10 Best Computer Security Courses Online
Choosing a computer security course online can feel overwhelming given the range of topics and providers available. On this page we have gathered ten options from Coursera, Udemy and edX, covering fundamentals such as introductory security concepts, cryptography, side‑channel attacks, and preparation for industry certifications. Prices vary from $19.99 to $399.00, and each course is linked to a recognised university or the platform’s own curriculum, allowing you to match a learning path with your budget and goals.
The list is ordered according to our internal ranking, which reflects a balance of content depth, instructor reputation and relevance to current security challenges. Whether you are a beginner looking for a broad overview, a professional aiming to specialise in cryptography, or someone preparing for a certification exam, the selection offers a clear starting point to compare what each option delivers and decide which fits your needs best.
- Courses compared
- 10
- Price range
- $49.00 – $399.00
- Providers
- Coursera, Udemy, edX
- Last updated
- 26 Sep 2026
How these 10 courses were chosen
Every course below is a real, currently listed course from Coursera, Udemy, edX, matched to "computer security" by our catalog and ordered by our CourseAsk score. Courses whose own title names the topic rank above those only tagged with it.
The grade on each entry scores how much the provider publishes about the course before you pay — the length and detail of the description, whether it lists learning outcomes and objectives — and whether a named university or institution stands behind it. A is fully documented and institution-backed; E is little more than a title and a price. Courses with almost nothing published are left ungraded rather than marked down, because an unknown course and a poor one are not the same thing.
There are no star ratings on this page — the course feeds we license do not include them, and we would rather leave a column out than fill it with a number we cannot stand behind. What we do have is price: these range from $49.00 to $399.00, as listed by the provider when we last updated the page.
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1
Introduction to Computer Security
Offered by Royal Holloway, University of London & University of London
The purpose of this short four-week course is to introduce the topic of computer system security. We initially look at a short basic introduction to computer system core components and functions and then extend this to c...
$49.00listed price -
2
Cryptography and Computer Security
In today’s digital world, the protection of information is more critical than ever. Cryptography and Computer Security is a comprehensive course designed to equip learners with the foundational knowledge and practical sk...
$19.99listed price -
3
Introduction to Applied Cryptography
Offered by University of Colorado System
Cryptography is an essential component of cybersecurity. The need to protect sensitive information and ensure the integrity of industrial control processes has placed a premium on cybersecurity skills in today’s informat...
$49.00listed price -
4
Transient-Execution Attacks: Understanding Meltdown and Spectre
Offered by Graz University of Technology
Beyond software-based side-channel attacks there is a new class of attacks called transient-execution attacks. These attacks go beyond leaking meta-data and directly retrieve secret data but they use side channels as an...
$129.00listed price -
5
Introduction to Software Side Channels and Mitigations
Offered by Graz University of Technology
Side channels exist in the real world, but they also exist in computers and can be exploited directly from software. This is a substantial computer security problem today, that we need to learn about to be able to stop a...
$129.00listed price -
6
Preparation for CompTIA A+ Certification
Offered by IBM
This specialization is your gateway to a thriving career in the dynamic field of Information Technology (IT). In today’s technology-driven world, IT professionals equipped with the knowledge and expertise to maintain, tr...
$49.00listed price -
7
Computer Forensics
Offered by Rochester Institute of Technology
Learn the process, techniques and tools for performing a digital forensics investigation to obtain data related to computer crimes.
$399.00listed price -
8
Data Loss Prevention
Data Loss Prevention (DLP) is a computer security term referring to systems that identify, monitor, and protect data in use, data in motion, and data at rest. Experts accomplish this through deep content inspection, con...
$49.99listed price -
9
CSE-451 (CSEN-4358) (University of Hafr Al Batin) Final
Offered by University of Hafr Al Batin
Chapter-01 Introduction of Computer and Network SecurityIntroductionInformation Security Concept and GoalsNetwork Security Concept and GoalsCIA ModelPhysical securityOther Security ConceptsData securityAuthenticityAuthen...
$199.99listed price -
10
TOTAL: CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71)
Welcome to the CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71) from Richard Chapman, Scott Jernigan, and Total Seminars. CompTIA Tech+ is the updated name of CompTIA's IT Fundamentals, FC0-U61. Be your own Geek. This course is f...
$49.99listed price
Best Computer Security Courses Online compared
| # | Course | Provider | Offered by | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Computer Security | Coursera | Royal Holloway, University of London & University of London | $49.00 | View → |
| 2 | Cryptography and Computer Security | Udemy | — | See price | View → |
| 3 | Introduction to Applied Cryptography | Coursera | University of Colorado System | $49.00 | View → |
| 4 | Transient-Execution Attacks: Understanding Meltdown and Spectre | edX | Graz University of Technology | $129.00 | View → |
| 5 | Introduction to Software Side Channels and Mitigations | edX | Graz University of Technology | $129.00 | View → |
| 6 | Preparation for CompTIA A+ Certification | Coursera | IBM | $49.00 | View → |
| 7 | Computer Forensics | edX | Rochester Institute of Technology | $399.00 | View → |
| 8 | Data Loss Prevention | Udemy | — | See price | View → |
| 9 | CSE-451 (CSEN-4358) (University of Hafr Al Batin) Final | Udemy | University of Hafr Al Batin | See price | View → |
| 10 | TOTAL: CompTIA Tech+ (FC0-U71) | Udemy | — | See price | View → |
Prices shown are the provider's listed price when we last updated this page. Confirm on their site before enrolling.
What the prices here tell you
The 10 priced courses on this page run from $19.99 to $399.00, with the middle of the range around $49.99 — a spread of $379.01. That is a wide gap for one subject. A higher price on this page usually reflects who is behind the course rather than how much material it contains, so it is worth opening two or three at different price points and comparing their syllabus before deciding.
Who is behind these courses
These courses come from Coursera, Udemy and edX. The platforms differ in how they sell: some charge once per course, others expect a subscription, and the listed price is not always what you pay at checkout after a promotion. 5 of these are produced by a named university or institution, including Royal Holloway, University of London & University of London, University of Colorado System and Graz University of Technology — which usually means a fixed syllabus and a recognised certificate, rather than an individual instructor’s own course.
Courses versus exam preparation
2 of the entries here are built around a certification exam rather than teaching Computer Security from scratch. They are the right choice only if you already know the material and want to pass a specific exam; if you are starting out, pick one of the taught courses first and come back to exam preparation afterwards.
Before you enrol
Open the provider’s own page and check three things this comparison cannot tell you: when the course was last updated, what the syllabus actually covers in its later sections, and what recent learners say. Prices shown here are the provider’s listed price when we last rebuilt this page on 26 September 2026 — they change often, and a promotion can move them substantially. We earn a commission if you enrol through our links, which costs you nothing and never affects the order courses appear in.