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Best Cybersecurity Courses on Pluralsight 2026
Pluralsight's best cybersecurity courses for Security+, CEH, CISSP, and CySA+ certifications. Hands-on labs for ethical hacking and security operations.
Cybersecurity jobs are projected to grow 32% through 2032, with 3.5 million unfilled positions globally. Organizations desperately need skilled security professionals who can defend against ransomware, detect intrusions, and architect secure systems. If you are looking to break into cybersecurity or advance your security career through Pluralsight, you are in the right place.
But with hundreds of cybersecurity courses available on Pluralsight, which ones actually prepare you for certifications and real-world security operations? We analyzed the entire security catalog, evaluated course quality, instructor expertise, hands-on labs, and certification alignment to identify the top 12 courses worth your time.
Quick Picks: Best Cybersecurity Courses by Certification
If you are preparing for a specific security certification, start here:
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701):
- CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Complete Course by Daniel Lachance (22 hours) - The definitive Security+ prep course covering all exam objectives with practical labs
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v12):
- Ethical Hacking: The Complete Course by Troy Hunt (19 hours) - Comprehensive ethical hacking from reconnaissance to post-exploitation with real-world attack scenarios
CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003):
- CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003) Certification Prep by Aaron Rosenmund (18 hours) - Security analyst certification focused on threat detection, analysis, and response
CISSP:
- CISSP Certification: Domain 1-8 Complete by Kevin Henry (45 hours) - The complete CISSP certification path covering all eight domains with exam-focused content
Hands-On Security Labs Included
Pluralsight’s Premium plan includes hands-on cybersecurity labs where you practice penetration testing, incident response, and security operations in safe, isolated environments. You will use real tools (Metasploit, Nmap, Wireshark, Burp Suite) without legal or ethical risks---critical for building practical security skills.
The Top 12 Cybersecurity Courses on Pluralsight (Ranked)
After evaluating course quality, instructor expertise, hands-on labs, and certification alignment, here are the best cybersecurity courses on Pluralsight:
1. CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Complete Course
Instructor: Daniel Lachance Duration: 22 hours Level: Beginner to Intermediate Best For: Security certification foundation
CompTIA Security+ is the entry point for cybersecurity careers, and Daniel Lachance’s course is the gold standard for exam preparation. This comprehensive course covers all five Security+ domains: threats/attacks/vulnerabilities, architecture/design, implementation, operations/incident response, and governance/risk/compliance. The course includes cryptography fundamentals, network security, identity management, and cloud security.
What makes it great: The course balances theory with practical application. Each security concept is demonstrated in labs where you configure firewalls, analyze malware, and respond to simulated incidents. The exam preparation section includes practice questions with detailed explanations.
2. Ethical Hacking: The Complete Course
Instructor: Troy Hunt Duration: 19 hours Level: Intermediate Best For: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) prep and penetration testing
Troy Hunt (creator of Have I Been Pwned) delivers the definitive ethical hacking course. You will learn the entire attack lifecycle: reconnaissance, scanning, enumeration, exploitation, post-exploitation, and covering tracks. The course covers real-world tools including Nmap, Metasploit, Burp Suite, SQLmap, and social engineering frameworks. Labs let you perform actual penetration tests against intentionally vulnerable systems.
What makes it great: Troy teaches you to think like an attacker while maintaining ethical boundaries. The course emphasizes responsible disclosure and legal frameworks for security testing. The hands-on labs simulate real penetration testing engagements.
3. CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003) Certification Prep
Instructor: Aaron Rosenmund Duration: 18 hours Level: Intermediate Best For: Security analyst roles and threat detection
Aaron Rosenmund focuses on security operations and threat analysis---the practical skills defenders need daily. This course covers security information and event management (SIEM), threat intelligence, vulnerability management, incident response, and security operations center (SOC) procedures. You will learn to analyze logs, identify indicators of compromise (IOCs), and respond to security incidents.
What makes it great: The course emphasizes real-world SOC analyst workflows. Labs include analyzing actual attack traffic, investigating security incidents, and using threat intelligence to detect advanced persistent threats (APTs).
