38+ Best Network Security Course and Certification in 2025

Become A
Certified Network Defender

Course 1: Certified Network Defender (C|ND)

Developed by EC-Council, the inventors of the Certified Ethical Hacker program and respected in over 174 countries for over– 20 years.

C|ND today is used by top Fortune 500 companies making it one of the most trusted network security programs in both public and private sector.

C|ND is ANSI Accredited and Approved by the US Department of Defense under the 8140 directiv

What’s Unique about the CND Course?

1. CND is the world’s first network security program with an adaptive security strategy, a unique 4-pronged approach:

1. Protect 2. Detect 3. Respond 4. Predict and you learn below in these 4 approaches.

Protect

Certify

Engage

Compete

2. In C|ND course, you will also learn the following:

3. C|ND offers immersive practical training

With over 80 skill-based labs spanning more than 50% of the training, you gain real-world skills through lab-intensive practice.

So, be prepared to gain knowledge by learning and acquiring skills through practice.

What do you Learn in C|ND?

A C|ND professional is job-ready and knows to harden a network by applying:

Course Link: C|ND (Network Security Certification) Duration: 5 days Delivery: In-person training, Live Online Classes, Self-Paced Learning

Best Network Security Course to Get Started: Beginners

Get familiar with basic network security concepts and master the tools and techniques needed for the initial stages of network security.

Course 2: Network Defense Essentials (Course for Beginners / Freshers)

Network Defense Essentials covers the fundamental concepts of information security and network defense. This introductory cybersecurity course is designed for today’s entry-level information security or cybersecurity careers and is ideal for learners aspiring to pursue a career in cybersecurity.

The course gives a holistic overview of the key components of Information Security such as Identification, Authentication and Authorization, Virtualization and Cloud Computing, Wireless Networks, Mobile and IoT Devices, and Data Security. The interactive labs component of this course ensures that learners receive the hands-on, practical experience required for a future in cybersecurity.

NDE-certified learners have an assured means of formal recognition to add to their resumes and show off their expertise and skills to prospective employers. The purpose of the NDE certification is to recognize the competency and expertise of a professional in network defense and information security skills, thereby adding value to their workplace and employer.

Course outline:

