Cybersecurity Learning Roadmap (Free Resources) 🛡

SaM · August 15, 2025, 7:47pm

Cybersecurity Learning Roadmap (Free Resources)

A curated list of rare and lesser-known free courses and resources to learn Cybersecurity — perfect for building skills from the ground up without paying a cent.

Free Cybersecurity Courses

1. TryHackMe – Free Learning Paths

Link: https://tryhackme.com
Highlights: Hands-on virtual labs, beginner-to-advanced challenges, guided “rooms” covering penetration testing, network security, and red teaming.
Rare Tip: The Pre Security and Advent of Cyber paths are entirely free and great for structured learning.

2. Open Security Training

Link: http://opensecuritytraining.info
Highlights: Extremely detailed courses on reverse engineering, ARM assembly, forensics, and exploitation techniques.
Rare Tip: Focuses on deep technical skill-building, not just surface-level concepts.

3. OverTheWire Wargames

Link: https://overthewire.org
Highlights: Gamified Linux & security puzzles; great for practicing CTF-style challenges.
Rare Tip: Start with Bandit to learn Linux commands with a security twist.

4. Cyberdefenders – Blue Team Labs

Link: https://cyberdefenders.org
Highlights: Free blue team & SOC analyst labs, real-world attack investigation simulations.
Rare Tip: Perfect for learners interested in defensive security and threat hunting.

5. PortSwigger Web Security Academy

Link: https://portswigger.net/web-security
Highlights: The creators of Burp Suite provide free, in-browser labs for mastering web application security.
Rare Tip: Learn OWASP Top 10 hands-on, not just theoretically.

Additional Rare Free Resources

PicoCTF → https://picoctf.org — CTF puzzles by Carnegie Mellon University.
HackTheBox – Starting Point → https://www.hackthebox.com — Guided free pentesting labs.
Blue Team Academy → https://blueteamlabs.online — SOC investigation labs.
CTFtime → https://ctftime.org — Find live & upcoming CTF competitions worldwide.
DFIR Training → https://dfir.training — Free tools, labs, and tutorials for digital forensics.

Recap

Hands-on labs → TryHackMe, HackTheBox, OverTheWire
Blue team focus → Cyberdefenders, Blue Team Academy
Deep tech skills → Open Security Training, DFIR Training
Web hacking mastery → PortSwigger Academy
Gamified practice → PicoCTF, CTFtime

1. Hands-On Labs & Gamified Learning

Resource Name	Link	Focus Area	Type	Status	Notes
TryHackMe – Pre Security & Advent of Cyber	tryhackme.com	Beginner to Advanced Pentesting	Virtual Labs	Not Started	Great structured path for beginners
HackTheBox – Starting Point	hackthebox.com	Pentesting Fundamentals	Virtual Labs	Not Started	Must solve “Invite Code” challenge to enter
OverTheWire – Bandit	overthewire.org	Linux & Security Basics	Wargames	Not Started	Learn Linux via fun puzzles
PicoCTF	picoctf.org	CTF Challenges	Gamified	Not Started	Beginner-friendly CTF puzzles
CTFtime	ctftime.org	CTF Events	Event Tracker	Not Started	Find live global competitions

2. Blue Team & Defensive Security

Resource Name	Link	Focus Area	Type	Status	Notes
CyberDefenders	cyberdefenders.org	Threat Hunting / SOC	Labs	Not Started	Real-world defensive challenges
Blue Team Academy	blueteamlabs.online	SOC Investigations	Labs	Not Started	Free entry-level SOC exercises
DFIR Training	dfir.training	Digital Forensics	Tools & Tutorials	Not Started	Free resources for forensic analysis

3. Web Application Security

Resource Name	Link	Focus Area	Type	Status	Notes
PortSwigger Web Security Academy	portswigger.net/web-security	Web App PenTesting	Labs	Not Started	Learn OWASP Top 10 hands-on

4. Deep Technical Knowledge

Resource Name	Link	Focus Area	Type	Status	Notes
Open Security Training	opensecuritytraining.info	Reverse Engineering, Exploits	Course	Not Started	Highly detailed, advanced content

Suggested Learning Path

Start with fundamentals → OverTheWire → TryHackMe Pre Security
Move into web security → PortSwigger Labs
Do CTFs for practice → PicoCTF → CTFtime
Blue team defense → CyberDefenders → Blue Team Academy
Specialize → Open Security Training & DFIR labs