4. CISSP Certification: Domain 1-8 Complete
Instructor: Kevin Henry Duration: 45 hours Level: Advanced Best For: Senior security professionals pursuing CISSP
Kevin Henry’s comprehensive CISSP course covers all eight domains: security and risk management, asset security, security architecture and engineering, communication and network security, identity and access management, security assessment and testing, security operations, and software development security. This is the most respected security certification for experienced professionals.
What makes it great: CISSP requires five years of security experience and tests managerial and conceptual knowledge. Kevin focuses on the “think like a manager” mindset CISSP demands, not just technical implementation. The course prepares you for the challenging 6-hour exam.
5. Penetration Testing: The Big Picture
Instructor: Dale Meredith Duration: 2 hours Level: Beginner Best For: Understanding penetration testing methodology
Dale Meredith provides a strategic overview of penetration testing before diving into technical details. This course covers the penetration testing lifecycle, rules of engagement, scoping, reporting, and remediation. Perfect for security managers, compliance teams, or anyone considering a penetration testing career.
What makes it great: Many people jump into hacking tools without understanding penetration testing as a business service. This course teaches the professional and legal framework essential for security testing careers.
6. Network Security Fundamentals
Instructor: Ed Liberman Duration: 6 hours Level: Beginner to Intermediate Best For: Network security foundation
Ed Liberman teaches network security from first principles: defense in depth, network segmentation, firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), intrusion prevention systems (IPS), VPNs, and wireless security. Labs include configuring Cisco ASA firewalls, analyzing network traffic with Wireshark, and implementing network access control.
What makes it great: Most security breaches involve network compromise. This course gives you the networking foundation essential for security roles. The packet analysis labs are particularly valuable for understanding how attacks traverse networks.
7. Cloud Security Fundamentals
Instructor: Lyron Andrews Duration: 7 hours Level: Intermediate Best For: Securing AWS, Azure, and GCP environments
Lyron Andrews addresses the unique security challenges of cloud computing: shared responsibility model, identity and access management (IAM), data encryption, cloud-native security tools, container security, and serverless security. The course covers AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud security services with hands-on labs.
What makes it great: Cloud security is now a mandatory skill for security professionals. This course teaches you to secure cloud workloads, implement zero-trust architectures, and use cloud-native security tools like AWS GuardDuty and Azure Sentinel.
8. Incident Response and Forensics
Instructor: Eryk Budi Duration: 8 hours Level: Intermediate to Advanced Best For: Incident response and digital forensics
Eryk Budi teaches the complete incident response lifecycle: preparation, detection, containment, eradication, recovery, and lessons learned. The course covers forensics fundamentals including memory analysis, disk forensics, network forensics, and malware analysis. Labs use real forensics tools: FTK Imager, Volatility, Autopsy, and Wireshark.
What makes it great: When breaches happen, incident response skills save organizations millions. This course prepares you to investigate security incidents, preserve evidence for legal proceedings, and recover from attacks. The hands-on forensics labs are exceptional.
9. Web Application Security
Instructor: Troy Hunt Duration: 9 hours Level: Intermediate Best For: Application security and OWASP Top 10
Troy Hunt returns with essential web application security content. This course covers the OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities: SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), broken authentication, sensitive data exposure, XML external entities (XXE), broken access control, security misconfiguration, cross-site request forgery (CSRF), insecure deserialization, and vulnerable components. Labs demonstrate exploiting and fixing each vulnerability.
What makes it great: Web applications are the primary attack surface for most organizations. Troy teaches developers and security professionals to identify vulnerabilities before attackers do. The course emphasizes secure coding practices alongside security testing.
10. Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst Path
Instructor: Multiple instructors Duration: 35 hours (learning path) Level: Intermediate Best For: SOC analyst career preparation
This curated learning path combines multiple courses to prepare you for SOC analyst roles. You will master SIEM tools (Splunk, ELK Stack), log analysis, threat hunting, security monitoring, incident escalation, and security automation. The path includes courses on threat intelligence, malware analysis, and security operations best practices.
What makes it great: SOC analyst is one of the most in-demand entry-level cybersecurity roles ($70K-90K starting salary). This learning path provides the complete skill set employers expect from SOC analysts.
