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Cyber Security Starter

A hands-on way into cyber security: how networks work, running a Linux server, then protecting it — passwords and MFA, phishing, firewalls, logs, web app bugs and incident response.

Beginner · 5 courses · 125 lessons · 38 h 24 min · Courses in order · Certificate on completion
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Protect systems, stop attacks

A hands-on way into cyber security: how networks work, running a Linux server, then protecting it — passwords and MFA, phishing, firewalls, logs, web app bugs and incident response.

Free forever — like every pathway and course on Avro Academy: all lessons, quizzes, downloads and your certificates. Our promise

Who it's for

Anyone interested in cyber security, IT support or system administration jobs. No experience needed — start with the networks.

What you'll be able to do

  • Explain how networks and the internet work
  • Run and secure a Linux server
  • Spot phishing, use MFA and password managers
  • Find and fix common security weaknesses, and respond to incidents

The courses

  1. Networking Fundamentals: How the Internet Works
  2. Linux Command Line: Run Your Own Server
  3. Cyber Security Foundations: Protect the Café

Optional extras

How it works

  • Join once, and track your progress across every course in one place, under My learning
  • Take the courses in order: each one opens when you finish the one before.
  • 3 required courses, about 27 hours in total — at your own pace
  • You get a certificate for each course, and a pathway certificate when you finish them all
  • Completely free

Courses in this pathway

Take these in order: each course opens when the required one before it is complete.

  1. Digital Skills for Work
    Optional · 27 lessons · 4 h 29 min

    If you're new to workplace tech

    Not started
    Lessons (0 of 27 done)

    Module 1: Digital basics for work

    • Welcome: work tech vs phone tech8 min
    • Files, folders and naming things well12 min
    • Cloud storage and sharing files12 min
    • Work faster with keyboard shortcuts10 min
    • Module 1 quiz5 min

    Module 2: Email, calendars and workplace chat

    • Writing a professional email15 min
    • Calendars, meetings and being on time10 min
    • Workplace chat: Teams, Slack and group messages10 min
    • Module 2 quiz5 min

    Module 3: Documents and spreadsheets

    • Creating tidy documents12 min
    • Spreadsheet basics: cells, totals and formulas15 min
    • Sorting, filtering and simple charts12 min
    • Presentations made simple10 min
    • Module 3 quiz5 min

    Module 4: Staying safe online

    • Strong passphrases and multi-factor authentication12 min
    • Spotting phishing and scams15 min
    • Privacy and protecting work information10 min
    • Module 4 quiz5 min

    Module 5: Using AI tools responsibly

    • What AI tools can and can't do12 min
    • Writing good prompts12 min
    • AI at work: privacy, honesty and the rules10 min
    • Module 5 quiz5 min

    Module 6: Digital professionalism

    • Video calls with confidence10 min
    • Fixing common tech problems10 min
    • Your online presence and digital wellbeing10 min
    • Final task: your digital skills checklist12 min
    • Module 6 and final quiz5 min
  2. Networking Fundamentals: How the Internet Works
    24 lessons · 7 h 30 min
    Not started
    Lessons (0 of 24 done)

    Module 1: How networks work

    • What a network is15 min
    • The journey of a web page20 min
    • Your network lab25 min
    • Module 1 quiz5 min

    Module 2: Addresses

    • IP addresses25 min
    • Subnets and gateways25 min
    • DHCP, MAC addresses and IPv625 min
    • Module 2 quiz5 min

    Module 3: Names and ports

    • DNS: the internet's phone book25 min
    • Ports, TCP and UDP25 min
    • HTTP and HTTPS20 min
    • Module 3 quiz5 min

    Module 4: Home and office networks

    • Modems, routers, switches and access points20 min
    • Wi-Fi20 min
    • Setting up a small network safely25 min
    • Module 4 quiz5 min

    Module 5: Troubleshooting

    • A troubleshooting method20 min
    • The tools on your computer25 min
    • Common problems and fixes25 min
    • Module 5 quiz5 min

