Online Cybersecurity CertificateOnline Cybersecurity CertificateOnline Cybersecurity Certificate

Be a part of the cybersecurity solution

We’re living in a digital-first world. With the prevalence of smartphones and tablets, the growth and development of the Internet of Things and the increase in working and studying remotely, our society is more connected than ever.

That means more devices, platforms and technologies need to be secured against threats from cybercriminals — and there are more opportunities for malware, ransomware, data breaches, phishing attempts and other attacks to affect users and businesses.

There’s a shortage of qualified cybersecurity experts to address this threat. According to The World Economic Forum, the global talent shortage could reach 85 million workers by 2030, with four million cybersecurity professionals urgently needed to plug the talent gap.1

You can help fill these vital roles and secure digital business operations. Your 100% online cybersecurity certificate can help you build the fundamentals to upskill, reskill or retool for the next step in your career. Our program is designed to help you pursue opportunities to bring IT and cybersecurity knowledge into a business setting. Prepare to thrive in this booming, future-focused field and become the security resource your organization needs to defend against and mitigate digital threats.

Get curriculum details

Apply with no application fees or entrance exams, and choose from 3 start dates

Build real-world skills through a dynamic, project-based curriculum that reflects emerging trends and technologies

Earn your certificate in as few as 6 courses (18 credit hours)

Access 100% online coursework with no campus visits required

Develop critical, in-demand skills in ethical hacking, cloud security, digital forensics, and more

Learn from a faculty of experienced cybersecurity experts and industry leaders

Who should earn an online certificate in cybersecurity?

If you’re passionate about information technology, computer science or online security, our online cybersecurity certificate program is for you. It gets straight to the heart of cybersecurity, so you can start your education and begin building your foundation in the field from day one.

The online cybersecurity certificate is designed to help you begin building your foundation in vital cybersecurity areas like ethical hacking, networks and security, incident response, virtualization and more, so you can pursue a career in the rapidly growing cybersecurity field. Our program features a focus on business, so you can bring your cybersecurity fundamentals into a business setting and help create a better culture of IT security literacy. The average cost of a data breach in 2024 was $4.88 million, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report.2 As an informed cybersecurity professional, you can help businesses mitigate the fallout from data breaches — or avoid them completely.

You can pursue a standalone online cybersecurity certificate or earn it as part of a bachelor’s in computer science or cybersecurity degree. You can complete the certificate in as few as six courses (18 credit hours). Then, if you decide to continue your education, you can apply all credits earned toward a bachelor’s in computer science or your bachelor’s in cybersecurity.

Why earn your online cybersecurity certificate?

Anything connected to a network is vulnerable. It’s not just our phones and computers anymore. Security cameras, TVs, speakers and cars can also become high-profile targets for cyber attacks.

To keep information and privacy secure and to help ensure safe business operations, we need experts who understand and know how to address the challenges. If you’re passionate about technology and security, and if you’re hoping to begin a career with growth potential, you can start by earning your online certificate in cybersecurity.

As a cybersecurity professional, you can be part of the solution. Whether you’re looking to refresh your current cybersecurity skills or reskill to pursue a new job, your certificate can get you started. Featuring a project-based curriculum, our cybersecurity certificate program is designed to help you learn fundamental skills you can apply quickly. In as few as six courses, you can build the foundation to prepare for a rewarding, potentially lucrative career in this booming field.

Dynamic, affordable, and highly streamlined.

Get personalized support. Benefit from a dedicated student support team who can assist you from application through graduation and beyond.

Learn from a streamlined curriculum. Study the most important topics in cybersecurity and earn your certificate in as few as six courses.

Prepare for further credentials. Complete coursework that you can apply toward a bachelor’s degree in computer science, or a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity.

Gain real-world experience. Learn from a practical, experiential program that helps you build skills you can use right away.

Learn from leaders in data science. Engage with dedicated faculty and industry experts.

Study on your schedule. Access 100% online coursework with no campus visits required.

What can you do with your online cybersecurity certificate?

Data breaches, phishing scams, malware and spyware programs, identity theft and ransomware attacks are just a few of the dangers individuals and organizations face — and often, victims aren’t prepared to prevent or recover from attacks. In 2024, it took an average of 194 days to detect a data breach.3

That means there’s an incredible need for qualified cybersecurity professionals to help businesses and organizations prepare for, prevent and mitigate cyber attacks. And with a shortage of talent in the field, millions of vital security roles stand to go unfilled.

At Maryville, we offer a number of options to help you build the cybersecurity skills for your professional goals. If you want to work with tools and technology around cybersecurity, our online certificate can help you get started. If you’re hoping to take a more active role in cybersecurity strategy, you may want to pursue our online Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity. If you choose to pursue the certificate first, you can apply your coursework toward a future bachelor’s in computer science or cybersecurity.

What types of careers can I pursue with an online cybersecurity certificate?

One of the biggest benefits to pursuing a career in cybersecurity is it affects nearly every industry. Businesses and organizations of all types and sizes need to protect against threats, and they’re willing to invest to make sure their data is secure. Whether you want to work protecting data in a business setting, helping advise on policy in government offices or investigating cybercrimes in law enforcement, your cybersecurity knowledge can help you qualify for exciting and lucrative opportunities.

When you earn your online cybersecurity certificate, you have the flexibility to work almost anywhere, or to enhance your skills even more through continued education.

