- Five places to learn cybersecurity for free
- Free cybersecurity courses side by side
- What each course covers
- The ISC2 deadline most guides haven't caught up with
- Which course suits business owners and which suits career changers
- How to start learning cybersecurity this week
- Building on what you learn
- Frequently asked questions
The short version: the best free cybersecurity courses in 2026 are Cisco's Introduction to Cybersecurity, OpenLearn's Introduction to cyber security, Fortinet's free self-paced training, Microsoft Learn's security fundamentals path and ISC2's Certified in Cybersecurity course. ISC2's free exam programme has now closed, and codes already issued must be used by 31 December 2026.
Cybersecurity is one of the few tech skills where free training can take you a long way. The big vendors want more people who understand their kit, governments want safer small businesses, and universities publish their intro courses openly. Whether you want a new career or just want to stop your own business getting caught out by a phishing email, you can start today.
Five places to learn cybersecurity for free
In no particular order:
- Cisco Networking Academy: best for a structured beginner course with badges.
- OpenLearn: best for a university-backed introduction you can do at home or at work.
- Fortinet Training Institute: best for free self-paced courses that go from basics to advanced.
- Microsoft Learn: best for security fundamentals tied to Microsoft's own certification.
- ISC2: best if you already hold an unused exam code for Certified in Cybersecurity.
Free cybersecurity courses side by side
| Provider | Best for | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco | Structured beginners | Self-paced course with badges, part of a junior analyst path |
| OpenLearn | Home and work basics | Free statement of participation and a digital badge |
| Fortinet | Going further | Free self-paced courses, with labs offered separately |
| Microsoft Learn | Microsoft security | Free practice assessment for the fundamentals exam |
| ISC2 | Entry-level certificate | Free programme closed, existing codes valid to 31 December 2026 |
If you're completely new, start with Cisco or OpenLearn, then move on to Fortinet or Microsoft once the basics click.
What each course covers
Cisco's Introduction to Cybersecurity is part of its Junior Cybersecurity Analyst career path. Its course page showed 10,468,931 people already enrolled when I checked, and it's available in a long list of languages. The modules start with the world of cybersecurity and organisational data, then move on to attacks, concepts and techniques, with quizzes and badges you can collect along the way.
OpenLearn's Introduction to cyber security: stay safe online was developed by The Open University with support from the UK Government's National Cyber Security Programme and is free to access. It covers malware, viruses and trojans, network security, cryptography, identity theft and risk management. You can get an Open University digital badge and download a statement of participation, though the badge isn't accredited.
Fortinet says its Training Institute offers free self-paced courses covering secure networking, cloud security, AI-driven security operations and zero-trust network access. Microsoft Learn's Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals certification page includes free practice assessments so you can see the style and difficulty of the questions before the real exam.
The ISC2 deadline most guides haven't caught up with
Plenty of older articles still tell you ISC2 will give you a free course and a free exam. ISC2 now says its One Million Certified in Cybersecurity programme has concluded, after more than a million people enrolled for the free self-paced course and exam. If you were issued an exam code through that programme and it hasn't expired, you can schedule and sit the exam by 31 December 2026.
Two details matter if you've got a code sitting in your inbox. ISC2 says completing the course isn't required to sit the exam, and Certified in Cybersecurity is aimed at entry level with no work experience required. So if you've been putting it off, book the exam now rather than in December when everyone else remembers.
Which course suits business owners and which suits career changers
If you run a small business and just want to stop being an easy target, OpenLearn is the better fit. It frames security around your own digital life at home and at work, so the lessons turn into habits straight away: stronger passwords, safer sign-ins and spotting a scam before you click. Cisco's course works well here too, because it explains how attacks happen in plain terms.
If you're thinking about a career in security, go further. Cisco's course sits inside a junior analyst path, Fortinet's training goes from fundamentals to advanced topics, and Microsoft's fundamentals certification gives you a recognised exam to aim for. Employers will care about what you can do as well as the badges, so practise on your own devices and write up what you learned.
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How to start learning cybersecurity this week
- Decide whether you want a career change or just safer habits for your business.
- Enrol in Cisco's Introduction to Cybersecurity or OpenLearn's free course.
- Block a regular slot in your diary and work through one module at a time.
- Check your inbox for any unused ISC2 exam code and book it before 31 December 2026.
- Move on to Fortinet's free self-paced courses or Microsoft Learn's fundamentals path.
- Add each badge or statement to your LinkedIn profile as you finish.
Building on what you learn
If you want a broader mix of certificates, my guide to free AI certifications pairs well with security, and so do free coding courses if you want to understand how attacks work under the hood. For a real-world reminder of why this matters, here's what to do if you need to recover a hacked Instagram account.
Even if you never work in security, these courses change how you run your business. You'll spot the fake delivery email, use a password manager without being nagged and set up two-step login on every account that matters.
My verdict: start with Cisco or OpenLearn, use Fortinet and Microsoft Learn to go further, and if you've got an ISC2 code, book that exam before the end of 2026. It's one of the few free certifications that will disappear.
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Frequently asked questions
Where can I take free cybersecurity courses?
Cisco Networking Academy, OpenLearn, the Fortinet Training Institute and Microsoft Learn all offer free cybersecurity training.
Is the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity exam still free?
ISC2 says its One Million Certified in Cybersecurity programme has concluded. Codes already issued that haven't expired can be used until 31 December 2026.
Do I need to finish the ISC2 course before the exam?
No. ISC2 says completing the course isn't required to sit for a Certified in Cybersecurity exam.
Does OpenLearn's cyber security course give a certificate?
You can download a free statement of participation and get an Open University digital badge, but the badge isn't accredited.
Do I need experience for these courses?
No. They're aimed at beginners, and ISC2 says Certified in Cybersecurity needs no work experience.