Key Features

  • Course Overview – Learn to identify, mitigate, and prevent network attacks at work or home from this course.
  • Course Link Securing Your Network from Attacks | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration – 6 hours
  • No. of Videos – 39
  • No. of Assessments – 45
  • What You Will Learn
    • Why network security is important!
    • How to identify phishing emails, bad links, etc.
    • How to prevent and recover from virus and ransomware attacks.
  • Course Overview – Gain a solid understanding of the network protocols, technologies, and concepts.
  • Course LinkFundamentals of Networking Concepts, Protocols, and Security | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration – 4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 37
  • No. of Assessments – 20
  • What You Will Learn
    • You will be able to describe common network protocols and their purpose.
    • You will be able to explain the functionality of each layer of TCP/IP protocol suite.
    • You will understand the characteristics of various network topologies.
  • Course Overview – Encounter Money Laundering, Identity Theft, Online Fraud, Cyber-Attacks, and others by Analyzing the Network.
  • Course LinkHands-on Network Security | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration – 4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 23
  • No. of Assessments – 35
  • What You Will Learn
    • Learn about major network attacks and security.
    • Understand wireless attack and security.
    • Use well known network monitoring tools.
  • Course Overview – Would you like to get a job in the field of IT? Do you want to become a Linux system administrator but don’t know where to get started? In this course, we will begin by covering the very basics of using the Linux operating system and move on to the advanced system and networking skills necessary to become a Linux administrator!
  • Course Link Linux for Absolute Beginners | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration – 4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 25
  • No. of Assessments – 35
  • What You Will Learn
    • Develop a web application using Meteor.js
    • Setup an integrated development of an environment.
    • Setup a LAMP stack and deploy a web app.
  • Course Overview – Job Interview skills and workshop to get the dream job
  • Course LinkIT Linux Network Administration | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration – 3 hours
  • No. of Videos – 19
  • No. of Assessments – 5
  • What You Will Learn
    • You’ll learn network files and commands.
    • Get to know about NIC bonding.
    • Explore Curl and ping commands.
  • Course Overview – Gain the skills to perform network assessments, using popular tools and strategies.
  • Course LinkDeep Dive into Network Assessments | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration – 4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 26
  • No. of Assessments – 20
  • What You Will Learn
    • Learn about the importance and benefits of performing network assessments.
    • Discover various types of network assessments and how they differ.
    • Understand how to create a methodology on performing assessments.
  • Course Overview – Explore how to find, analyze, and reverse engineer malware.
  • Course Link Implementing Secure Network Function Virtualization | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration – 3 hours
  • No. of Videos – 20
  • No. of Assessments – 15
  • What You Will Learn
    • Learn the Fundamentals of Traditional Network Segmentation
    • Familiarize with Virtualization Technologies
    • Introduced to Fundamentals of Network Function Virtualization.
  • Course Overview – Gain the core skills within the field of Network Engineering to design, configure, troubleshoot and secure enterprise networks.
  • Course Link Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions: CCNA 200-301 | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration – 11 hours
  • No. of Videos – 74
  • No. of Assessments – 25
  • What You Will Learn
    • Learn to use Cisco technologies and solutions to design and build an enterprise network.
    • Implementing VLANs, Trunks and Inter-VLAN routing
    • Configuring various IP Services technologies and protocols.
  • Course Overview -Jump starting your career in defensive cyber security.
  • Course LinkBlue Team Boot Camp: Defending Against Hackers | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration – 10 hours
  • No. of Videos – 55
  • No. of Assessments – 20
  • What You Will Learn
    • Learn fundamental cyber-security principles that will allow them to defend their network against hackers of all skill sets.
    • Obtain hands-on knowledge that is applicable to real-world environments.
    • Learn all new technologies that professionals are using to stop hackers from breaching their network.
  • Course Overview – To give your customers the assurance they need, you have to prove that you have a strong and resilient security posture. Protecting data requires you to put the right controls in place and document all security activities. Learn the full life cycle of establishing, maintaining, and auditing your security program.
  • Course LinkDesign, Build, & Implement Information Security Compliance | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration – 4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 24
  • No. of Assessments – 35
  • What You Will Learn
    • Learn to create a compliance team.
    • Create metrics that prove the effectiveness of your controls.
    • Understand how to manage the audit process.
  • Course Overview – Let’s prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to the advanced threats with this next generation protection tool.
  • Course LinkSecuring Endpoints with Microsoft Defender | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration – 5 hours
  • No. of Videos – 40
  • No. of Assessments – 40
  • What You Will Learn
    • Specifying the components of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
    • Threat and vulnerability management.
    • Attack surface reduction.
  • Course Overview – Nmap Tips, Tricks, and Secrets every hacker should know!
  • Course LinkEnsuring Network Security with Zeek | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration – 4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 19
  • No. of Assessments – 20
  • What You Will Learn
    • The fundamentals of traditional network segmentation
    • You will learn about virtualization technologies.
    • The fundamentals of network function virtualization
    • Learn how to secure network function virtualization.
  • Course Overview – Get started in cybersecurity operations with the all-new Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate (200-201) certification.