11. Cryptography and PKI Fundamentals
Instructor: Daniel Lachance Duration: 5 hours Level: Intermediate Best For: Understanding encryption and digital certificates
Daniel Lachance demystifies cryptography: symmetric vs. asymmetric encryption, hash functions, digital signatures, public key infrastructure (PKI), certificate authorities, SSL/TLS, and cryptographic attacks. The course covers real-world applications including HTTPS, VPNs, and encrypted email.
What makes it great: Cryptography underlies all modern security. This course teaches you when to use AES vs. RSA, how TLS protects web traffic, and why certificate validation matters. Essential knowledge for Security+, CySA+, and CISSP certifications.
12. Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering
Instructor: Josh Stroschein Duration: 6 hours Level: Advanced Best For: Malware analysis and threat intelligence
Josh Stroschein teaches static and dynamic malware analysis techniques. You will learn to analyze malicious executables using disassemblers (IDA Pro, Ghidra), debuggers (x64dbg), and sandboxes (Cuckoo Sandbox). The course covers malware families, anti-analysis techniques, and extracting indicators of compromise from malware samples.
What makes it great: Malware analysis is the most technical cybersecurity discipline and commands premium salaries ($100K-150K). This course teaches you to reverse engineer malware, understand attacker tactics, and develop detection signatures for new threats.
Cybersecurity Certification Paths: Entry to Advanced
Pluralsight offers complete learning paths for each major cybersecurity certification:
Entry-Level Certifications (3-6 months for beginners)
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701):
- Focus: Cybersecurity fundamentals and best practices
- Prerequisites: None (CompTIA A+ and Network+ recommended)
- Pass rate: ~65% (achievable with study)
- Career impact: Entry-level security roles ($60K-85K)
- Why get it: Required baseline certification for DoD and many corporate security positions
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v12):
- Focus: Penetration testing and offensive security
- Prerequisites: 2 years InfoSec experience or EC-Council training
- Pass rate: ~70% (practical exam available)
- Career impact: Penetration tester roles ($80K-120K)
- Why get it: Proves hands-on hacking skills valued by security firms
Intermediate Certifications (6-12 months experience)
CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-003):
- Focus: Threat detection, analysis, and incident response
- Prerequisites: Security+ or equivalent experience
- Pass rate: ~60% (more challenging than Security+)
- Career impact: SOC analyst, threat hunter roles ($75K-105K)
- Why get it: Bridges the gap between Security+ and advanced certifications
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP):
- Focus: Security management and architecture
- Prerequisites: 5 years security experience (can earn Associate status earlier)
- Pass rate: ~50% (very challenging)
- Career impact: Senior security roles, CISO track ($110K-180K)
- Why get it: The gold standard security certification recognized globally
Advanced and Specialized Certifications
Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP):
- Focus: Advanced penetration testing with 24-hour hands-on exam
- Prerequisites: Strong networking and Linux skills
- Pass rate: ~40% (extremely difficult)
- Career impact: Senior penetration tester roles ($100K-150K)
- Why get it: The most respected hands-on hacking certification
GIAC Security Certifications (GSEC, GCIA, GCIH, etc.):
- Focus: Specialized security domains (forensics, incident handling, penetration testing)
- Prerequisites: Varies by certification
- Pass rate: ~60-70%
- Career impact: Specialized security roles ($90K-140K)
- Why get it: Vendor-neutral certifications from SANS Institute with deep technical focus
Recommended Path for Cybersecurity Careers
Start with CompTIA Security+ to build foundational knowledge, then choose a specialization: CySA+ for defensive security (SOC analyst, threat hunter) or CEH for offensive security (penetration tester). After 3-5 years experience, pursue CISSP for leadership roles. This path aligns with how most security professionals advance their careers.
Hands-On Cybersecurity Labs: The Critical Difference
Pluralsight’s hands-on security labs are what separate competent security professionals from those who only watch videos. Cybersecurity demands practical skills---you must actually configure firewalls, analyze malware, and respond to incidents.
