Cybersecurity Analyst is the entry-level role into one of the most defensible careers in tech. Median $112K in 2026, fastest-growing job category by demand, and a clear ladder to $175K+ as a Senior or Threat Analyst within 4 years. Here is the curriculum.

MEDIAN SALARY
$112K (US 2026)
TIME TO ENTRY
9–15 months
REMOTE-FRIENDLY
Often hybrid
DEMAND
Highest in tech

What a Cybersecurity Analyst actually does

Monitors security tools (SIEM, EDR), investigates alerts, triages incidents, runs phishing simulations, hardens configurations, and writes the postmortems when something gets through. Entry-level role often called SOC Analyst (Security Operations Center).

The skills hiring managers test

  • Networking fundamentals — TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, ports
  • Linux and Windows internals
  • Common attacks — phishing, malware, web app exploits
  • SIEM tools (Splunk, Elastic, Microsoft Sentinel)
  • Incident response process and documentation
  • One scripting language — usually Python

The curated course list

1
Introduction to Cybersecurity Tools and Cyber Attacks
Coursera · IBM
The right starting point. IBM curriculum, accessible to total beginners.
2
Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate
Coursera · Microsoft
The most credential-heavy entry path. Maps directly to SOC analyst job descriptions.
3
CompTIA A+ Certification (Mike Meyers)
Udemy
Hardware and OS foundations. A+ is the universal entry credential.
4
The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking
Coursera · Google
You cannot defend networks you do not understand. Required.
5
Linux Administration Bootcamp
Udemy
Most security tools and most servers run Linux. Get fluent.
6
Google IT Support (Networking Module)
Coursera · Google
Reinforces networking from the IT support angle. Helpful pair with #4.
7
Modern Python 3 Bootcamp
Udemy · Colt Steele
Security analysts script daily — log parsing, IOC pivots, automation.
8
SQL for Data Analysis
Udacity
SIEMs query data. Splunk SPL, KQL, and SQL all share the same mental model.
Realistic timeline: 9–12 months from zero to your first SOC Analyst interview. Add CompTIA Security+ as your industry cert once you finish the courses above.
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WRITTEN BY
The Coffee & Study Editorial Team

A small editorial collective of working data professionals, software engineers, career coaches, and former hiring managers. We have collectively taken 200+ of the courses listed on this site. We do not use AI to generate course reviews or rankings.

Last reviewed: May 2026 · How we curate · Editorial standards

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