  • Course Link Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate (200-201) – Part 1 | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration – 4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 25
  • No. of Assessments – 10
  • What You Will Learn
    • You will be able to basic concepts and uses of cryptography.
    • You will discover common attack vectors.
    • You will explore various endpoint security technologies.
  • Course Overview – Get started in cybersecurity operations with the all-new Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate (200-201) certification.
  • Course Link Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate (200-201) – Part 2 | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration – 4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 30
  • No. of Assessments – 15
  • What You Will Learn
    • You will learn to prevent, detect, and respond to cybersecurity threats and breaches.
    • You will be able to basic concepts and uses of cryptography.
    • You will understand various TCP/IP vulnerabilities and attacks.
  • Course Overview – A comprehensive dive into the world of mobile security.
  • Course LinkEnd-to-End Mobile Security | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration – 4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 23
  • No. of Assessments – 5
  • What You Will Learn
    • Identifying potential vulnerabilities with your mobile device
    • How to identify phishing emails, bad links, etc.
    • Security through a MDM.
  • Course Overview – Developing security in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
  • Course LinkApplication Security – The Complete Guide | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration – 9 hours
  • No. of Videos – 65
  • No. of Assessments – 40
  • What You Will Learn
    • Use of threat modelling to identify threats and mitigation in development features.
    • Rating security vulnerabilities using standard and open processes.
    • Building security into the software development life cycle.
  • Course Overview – Empower yourself to acquire the skills and gain knowledge and competence to efficiently execute and manage a compliant framework with an aim to safeguard personal data.
  • Course LinkImplementing Global Data Protection Policy | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration – 3 hours
  • No. of Videos – 44
  • No. of Assessments – 40
  • What You Will Learn
    • The student should be able to identify the relevant major global privacy laws and regulations.
    • The student should understand and be able to identify the 3 critical functions of any data protection team.
    • The student should be able to understand the key stakeholders of any privacy program and be able to identify their specialized requirements.
  • Course Overview – Protecting your organization’s data is critical. Data is the most important asset in today’s world.
  • Course LinkApplied Data Loss Prevention | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration – 5 hours
  • No. of Videos – 23
  • No. of Assessments – 10
  • What You Will Learn
    • Explore regulatory requirements, what they mean for your organization, and how to create a DLP program to ensure compliance and meet business requirements.
    • Learn why DLP often “fails” – common pitfalls and how to avoid them.
    • Defining and identifying Sensitive Data, with classification and discovery tools and techniques.
  • Course Overview – Learn How to Foster a Privacy Culture in Your Organization, and Ultimately, Achieve Regulatory Compliance.
  • Course LinkPractical Data Privacy | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration – 4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 28
  • No. of Assessments – 30
  • What You Will Learn
    • Understand the importance of privacy and data protection.
    • Interpret the different regulations independently from their geographic jurisdiction.
    • Identify and categorize personal identifiable information.
  • Course Overview – Modern Linux and DevOps fundamentals for the Cloud Practitioner.
  • Course LinkHands-On Linux DevOps & Cloud Engineers | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration – 4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 39
  • No. of Assessments – 40
  • What You Will Learn
    • Get hands on Common Linux commands.
    • Understand Foundational Linux Security.
    • Learn Basic Scripting with Bash.
  • Course Overview – Modern Linux and DevOps fundamentals for the Cloud Practitioner.
  • Course LinkHands-On Linux DevOps & Cloud Engineers | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration – 4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 39
  • No. of Assessments – 40
  • What You Will Learn
    • Get hands on Common Linux commands.
    • Understand Foundational Linux Security.
    • Learn Basic Scripting with Bash.
  • Course Overview – Everything that you need to know to pass the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Certified Security Specialty exam.
  • Course Link AWS Certified Security Specialty – Cert Prep | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration – 6 hours
  • No. of Videos – 27
  • No. of Assessments – 20
  • What You Will Learn
  • AWS IAM for cloud and hybrid identity, and the solutions used to protect internal and external user identities.
  • AWS platform protection for computer resources.
  • Security posture management and security operations in AWS.
  • Course Overview – Learn how to perform vulnerability assessment and penetration testing like a professional.
  • Course LinkPractical Network Penetration Testing | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration –11 hours
  • No. of Videos – 26
  • No. of Assessments – 40
  • What You Will Learn
    • You will learn the fundamentals of network penetration testing.
    • You will learn how to perform scanning and enumeration on systems.
    • You will learn how to discover and exploit security vulnerabilities.
  • Course Overview – A theoretical and practical journey into Wi-Fi, and Software Defined Radio.
  • Course LinkIntroduction to Wireless Security | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration –4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 20
  • No. of Assessments – 5
  • What You Will Learn
    • Crack WLAN Encryption – WEP, WPA/WPA2 Personal and Enterprise, understanding encryption-based flaws (WEP, TKIP, CCMP)
    • Attack the Wireless Client – Honeypots and Hotspot attacks, Caffe-Latte, ChopChop attack and beacon flooding.
    • Learn about Sniffing Airplanes traffic.
  • Course Overview – Recover your data in Windows by hacking into the system.
  • Course LinkDeep Dive into Wireless Security | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration –3 hours
  • No. of Videos – 16
  • No. of Assessments – 10
  • What You Will Learn
