Where Cyber Security leads
Roles we map to Cyber Security on 10courses. This is our own mapping of subject to job, not a placement claim by Coursera.
Browse every course we track for one of these — courses for cyber security analysts.
Common questions
How much does Foundations of Cybersecurity cost?
Coursera does not publish a price we can read on the course page, so we do not show one. Check the fee on the provider site — we would rather say nothing than quote a number we did not collect.
Does Foundations of Cybersecurity come with a certificate?
Yes — Coursera lists a certificate on completion. It is a course certificate, not a formal qualification or university credit.
How long does Foundations of Cybersecurity take?
Coursera lists it at 10h 3m. It is self-paced, so that is the volume of material rather than a deadline — how long it actually takes depends on the hours you put in each week.
Is Foundations of Cybersecurity suitable for beginners?
Yes. Coursera lists it at Beginner level, so no prior experience in the subject is assumed.
What does Foundations of Cybersecurity cover?
It is organised into 4 modules, starting with Welcome to the exciting world of cybersecurity and going on to The evolution of cybersecurity, Protect against threats, risks, and vulnerabilities, Cybersecurity tools and programming languages. The full outline is on this page.