What Security Labs Offer
- Safe hacking environments: Practice penetration testing without legal or ethical risks
- Real security tools: Metasploit, Nmap, Burp Suite, Wireshark, Splunk, and more
- Vulnerable systems: Intentionally insecure applications and networks to practice attacks
- Incident scenarios: Simulated security breaches requiring investigation and response
- Validation: Labs verify you completed tasks correctly and learned the concepts
Top Security Lab Categories
Penetration Testing Labs:
- Reconnaissance and information gathering with Nmap and Recon-ng
- Vulnerability scanning with Nessus and OpenVAS
- Exploiting systems with Metasploit Framework
- Web application attacks (SQL injection, XSS, CSRF)
- Privilege escalation techniques on Linux and Windows
- Post-exploitation and lateral movement
Incident Response Labs:
- Analyzing security alerts in SIEM platforms
- Investigating suspicious network traffic with Wireshark
- Memory forensics with Volatility Framework
- Disk forensics with Autopsy and FTK Imager
- Malware analysis in isolated sandbox environments
- Creating incident response reports and timelines
Network Security Labs:
- Configuring firewalls (pfSense, Cisco ASA)
- Implementing intrusion detection systems (Snort, Suricata)
- VPN configuration and testing
- Wireless security testing and WPA2 cracking
- Network segmentation and VLAN configuration
- Traffic analysis and anomaly detection
Security Operations Labs:
- SIEM log analysis with Splunk
- Threat hunting using MITRE ATT&CK framework
- Creating detection rules and alerts
- Security automation with SOAR platforms
- Vulnerability management workflows
- Security compliance scanning
Cloud Security Labs:
- AWS IAM policy configuration and testing
- Azure Security Center implementation
- Securing S3 buckets and preventing data leaks
- Container security with Docker and Kubernetes
- Serverless security for AWS Lambda
- Cloud security posture management
Capture the Flag (CTF) Challenges
Pluralsight includes CTF-style challenges where you earn flags by successfully exploiting vulnerabilities or solving security puzzles. These challenges simulate real-world security competitions and help you:
- Apply multiple security concepts to solve complex problems
- Think creatively about security vulnerabilities
- Build problem-solving skills valued in security interviews
- Compete with other learners on leaderboards
Premium Plan Required for Security Labs
Hands-on cybersecurity labs are only available with Pluralsight Premium ($449/year). The Standard plan ($299/year) includes courses but not labs. For cybersecurity careers, Premium is essential---employers expect practical skills, not just theoretical knowledge. The labs are the difference between watching someone hack and actually hacking.
Best Courses by Security Domain
If you need to specialize in a specific cybersecurity domain, these courses dive deep:
Network Security
- Network Security Fundamentals (Ed Liberman) - Firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs
- Advanced Network Security (Ed Liberman) - Network segmentation, zero trust
- Wireless Security (Mike Chapple) - WiFi security, WPA2/WPA3, wireless attacks
Application Security
- Web Application Security (Troy Hunt) - OWASP Top 10, secure coding
- Secure Software Development Lifecycle (Dale Meredith) - DevSecOps, security testing
- API Security (Keith Casey) - REST API security, OAuth, JWT vulnerabilities
Cloud Security
- Cloud Security Fundamentals (Lyron Andrews) - AWS, Azure, GCP security
- AWS Security (Chad Smith) - IAM, GuardDuty, Security Hub
- Azure Security Technologies (Tim Warner) - Azure Sentinel, Defender, Identity Protection
- Google Cloud Security (Howard Poston) - GCP security services and best practices
Offensive Security
- Ethical Hacking: The Complete Course (Troy Hunt) - Penetration testing methodology
- Advanced Penetration Testing (Dale Meredith) - Post-exploitation, privilege escalation
- Social Engineering and Phishing (Aaron Rosenmund) - Human hacking techniques
- Wireless Penetration Testing (Mike Chapple) - WiFi attacks and defenses
Defensive Security
- Incident Response and Forensics (Eryk Budi) - Investigation and recovery
- Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst Path (Multiple) - SIEM, threat hunting
- Threat Intelligence (Aaron Rosenmund) - Using threat intel for defense
- Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering (Josh Stroschein) - Analyzing malicious code
Identity and Access Management
- Identity and Access Management Fundamentals (Daniel Lachance) - IAM concepts
- Active Directory Security (Melissa Palmer) - Hardening Windows AD
- Zero Trust Architecture (Will Christensen) - Implementing zero trust
- Privileged Access Management (Mike Chapple) - Protecting admin accounts
Compliance and Governance
- IT Security Governance and Risk Management (Kevin Henry) - Frameworks and policies
- GDPR Compliance (Daniel Lachance) - European privacy regulation
- HIPAA Compliance (David Seidl) - Healthcare data protection
- PCI DSS Compliance (Mike Chapple) - Payment card security standards
Cybersecurity Career Paths and Salaries
Understanding the cybersecurity career landscape helps you choose the right courses and certifications:
Entry-Level Security Roles ($60K-90K)
Security Analyst / SOC Analyst:
- Certifications: Security+, CySA+
- Skills: SIEM, log analysis, incident response
- Courses: SOC Analyst Path, CySA+ Prep, Network Security Fundamentals
Junior Penetration Tester:
- Certifications: CEH, Security+
- Skills: Network scanning, vulnerability assessment, basic exploitation
- Courses: Ethical Hacking, Penetration Testing Big Picture, Network Security
Security Operations Center Technician:
- Certifications: Security+
- Skills: Security monitoring, alert triage, ticket management
- Courses: Security+ Prep, SIEM courses, Incident Response basics
Mid-Level Security Roles ($90K-130K)
Penetration Tester:
- Certifications: CEH, OSCP, GPEN
- Skills: Advanced exploitation, web app testing, reporting
- Courses: Ethical Hacking Complete, Web Application Security, Advanced Pen Testing
Incident Response Analyst:
- Certifications: GCIH, CySA+, CISSP
- Skills: Digital forensics, malware analysis, threat hunting
- Courses: Incident Response and Forensics, Malware Analysis, Threat Intelligence
Security Engineer:
- Certifications: CISSP, CCSP, cloud security certs
- Skills: Security architecture, cloud security, infrastructure hardening
- Courses: Cloud Security, Network Security Advanced, Security Architecture
Threat Hunter:
- Certifications: CySA+, GCTI, GCIA
- Skills: Threat intelligence, MITRE ATT&CK, advanced SIEM
- Courses: Threat Intelligence, SOC Analyst Path, Incident Response
Senior Security Roles ($130K-200K+)
Senior Penetration Tester / Red Team Lead:
- Certifications: OSCP, OSCE, GXPN
- Skills: Advanced exploitation, post-exploitation, red team operations
- Courses: Advanced Penetration Testing, Post-Exploitation, Social Engineering
Security Architect:
- Certifications: CISSP, SABSA, cloud architecture certs
- Skills: Security design, risk assessment, compliance frameworks
- Courses: CISSP Complete, Cloud Security, Security Architecture and Design
Incident Response Manager:
- Certifications: CISSP, GCIH, CISM
- Skills: IR leadership, forensics, crisis management
- Courses: Incident Response and Forensics, Security Management, Risk Management
Chief Information Security Officer (CISO):
- Certifications: CISSP, CISM, CRISC
- Skills: Security strategy, risk management, board communication
- Courses: CISSP Complete, IT Security Governance, Risk Management
Cybersecurity Job Market Reality
While 3.5 million cybersecurity jobs are unfilled globally, entry-level positions are competitive. Most require Security+ certification plus demonstrable skills (GitHub projects, CTF participation, home labs). Mid-level and senior roles have genuine shortages---once you gain 2-3 years experience, opportunities expand dramatically. Hands-on labs and certifications accelerate your path from entry to mid-level roles.
How to Use Skill IQ for Cybersecurity Learning
Pluralsight’s Skill IQ assessments identify your exact cybersecurity knowledge gaps and recommend targeted courses:
Taking Security Skill IQ Assessments
- Choose a security skill: Search for specific assessments (Cybersecurity, Penetration Testing, Network Security, etc.)
