I Completed Cisco's Free Introduction to Cybersecurity Course — My Honest Review (Worth It in 2026?)
I recently completed Cisco Networking Academy's **Introduction to Cybersecurity** course.
Since I had already completed TryHackMe labs, built a home lab, and worked on bug bounty, I wanted to see how useful this beginner course actually is.
My honest opinion:
✅ Completely free
✅ Well structured
✅ Great for absolute beginners
✅ Recognized Cisco brand
✅ Good LinkedIn credential
What I liked:
• Easy to follow
• Explains cybersecurity fundamentals clearly
• Good introduction to enterprise security concepts
• Nice certificate for students starting out
What it doesn't have:
❌ No hands-on labs
❌ No Linux practice
❌ No hacking exercises
❌ No real-world tooling
If you're completely new to cybersecurity, I think it's a solid first step.
After finishing it, I'd recommend moving to:
• Networking
• Linux
• TryHackMe
• PortSwigger Web Security Academy
• Home Lab
• GitHub Projects
I wrote a detailed review covering:
- Every module
- Pros & Cons
- Who should take it
- Whether recruiters care
- How it compares to TryHackMe and Google Cybersecurity
📖 Blog:
https://www.apisecurityguide.com/2026/06/i-completed-ciscos-introduction-to.html
Have you taken the Cisco course?
Would you recommend it to beginners, or would you suggest another free course first?
Posted Jul 11, 2026, 8:47 PM UTC