    • Internet of Things attack vectors.
    • Setting up the pentesting environment
    • How to reverse engineer the IoT device firmware?
  • Course Overview – Improving the monitoring of your IT environment with Zabbix.
  • Course LinkMonitoring IT Components with Zabbix | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration –6 hours
  • No. of Videos – 14
  • No. of Assessments – 20
  • What You Will Learn
    • How to create and maintain a monitoring IT environment using Zabbix
    • Learn about monitoring best practices.
    • Understand how to perform a data analysis.
  • Course Overview – Wireshark Advanced Usage for Troubleshooting
  • Course LinkTroubleshooting Slow Network with Wireshark | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration –8 hours
  • No. of Videos – 61
  • No. of Assessments – 40
  • What You Will Learn
    • Familiarize yourself with network analysis process and the key points of an effective network traffic.
    • Understand deep packet captures (PCAP) inspection and investigating of network traffic.
    • Learn about advanced features of the Wireshark by focusing on packet-level details.
  • Course Overview – In this beginner-friendly course, you will learn to effectively manage vulnerabilities with the Qualys Cloud Platform.
  • Course LinkMastering Network Security | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration –4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 25
  • No. of Assessments – 20
  • What You Will Learn
    • You will learn about the fundamentals of network security.
    • You will learn about using a multi-layered approach to improve security.
    • You will learn how to prevent layer 2 attacks.
  • Course Overview – Learn all about planning and implementing a Security Incident Response along with best practices and recommendations.
  • Course LinkPlanning and Implementing a Security Incident Response | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration –2 hours
  • No. of Videos – 8
  • No. of Assessments – 14
  • What You Will Learn
    • Manage an enterprise security incident.
    • Effectively prioritize the response to a security incident.
    • Build a computer security incident response team (CSIRT).
  • Course Overview – Learn how to develop cybersecurity incident response plans, evaluate your environment to identify critical devices, review best practices, and learn from real-world examples!
  • Course LinkIncident Response for Enterprises | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration –4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 8
  • No. of Assessments – 20
  • What You Will Learn
    • Explore NIST Cybersecurity Framework and SANS Incident Response.
    • Understand Security Operations and other Security teams.
    • Learn about Disaster recovery and how to recover from security incidents.
  • Course Overview – Learn how the main fortress of the network – a Firewall, has been evolved so far to protect us against invaders of cyberspace.
  • Course LinkPower of Next Generation Firewalls | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Advanced
  • Duration –6 hours
  • No. of Videos – 45
  • No. of Assessments – 40
  • What You Will Learn
    • Learn what is a (network) firewall, and why is it useful.
    • Understand how these network firewalls have evolved, and what is a next-generation firewall.
    • Learn how do next-generation firewalls filter the traffic by applications.
  • Course Overview – Learn about the ins and outs of a Security Operations Center and Enterprise Defense
  • Course LinkIn the Trenches: Security Operations Center | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration –4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 14
  • No. of Assessments – 50
  • What You Will Learn
    • Enterprise Security Structure
    • Modern threat and attacker TTPs
    • A basic primer to Security Onion
  • Course Overview – Learn how to apply and manage the most popular cyber security risk management framework to any organization.
  • Course LinkThe Complete NIST Framework Course for Cyber Risk Management | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration –2 hours
  • No. of Videos – 39
  • No. of Assessments – 20
  • What You Will Learn
    • Understand about NIST framework.
    • Learn about important aspects of Framework.
    • Familiarize yourself with 5 core functions of Framework.
  • Course Overview – Understand the concepts around managing information security risk. Conduct a risk-based evaluation of the threats around your information to gain a clear view and prioritize areas for protection.
  • Course LinkInformation Security Risk Management | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration –4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 34
  • No. of Assessments – 30
  • What You Will Learn
    • What is Information Security Risk Management (ISRM) and its main concepts.
    • The importance of an Information Security Risk Management program within an organization.
    • The way risk management connects with other various information security functions like vulnerability management, incident response, threat hunting and others.
  • Course Overview – Investigating, detecting, and defending your systems against modern threats.
  • Course LinkApplied Threat Hunting | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Intermediate
  • Duration –4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 28
  • No. of Assessments – 35
  • What You Will Learn
    • Gain the foundation knowledge of threat hunting practice.
    • Learn about the frameworks and industry standards for hunting.
    • Master how to extract, ingest, visualize, and analyze basic logs and events.
  • Course Overview – Investigating, detecting, and defending your systems against modern threats.
  • Course LinkGetting Started with Vulnerability Analysis and Management | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Beginner
  • Duration –5 hours
  • No. of Videos – 24
  • No. of Assessments – 15
  • What You Will Learn
    • Familiarize with framework to be used for vulnerability assessment.
    • Detect and identify web-based vulnerabilities using automatic scanners.
    • Explore verifying web-based vulnerabilities manually.
  • Course Overview – Learn the Fundamentals of Cyber Threat Identification, Analysis, and Mitigation.
  • Course LinkPractical Cyber Threat Intelligence | CodeRed (eccouncil.org)
  • Course Level – Advanced
  • Duration –4 hours
  • No. of Videos – 22
  • No. of Assessments – 35
  • What You Will Learn
    • Develop in-demand proficiencies with core cyber-security skills relating to threat intelligence analysis.
    • Build brand reputation by acquiring an elevated security posture relative to your competition.
    • Protect from malicious threat actors that may disrupt business continuity through ransomware and other attacks.

