Cybersecurity threats pose one of the most significant risks facing companies today. High profile data breaches, ransomware attacks and state-sponsored hacking dominate headlines.
Yet at the same time, cybersecurity talent is in dangerously short supply. There are an estimated 3.5 million unfilled positions, with the cybersecurity skills gap projected to grow to over 4 million by 2030.
This mismatch between supply and demand translates into major financial impacts. In the U.S. alone, cybercrime costs are forecast to grow from $172 billion in 2022 to over $270 billion within the next eight years.
So what’s driving this shortage, and how can online learning provide a solution?
The Cybersecurity Talent ‘Crisis‘
Cybersecurity is an inherently dynamic field. New attack techniques and vulnerabilities emerge constantly, requiring security analysts to continuously expand their knowledge.
Simultaneously, digital transformation has introduced entirely new frontiers to defend. Cloud platforms, mobile devices and IoT sensors all represent evolving exposure areas.
As a result, most organizations struggle to fully staff security teams with needed capabilities:
- 61% of businesses confirm cybersecurity skill gaps impacting operations
- 80% of breaches attributed to deficiencies in staff training
- 97 days average to fill open cybersecurity positions in the U.S.
With talent scarce, those that do fill roles command eye-popping salaries. Chief Information Security Officers earn total compensation packages averaging nearly $500,000 per year.
Online Learning Platforms Offer Upskilling
While the scale of unfilled positions may seem overwhelming, online education presents a path to balance supply with demand.
Cybersecurity represents an attractive vertical for affiliate marketers. Audiences urgently need skills training, aligning perfectly with platform offerings.
Below we explore top destinations enabling security upskilling, along with tips to effectively promote their content based on niche relevance:
Founded in 2010, Skillshare provides short classes exploring digital privacy and online security. With over two million members, it offers a friendly starting point for beginners.
Relevance for Cybersecurity
- Awareness building around online privacy basics
- Broad mix of security topics rather than technical depth
- Over 50 courses specifically focused on cybersecurity
Promoting Skillshare
- Spotlight specific instructors like Jayson Street covering hacking myths
- Offer promo codes incentivizing sign-ups to boost awareness
- Embed highly-rated introductory cybersecurity courses on relevant pages
While best for early learning stages, Skillshare lacks rigorous technical content required for cybersecurity mastery. Next we‘ll explore more advanced alternatives.
2. Udacity
Udacity focuses exclusively on in-demand technology skills like cloud computing, programming and data science. Over 50 industry partners including Mercedes-Benz and Airbus validate real-world applicability.
Relevance for Cybersecurity
- Nanodegrees in cloud infrastructure highlight security configurations
- Courseware co-created by expert practitioners like AWS cloud architects
- Career-focused content, but light specifically on cybersecurity
Promoting Udacity
- Spotlight cloud platform content covering security best practices
- Share graduate success stories transitioning into technical roles
- Offer Udacity promo codes incentivizing Nanodegree enrollment
While indirectly valuable in cultivating underlying IT capabilities, Udacity fails to deliver dedicated cybersecurity curriculum. Thus we need to keep searching for specialty content.
3. edX
Non-profit platform edX showcases courses from leading academic institutions like MIT, Harvard and UC Berkeley. Subjects range from computer science to public policy across 3,500+ courses.
Relevance for Cybersecurity
- Foundational classes on operating systems and software infrastructure
- Certificates of completion from globally recognized universities
- Specialized courses on cyber law, ethics, privacy and management
Promoting edX
- Curate topic bundles tying foundational + specialized content
- Spotlight computer science classes laying technology groundwork
- Offer discounted course voucher codes to incentivize enrollment
- Share edX cyber program graduate success stories and testimonials
edX provides rigorous, accredited cybersecurity content able to strengthen technical and policy capabilities alike. Next let‘s evaluate an platform 100% dedicated to tech.
4. Pluralsight
With over 8,000 courses authored by world-class technology experts, Pluralsight focuses exclusively on building in-demand tech skills. Subject matter spans software development, IT ops, machine learning, cloud and security.
Relevance for Cybersecurity
- 500+ intermediate and advanced infosec courses
- Content tied directly to key CISSP and CEH certifications
- Instructors comprise leading industry practitioners
Promoting Pluralsight
- Curate "best of" cybersecurity course lists by skill level
- Share updates when new classes are added each month
- Run sponsored giveaways for free Pluralsight subscriptions
- Offer promo codes tied to discounted annual memberships
Pluralsight offers phenomenal depth and quality of cybersecurity content. However, let‘s evaluate a few additional competitors.
5. Coursera
Coursera partners with 192 leading universities and companies to deliver over 5,000 courses serving 100 million global learners. Subjects span technology, business, public health and more.
Relevance for Cybersecurity
- Specializations from schools like University of Maryland topping cybersecurity rankings
- Opportunity to earn valuable industry accreditations
- Content powering professional certificates from Google and IBM
Promoting Coursera
- Showcase standout cybersecurity professors and courses
- Spotlight content delivering resume-worthy certificates
- Offer deals incentivizing multi-course subscription bundles
Coursera unlocks access to programs from the most elite cybersecurity academic establishments. However, searching its extensive catalog can prove daunting. Thus our final option offers highly targeted content.
6. Udemy
With over 213,000 courses covering every imaginable subject, Udemy serves over 44 million students globally. Instructors set pricing, enabling experts to profit from sharing niche skills.
Relevance for Cybersecurity
- Massive catalog with over 5,000 cybersecurity courses
- Ability to filter specifically for highly rated content
- Challenge of navigating platform scale and noise
Promoting Udemy
- Curate lists of best infosec courses by skill level
- Interview Udemy cybersecurity instructors
- Promote special launch pricing for new classes
- Offer promo codes for popular bundled cyber course packs
Udemy‘s laser focus empowers identifying specialty courses, although scattered among overall platform scale.
Key Selection Criteria
With this sampling of top online learning platforms, how should you choose where to invest your learning hours?
Here are key evaluation dimensions:
- Expertise – confirm instructor real-world pedigree
- Applicability – validate course content maps to in-demand skills
- Proficiency – ensure assessments demonstrate true mastery
- Credentials – completion should warrant reputable accreditations
- Value – compare scalable subscriptions vs. individual classes
Learning cybersecurity requires far more than watching videos. You must be able to actively apply concepts through projects, configurations and tools.
Select platforms enabling demonstration of abilities – not just passive presentation of ideas.
Start Upskilling Now
With cyber threats growing in frequency and impact daily, the need for trained security talent has never been more urgent.
Online learning presents an accessible means of cultivating in-demand skills, while unlocking secondary income streams via affiliate partnerships.
I urge you to urgently dedicate time towards expanding cybersecurity capabilities – our shared security depends upon it.
Choose a platform aligned to your objectives, create an account, and begin advancing your learning immediately. Our future needs you!
