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What's Included in TCM's Free Cybersecurity Training
Practical Help Desk
16h 30mA true beginner course in the day-to-day work of IT support: computer hardware, operating systems, virtualization, Windows, Linux, networking, remote support, ticketing systems and Windows Active Directory. It covers skills the NICE Framework lists for its Technical Support work role.
Practical Security Fundamentals
8h 30mHow systems get attacked and defended: firewalls, signature-based detection, exploits, packet sniffing, static malware analysis, CyberChef, password cracking with Hashcat and Linux authentication.
Linux 100: Fundamentals
2hA short, practical start on the command line: installing Linux in a virtual machine, common commands, the file system and user privileges, network commands, services, installing tools and an introduction to Bash scripting.
Programming 100: Fundamentals
3hThe core ideas behind every programming language: setting up an environment, basic concepts, functions, control structures and data structures, finishing with a capstone project.
AI 100: Fundamentals
4hHow modern AI works, from neural networks to transformer large language models. You will need a computer that can run a virtual machine: 16 GB of RAM (32 GB recommended) and 100 GB of free storage.
Soft Skills for the Job Market
7hThe course that turns skills into interviews: communication, resume writing, applying for jobs, interviewing, standing out as a candidate and building a personal website.
Start With the Fundamentals for Free
No Credit Card, No Commitment
The free tier was designed to help you build foundational knowledge without spending anything. Because it features six full courses with over 40 hours of practical instruction, you get real depth rather than a teaser. If you are starting from zero, these courses walk you through the basics before you move into more advanced cybersecurity topics.
Start Free
Get Access to the Full Catalog
Over 100,000 students have trained with TCM Security Academy. With an All-Access Membership, you get full access to over 250 hours of practical, hands-on training material. The Academy covers both offensive and defensive security topics, as well as courses on programming, AI, and OSINT.
Practical Ethical Hacking
20h · Heath AdamsHack Active Directory, web apps and wireless networks using techniques from real engagements, then write the report clients expect.
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SOC 101
30h · Andrew PrinceTriage alerts and respond to incidents the way Tier 1 and Tier 2 SOC analysts do, from phishing analysis to SIEM and forensics.
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Practical Bug Bounty
9h 45m · Heath AdamsFind and responsibly report real web vulnerabilities with Burp Suite and the OWASP Top 10, in a course built with Intigriti.
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AI Hacking 101
6h · Andrew BelliniExploit a vulnerable AI chatbot with prompt injection, jailbreaks and RAG data leaks, and learn how to recommend fixes.
View CourseMemberships start at $29.99/mo
Free Cyber Security Training FAQ
Everything you need to know before you start.
Getting Started
Not for most of them. Practical Help Desk, Linux 100 and Programming 100 are written for complete beginners. Practical Security Fundamentals assumes some familiarity with computers and networks, and AI 100 builds on the other four technical courses.
No. The free tier is free, so you can create your account and start the fundamentals courses without entering any card details. You'd only add payment if you decide to upgrade to the All-Access Membership later.
No. The free courses are always free. Sign up with your email address and keep access with no time limit.
No. Cybersecurity Awareness Month in October is a great time to start, but the free courses stay free after the month ends.
Start with the course closest to the job you want. For a first IT job, that's Practical Help Desk; for a cybersecurity career, Practical Help Desk or Practical Security Fundamentals, depending on how comfortable you already are with computers and networks. Linux 100 and Programming 100 run about five hours together and clear the way to AI 100. Take Soft Skills for the Job Market when you're ready to apply.
About the Free Courses
Yes, if they teach real skills. Our free training includes hands-on labs, so you practice the work instead of only watching videos. They are taught by working security professionals and give you a strong base before you move to advanced training or a TCM certification.
The free tier covers the fundamentals: Practical Help Desk, AI 100: Fundamentals, Practical Security Fundamentals, Linux 100: Fundamentals, Programming 100: Fundamentals, and Soft Skills for the Job Market. They give you a real foundation, so you're ready before you move into more advanced, hands-on work.
Both. Every course in the free tier includes hands-on labs, so you're practicing the skills, not just watching lessons. That's the point of the free tier, to get you doing the work from day one.
They're self-paced, so you set the schedule. Each course's length is on its card above, from 2 hours for Linux 100 to 16 hours 30 minutes for Practical Help Desk.
Working cybersecurity professionals. Andrew Bellini teaches Practical Help Desk, Practical Security Fundamentals and AI 100. Heath Adams teaches Linux 100 and Programming 100, and co-teaches Soft Skills for the Job Market with Zach Hill.
Membership and Certificates
Yes. Every course comes with a certificate of completion that lists the CEUs you earned. You get 1 CEU for every hour of training, so finishing all six free courses earns you up to 41 CEUs. Whether those CEUs count toward maintaining another certification depends on that certifying body's rules. This is separate from TCM's professional certifications like the PNPT, which are earned through hands-on exams.
The free tier gives you the fundamentals to get started. Upgrading to the All-Access Membership opens up the full Academy, because it adds over 250 hours of practical, hands-on training across offensive and defensive security, plus programming, AI, and OSINT. Think of the free courses as the foundation and the membership as everything built on top of it.
One membership unlocks every course in the Academy, so you get over 250 hours of hands-on training across offensive and defensive security, programming, AI, and OSINT, with new courses added over time. You can go month to month at $29.99, or save with 6 months at $154.99 or 12 months at $299.99.
Get 40+ Hours of Free Training
Six hands-on courses. Yours to keep.