Put your online cybersecurity certificate to work in a variety of settings, including:

  • Auto manufacturing
  • Banks and credit unions
  • Business and office settings
  • Colleges and universities
  • Financial services firms
  • Hospitals and clinics
  • Insurance companies
  • Law enforcement
  • Local, state, and federal government offices
  • Nonprofits
  • Supply chain operations
  • Tech startups

Entry-level careers that can start with an online cybersecurity certificate include:

  • Compliance and risk manager
  • Cyber risk management analyst
  • Cybercrime investigator
  • Cybersecurity awareness and training associate
  • Cybersecurity consultant
  • Cybersecurity policy specialist
  • Cybersecurity/privacy associate
  • IT specialist/technician
  • Security operations analyst
  • Security specialist
  • Vulnerability management analyst
  • Web security associated

Upskilling career opportunities in cybersecurity include:

  • Computer support specialist
  • Information security analyst
  • IT specialist
  • IT technician
  • Penetration tester
  • Security specialist

Where can your online cybersecurity certificate take you?

While salaries may vary based on factors like experience, location and education, your online cybersecurity certificate can help you qualify for high-paying jobs like a computer support specialist ($60,810 median annual pay).4 In addition to a bachelor’s degree, your online cybersecurity certificate may also help you qualify for roles such as an information security analyst ($120,360 median annual pay)5 or a network and systems administrator ($95,360 median annual pay).6

The cybersecurity job market is also showing incredible growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 33 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.7

Why choose Maryville Online’s cybersecurity certificate?

Build a dynamic education

Our online certificate in cybersecurity is designed to give you a comprehensive understanding of the cyber defense field through real-world projects and case studies informed by the actual issues and challenges facing our digital and online society. That means you can learn cyber security practical skills and techniques that are highly applicable to your career.

Maximize your education investment

When you earn your online cybersecurity certificate from Maryville, you can focus on the topics that will help you achieve your career goals. If you already have a cybersecurity background, you may be eligible to replace up to two courses (6 credit hours) with electives to ensure you get the most out of your education. You can also apply coursework toward your bachelor’s in computer science or bachelor’s in cybersecurity from Maryville Online (up to 18 credits).

Put our reputation to work.

Maryville University was founded in 1872 and has been helping brave, motivated professionals launch or enhance their careers with industry expertise ever since. Ninety percent of our full-time faculty holds a doctorate or terminal degree, and our cybersecurity and computer science faculty comprise experienced practitioners and experts in the field.

We’re proud of our reputation for quality academics, accelerated growth and affordability, because it demonstrates our commitment to excellence.

Online certificate in cybersecurity curriculum

Our online cybersecurity certificate allows you to build your foundation in cybersecurity in as few as six courses (18 credit hours). Courses are 100% online, giving you the flexibility to learn top concepts and techniques in cybersecurity on your schedule.

Focus on issues important to cybersecurity

When you earn your cybersecurity certificate online with Maryville, you get a practical, project-based education that can prepare you to take on real-world challenges. Build a high-level base in vital, in-demand areas like critical systems and controls, ethical hacking, networks and security, digital forensics, malware analysis and cloud security.

Tailor your experience to your skills

Do you already have a background in cybersecurity or similar concepts? Our online cybersecurity certificate might be able to accommodate your experience. You may be eligible to swap up to two courses for electives to help you build new skills — not rehash old ones.

Expand your career potential with a second certificate

The computer science world is booming, and there are plenty of opportunities across a variety of areas. That’s why we offer five separate certificate programs in some of the most high-growth, in-demand areas of this industry. You can round out your computer science knowledge by choosing to earn a second 100% online certificate in artificial intelligence (AI), data science, software development or user experience and user interface (UX/UI).

Core Courses (15 credit hours)

  • This course will allow students to implement and audit the Critical Security Controls as documented by the Council on Cyber Security. These Critical Security Controls are rapidly becoming accepted as the highest priority list of what must be done and proven at nearly all organizations.

  • This course will involve assessing target networks and hosts for security vulnerabilities. Specific penetration testing and ethical hacking methodologies will be discussed and used on network devices, client machines and mobile devices.

  • This course will examine both network device security and wireless security issues. For wireless security, specific attention will be paid on WiFi and Bluetooth technologies.

  • Virtualization technologies require planning with regard to access controls, user permissions and traditional security controls. Virtualized infrastructure is being located in the cloud which will dictate policies and processes that will need to be adapted to work within a cloud structure.

  • This course will focus on digital forensic practices, tools and exercises for the collection of electronic evidence on network, client and mobile devices. Specific discussion will also include the introduction process of this electronic evidence in civil and criminal cases.

  • This course explores malware analysis tools and techniques that target and infect Windows systems. Knowing the capabilities of malware is critical to an organization’s ability to derive threat intelligence, respond to information security incidents and establish defenses.

  • This course will discuss information security and policies in the private sector related to privacy, incident response, computer crime, intellectual property and pending/recently decided cases.

Learn more about the online cybersecurity certificate at Maryville University.

Apply now

Be Brave

Bring us your ambition and we’ll guide you along a personalized path to a quality education that’s designed to change your life.

  1. The Cybersecurity Industry Has an Urgent Talent Shortage. Here’s How to Plug the Gap. (2024). World Economic Forum. Retrieved
    December 6, 2024. ↩︎
  2. Cost of a Data Breach Report. (2024). IBM. Retrieved December 6, 2024.  ↩︎
  3. Mean Time to Identify and Contain Data Breaches Worldwide from 2017 to 2024 (In Days). (2024). Statista. Retrieved December 11, 2024. ↩︎
  4. Computer Support Specialists. (2024). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved December 6, 2024. ↩︎
  5. Information Security Analyst. (2024). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved December 6, 2024. ↩︎
  6. Network and Computer Systems Administrators. (2024). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved December 6, 2024. ↩︎
  7. Information Security Analyst. (2024). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved December 6, 2024. ↩︎