    Module 6: Fix the lab

    • Lab faults: the gateway and DNS30 min
    • Lab faults: the firewall and the server30 min
    • Capstone and next steps20 min
    • Module 6 and final quiz5 min
  3. Linux Command Line: Run Your Own Server
    26 lessons · 10 h 10 min
    Opens when the course before it is complete
    Lessons (0 of 26 done)

    Module 1: Meet Linux

    • What Linux is20 min
    • Set up your own Ubuntu server30 min
    • Your first commands25 min
    • Module 1 quiz5 min

    Module 2: Files and folders

    • Finding your way around25 min
    • Make, copy, move and delete25 min
    • Read and edit text files30 min
    • Find files and text25 min
    • Module 2 quiz5 min

    Module 3: Users and permissions

    • Users, groups and sudo30 min
    • File permissions30 min
    • Module 3 quiz5 min

    Module 4: Pipes and scripts

    • Pipes and redirection35 min
    • Your first shell scripts35 min
    • Module 4 quiz5 min

    Module 5: Running a server

    • Installing software25 min
    • Processes and services30 min
    • A web server for the café35 min
    • Reading the server's logs30 min
    • Scheduled jobs with cron30 min
    • Module 5 quiz5 min

    Module 6: Remote access and security

    • SSH and keys40 min
    • Checking disk, memory and network25 min
    • Securing your server35 min
    • Where to go next20 min
    • Module 6 and final quiz5 min
  4. Cyber Security Foundations: Protect the Café
    24 lessons · 9 h 10 min
    Opens when the course before it is complete
    Lessons (0 of 24 done)

    Module 1: Why security matters

    • What cyber security is20 min
    • How attacks happen25 min
    • Set up your practice lab30 min
    • Module 1 quiz5 min

    Module 2: People and passwords

    • How passwords get cracked35 min
    • Password managers and MFA30 min
    • Spotting phishing30 min
    • Module 2 quiz5 min

    Module 3: Protect the server

    • Least privilege30 min
    • Patching and updates25 min
    • Scanning and firewalls35 min
    • Module 3 quiz5 min

    Module 4: Detect attacks

    • Reading the security logs30 min
    • Blocking attackers with fail2ban30 min
    • Spotting changes and surviving ransomware30 min
    • Module 4 quiz5 min

    Module 5: Web app security

    • SQL injection35 min
    • Cross-site scripting (XSS)30 min
    • Secrets, HTTPS and security headers30 min
    • Module 5 quiz5 min

    Module 6: Respond and grow

    • When something goes wrong30 min
    • The Essential Eight25 min
    • Careers in cyber security20 min
    • Module 6 and final quiz5 min
  5. Docker Basics: Containers for Your Apps
    Optional · 24 lessons · 7 h 5 min

    Containers are everywhere — and need securing too

    Opens when the course before it is complete
    Lessons (0 of 24 done)

    Module 1: Meet Docker

    • What Docker is15 min
    • Installing Docker20 min
    • Your first containers25 min
    • Module 1 quiz5 min

    Module 2: Build your own image

    • Shift Swap and the Dockerfile25 min
    • Build and run your image25 min
    • Layers and the build cache20 min
    • Module 2 quiz5 min

    Module 3: Data and configuration

    • Volumes: keep your data25 min
    • Bind mounts: share a folder20 min
    • Settings and secrets20 min
    • Module 3 quiz5 min

    Module 4: A production-ready image

    • A real web server: gunicorn20 min
    • Don't run as root20 min
    • Health checks and image size20 min
    • Module 4 quiz5 min

    Module 5: Docker Compose with PostgreSQL

    • Why Docker Compose25 min
    • Start the whole stack25 min
    • Inside the stack25 min
    • Module 5 quiz5 min

    Module 6: Share and next steps

    • Tags and registries20 min
    • Cleaning up and fixing problems25 min
    • Where Docker goes next20 min
    • Module 6 and final quiz5 min