Above are some of the best network security courses and certifications which are leading in the industry. While CND is the most comprehensive and most practical network security course developed by EC-Council and is also one of the most sought after certification by organizations and cybersecurity professionals.

What is Network Security?

Network security refers to the practice of securing computer networks from unauthorized access, theft, damage, or other malicious attacks. It involves using a combination of technologies, processes, and best practices to protect the network and the data it contains from various threats.

Network security can include a range of measures such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, anti-virus software, access controls, data encryption, and regular security assessments. It also involves establishing policies and procedures for network usage, access management, and incident response.

The goal of network security is to prevent or mitigate the impact of cyber-attacks and other security incidents on an organization’s network, systems, and data. By implementing a robust network security strategy, organizations can reduce their risk of data breaches, financial losses, reputational damage, and legal liabilities.

The different stages of network security can be broadly categorized into four phases, known as the "cybersecurity lifecycle." These phases are:

01

Prevent:

The first phase of network security is to prevent attacks from happening in the first place. This involves implementing various security controls, such as firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), access controls, and data encryption, to safeguard the network from threats.

02

Detect:

Despite the best preventive measures, it’s likely that some attacks may still occur. The second phase of network security involves detecting these incidents as quickly as possible through the use of monitoring tools, such as intrusion detection systems (IDS), security information and event management (SIEM), and network traffic analysis tools.

03

Respond:

Once a security incident has been detected, the next step is to respond to it. This involves taking immediate action to contain the incident, identify the root cause, and remediate any damage caused. Incident response plans and playbooks can help organizations respond quickly and effectively to security incidents.

04

Recover:

The final phase of network security is to recover from the incident and restore normal operations as quickly as possible. This involves assessing the impact of the incident, restoring any lost or damaged data, and making any necessary changes to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

By following these four stages of network security, organizations can develop a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that helps them protect their networks and data from a wide range of threats.

Click here to learn more about: What is Network Security

Understand: Step-by-Step Guide on Becoming a Network Security Engineer

Top Information Security Jobs That Require Ethical Hacking

Network Security Engineer:

Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst:

Information Security Manager:

Penetration Tester:

Security Consultant:

Network Administrator:

Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): A CISO is the senior executive responsible for an organization’s overall security strategy, including its network security measures. This role requires a deep understanding of cybersecurity risk management and governance, as well as technical expertise in network security.

Top Organizations That Employ Ethical Hackers

Top fortune 500 Companies and Governments Across the world