- Take the adaptive test: Answer 15-20 questions that adjust difficulty based on your responses
- Get your score: Receive a score from 0-300 placing you in one of five proficiency levels
- Get course recommendations: Pluralsight suggests courses targeting your specific weaknesses
Available Cybersecurity Skill IQ Tests
- Cybersecurity (general security knowledge)
- Network Security (firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs)
- Penetration Testing (ethical hacking skills)
- Incident Response (forensics and response)
- Cloud Security (AWS, Azure, GCP security)
- Application Security (secure coding, OWASP)
Using Role IQ for Security Careers
Role IQ assessments evaluate your readiness for specific cybersecurity job roles:
- Security Analyst
- Penetration Tester
- Security Engineer
- Cloud Security Engineer
- Incident Response Analyst
Role IQ tests multiple related skills (network security, cryptography, incident response, etc.) and identifies your complete readiness for the role. This helps you understand which areas need work before applying for security positions.
Tracking Certification Progress
Pluralsight’s certification prep paths include progress tracking showing:
- Percentage completion toward certification
- Estimated time remaining based on your pace
- Practice exam scores and improvement trends
- Weak areas requiring additional study
This data-driven approach helps you stay accountable and ensures you are genuinely prepared before taking expensive certification exams ($370 for Security+, $599 for CEH, $749 for CISSP).
Pros
- Comprehensive certification prep for Security+, CEH, CySA+, and CISSP
- Hands-on security labs with real tools (Metasploit, Burp Suite, Wireshark, Splunk)
- Safe hacking environments for penetration testing practice without legal risks
- Expert instructors including Troy Hunt (creator of Have I Been Pwned)
- Learning paths tailored to security career roles (SOC analyst, penetration tester, etc.)
- Skill IQ assessments identify exact knowledge gaps for targeted learning
- Premium plan includes practice exams for major security certifications
- Content covers all security domains: network, cloud, application, incident response
- CTF challenges and real-world security scenarios build problem-solving skills
- Malware analysis and forensics labs use industry-standard tools
Cons
- Premium plan ($449/year) required for essential hands-on security labs
- Some advanced certifications (OSCP, SANS GIAC) require external training
- No live mentorship or instructor Q&A for complex security questions
- Security content requires regular updates as threats evolve rapidly
- Labs can be challenging for absolute beginners without IT foundation
- Certificates show course completion only, not industry certifications like Security+
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Pluralsight cybersecurity courses enough to get certified?
Pluralsight courses provide comprehensive preparation for Security+, CEH, CySA+, and CISSP certifications. Most learners who complete the full course, practice labs, and included practice exams report passing their certifications. However, you should supplement with additional practice exams (like Professor Messer for Security+ or Boson for CISSP) and the official certification study guides. The hands-on labs are particularly valuable---they build practical skills tested in certification exams.
Do I need the Premium plan for cybersecurity courses?
Yes, absolutely. The Standard plan ($299/year) includes cybersecurity video courses but not hands-on labs. Premium ($449/year) adds security labs where you practice penetration testing, incident response, and security operations with real tools in safe environments. Cybersecurity is a hands-on field---employers expect you to demonstrate practical skills, not just theoretical knowledge. The $150 difference is essential for building career-ready security skills.
Which cybersecurity certification should I get first?
CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) is the best starting point for most people. This foundational certification covers essential security concepts, requires no prerequisites, and is recognized globally by employers. Security+ is often required for DoD and government security positions. After Security+, choose a specialization: CySA+ for defensive security (SOC analyst, threat hunter) or CEH for offensive security (penetration tester). CISSP requires 5 years experience and targets senior professionals.
How long does it take to break into cybersecurity using Pluralsight?
For complete beginners with no IT background: 6-12 months to earn Security+ and build foundational skills for entry-level SOC analyst roles ($60K-75K). If you have IT experience (networking, systems administration): 3-6 months for Security+ plus specialized training for your target role. The key is combining Pluralsight courses with hands-on labs, personal projects (home labs, CTF competitions), and Security+ certification. Employers want proof of practical skills.
Can I learn penetration testing on Pluralsight?
Yes. Troy Hunt’s “Ethical Hacking: The Complete Course” plus hands-on penetration testing labs teach you reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, and post-exploitation using real tools (Nmap, Metasploit, Burp Suite). This prepares you for CEH certification. However, for advanced penetration testing roles, you will eventually need OSCP certification from Offensive Security, which requires their dedicated training and a challenging 24-hour practical exam. Pluralsight builds the foundation.
