What is data security?

Data security is the set of actions that an organization undertakes to protect the data that it creates, collects, and stores. It's important for your company to keep its data secure because secure data protects corporate and client information. A number of techniques comprise data security, including encryption, data masking, backup, and erasure. Keeping your data secure can protect your organization from criminal activity and legal action. Data security is increasingly important in a world where threats to data are more prevalent than ever.

Why is it important to learn data security?

It's important to learn about data security because everyone's data is increasingly at risk every day, and you can make a difference in solving that problem. Because organizations store so much of their data online, the data is vulnerable to attack, fraud, or theft, which is what makes data security essential for your company. Failing to protect your company's secrets and customer information can cost you dearly, and that's why data security has become a requirement for corporations. In-depth knowledge of data security can also lead to a lucrative career if you're looking for a change.

What career opportunities can arise from learning data security?

When you gain a thorough knowledge of data security, you can find career opportunities working as a security engineer or analyst with a corporation, or you can strike out on your own as a consultant working with multiple organizations. Many companies hire data security employees with degrees or training certificates, and the more advanced your training, the more money you can earn in the business. When you pass certain security clearances, you can also work for the military or federal government protecting classified information.

How can online courses on Coursera help me learn data security?

When you take online data security courses on Coursera, you're going to learn from some of the most prominent names in academia and industry, like Johns Hopkins University, IBM, and Amazon Web Services. You'll gain a thorough understanding of data security along with the practical applications of what you've learned. With your newfound knowledge of data security, you can advance in your current career or seek an exciting new job.

What are the benefits of taking an online Data Security course?

Online Data Security courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Data Security skills. Choose from a wide range of Data Security courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Data Security courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Data Security, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Top Data Security Courses - Learn Data Security Online

Explore the Data Security Course Catalog

University of Michigan
Python for Everybody
Skills you'll gain: Web Scraping, Data Processing, Relational Databases, JSON, Database Design, SQL, Network Protocols, Databases, Web Services, Restful API, Data Modeling, Programming Principles, Data Structures, Data Collection, Data Visualization Software, Data Manipulation, Computer Programming, Python Programming, Data Import/Export, Software Installation
Build toward a degree
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
277K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Google Cloud
Data Engineering, Big Data, and Machine Learning on GCP
Skills you'll gain: Data Pipelines, Dataflow, Google Cloud Platform, Real Time Data, Data Lakes, MLOps (Machine Learning Operations), Dashboard, Data Warehousing, Extract, Transform, Load, Cloud Engineering, Data Infrastructure, Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Storage, Big Data, Tensorflow, Unstructured Data, Data Integration, Data Migration, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
18K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Johns Hopkins University
A Crash Course in Data Science
Skills you'll gain: Data Science, Data Management, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Project Design, Performance Metric, Software Engineering, Machine Learning, Predictive Modeling, Statistical Inference
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
8.3K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Meta
Introduction to Data Management
Skills you'll gain: Data Management, Data Collection, Data Governance, Data Analysis, Information Privacy, Data Quality, Data Storage, Data Security, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Data Architecture, Data Visualization Software, Big Data, Machine Learning
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
91 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of Minnesota
Cloud Security Basics
Skills you'll gain: Cloud Security, Application Security, Network Security, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Information Systems Security, Security Controls, Infrastructure Security, Remote Access Systems, Public Key Infrastructure, Cryptography, Vulnerability Assessments, Virtualization, Virtual Machines, Encryption, Authorization (Computing)
4.3
Rating, 4.3 out of 5 stars
103 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
University of California San Diego
Introduction to Big Data
Skills you'll gain: Big Data, Apache Hadoop, Scalability, Data Processing, Data Science, Distributed Computing, Unstructured Data, Data Analysis, Real Time Data, Data Storage
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
11K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Duke University
Data Analysis with R
Skills you'll gain: Statistical Hypothesis Testing, Sampling (Statistics), Statistical Inference, Exploratory Data Analysis, Regression Analysis, Statistical Reporting, Probability Distribution, Statistical Methods, Data Analysis Software, R Programming, Bayesian Statistics, Statistical Analysis, Data Analysis, Statistical Software, Statistical Modeling, Probability & Statistics, Probability, Statistics, Correlation Analysis, Data Literacy
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
7.5K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Codio
Data Security for Web Developers
Skills you'll gain: Cryptography, Data Security, Encryption, Authorization (Computing), General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Secure Coding, Public Key Infrastructure, Authentications, Web Development, Application Security, Web Applications, Multi-Factor Authentication
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
IBM
IBM AI Foundations for Business
Skills you'll gain: Large Language Modeling, Artificial Intelligence, Data Literacy, Data Mining, Generative AI, Data Ethics, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML), Big Data, Information Architecture, Strategic Decision-Making, Enterprise Architecture, ChatGPT, Cloud Computing, Data Analysis, Data Science, Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Data Strategy, Business Strategy, Business Process Automation
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
94K reviews
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
University of Michigan
Applied Data Science with Python
Skills you'll gain: Matplotlib, Network Analysis, Feature Engineering, Data Visualization Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Scientific Visualization, Pandas (Python Package), Applied Machine Learning, Supervised Learning, Text Mining, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Statistical Visualization, Scikit Learn (Machine Learning Library), Network Model, Jupyter, NumPy, Graph Theory, Data Manipulation, Natural Language Processing, Data Analysis
4.5
Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
34K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months
Google
Foundations: Data, Data, Everywhere
Skills you'll gain: Data Ethics, Data Analysis, Data-Driven Decision-Making, Google Sheets, Spreadsheet Software, Analytical Skills, Data Sharing, Data Cleansing, Data Processing, Data Visualization Software, SQL, Data Management
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
114K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Macquarie University
Excel Skills for Data Analytics and Visualization
Skills you'll gain: Pivot Tables And Charts, Data Storytelling, Power BI, Excel Formulas, Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Visualization Software, Interactive Data Visualization, Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheet Software, Dashboard, Data Modeling, Data Cleansing, Data Manipulation, Excel Macros, Infographics, Data Transformation, Data Analysis Software, Data Validation, Data Analysis, Microsoft Power Platform
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.7K reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months