Are Pluralsight security labs realistic for learning hacking?
Yes, the security labs use real penetration testing tools against intentionally vulnerable systems in isolated environments. You will perform actual SQL injection attacks, exploit buffer overflows, crack passwords, and analyze malware---the same techniques used in professional security testing. The labs are safe and legal because they are isolated from real networks. This hands-on experience is critical---watching someone hack teaches you nothing compared to actually exploiting vulnerabilities yourself.
How much do cybersecurity professionals make?
Entry-level security analysts and SOC analysts earn $60K-90K. Mid-level penetration testers, incident responders, and security engineers earn $90K-130K. Senior penetration testers, security architects, and incident response managers earn $130K-200K+. CISOs at large organizations earn $200K-500K+. Certifications significantly impact salary---Security+ adds ~$15K to entry-level roles, CISSP adds ~$25K to experienced roles, and OSCP commands premium salaries for penetration testers.
Do I need a degree for cybersecurity jobs?
Many cybersecurity roles accept certifications and demonstrable skills instead of degrees. Security+, CySA+, or CEH certification plus hands-on projects (GitHub repos, CTF achievements, home labs) can land entry-level SOC analyst positions without a degree. However, senior roles (security architect, CISO) often prefer or require bachelor’s degrees in computer science, information security, or related fields. Degrees matter less for offensive security (penetration testing) where practical skills dominate.
Can I get a job as a penetration tester with just CEH?
CEH certification plus demonstrable penetration testing skills (home labs, CTF participation, bug bounty contributions) can land junior penetration testing roles at consulting firms or MSSPs. However, the most respected penetration testing certification is OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), which requires a challenging 24-hour hands-on exam. Most employers hiring mid-level and senior penetration testers expect OSCP or equivalent experience. Start with CEH via Pluralsight, then pursue OSCP after gaining experience.
Final Verdict: Best Platform for Cybersecurity Training
Pluralsight has become one of the strongest platforms for cybersecurity education, combining comprehensive certification courses with hands-on labs using real security tools. The combination of expert instructors (Troy Hunt, Daniel Lachance, Kevin Henry), practical labs where you hack systems safely, Skill IQ assessments, and complete certification prep creates a learning experience that genuinely prepares you for cybersecurity careers.
The Premium plan ($449/year) is essential for cybersecurity learners. The hands-on security labs alone justify the cost---practicing penetration testing, incident response, and malware analysis in safe environments builds skills employers actually value. You cannot become a security professional by watching videos alone. The ability to exploit vulnerabilities with Metasploit, analyze malicious traffic with Wireshark, and investigate incidents with forensics tools makes concepts stick and proves your competence.
Our recommendation: Start with the 10-day free trial to evaluate course quality. Take the Cybersecurity Skill IQ assessment to identify your starting point. If you are pursuing security certifications (Security+, CEH, CySA+, CISSP) or transitioning into cybersecurity, invest in Premium for full access to security labs and practice exams. For teams hiring security professionals, Pluralsight’s Professional plan ($579/user/year) adds team analytics and progress tracking.
The cybersecurity job market is exceptionally strong---security analysts, penetration testers, and security engineers command salaries from $75K to $200K+ depending on experience and specialization. With 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity positions globally, organizations desperately need skilled professionals. Pluralsight’s cybersecurity courses provide a structured path from beginner (Security+) to advanced certifications (CISSP, OSCP prep), making it one of the best investments you can make for a high-paying, future-proof career.
Cybersecurity is one of the few fields where motivated learners can break in without degrees and command six-figure salaries within 3-5 years through certifications, hands-on skills, and continuous learning. Pluralsight gives you the roadmap and the practical training to make that transition.
Related Learning Paths
- Complete Pluralsight Review - Full platform breakdown and pricing analysis
- Best Ethical Hacking Courses - Offensive security specialization
- Best AWS Courses - Cloud security foundations
- Compare Learning Platforms - See how Pluralsight stacks up
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