Cyber Security Courses South Africa
September 18, 2026 2 Comments on Cyber Security Courses South AfricaCyber Security Courses South Africa
30+ EC-Council, CompTIA & OffSec certifications — delivered online with a live 1-on-1 lecturer. CCST, CEH, CHFI, OSCP, CND, CPENT, CCISO & more. No fixed dates. Commence anytime. From R12,900.
🛡️
30+ CoursesEC-Council · CompTIA · OffSec👨💻
Live 1-on-1 LecturerNot pre-recorded🎯
Beginner WelcomeEntry-level available📅
Commence AnytimeNo fixed dates💳
From R12,900Courseware includedCyber Security Courses South Africa — Why Cyber Security Is the #1 IT Career
Cyber security is the most in-demand and fastest-growing IT discipline in South Africa. The country ranks among the most targeted nations in Africa for ransomware, business email compromise, financial fraud and critical infrastructure attacks — and South African organisations in banking, government, healthcare and telecoms are actively investing in building their security capabilities. The result is a persistent and growing skills shortage that makes trained, certified cyber security professionals consistently sought after at every level.
School of IT delivers the full spectrum of cyber security training — from entry-level awareness through to advanced offensive security and CISO-level leadership — with a real live 1-on-1 lecturer every session. Not a study pack posted to your address. Not a pre-recorded video course. A qualified cyber security expert who teaches you directly, adapts to your pace and works through real-world security scenarios, tools and labs with you — from anywhere in South Africa, at times that fit your schedule.
School of IT is an EC-Council Authorised Training Centre — all EC-Council courses including CCST, CEH, CHFI, CPENT, CCISO and the full range of specialisations are delivered with official EC-Council courseware included.
Cyber Security Course Prices — Quick Reference South Africa 2026
| Cert | Full Name | Duration | Price | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sec+ Fundamentals | Security+ Fundamentals | 20h | R12,900 | Entry |
| CCST | Certified Cybersecurity Technician | 20h | R16,900 | Entry |
| EHE | Ethical Hacking Essentials | 20h | R16,900 | Entry |
| CSCU | Certified Secure Computer User | 20h | R12,900 | Entry |
| NDE | Network Defence Essentials | 20h | R12,900 | Entry |
| DFE | Digital Forensics Essentials | 20h | R12,900 | Entry |
| ISE | Information Security Essentials | 20h | R12,900 | Entry |
| DSE | DevSecOps Essentials | 20h | R12,900 | Entry |
| CSE | Cloud Security Essentials | 20h | R12,900 | Entry |
| TIE | Threat Intelligence Essentials | 20h | R12,900 | Entry |
| SOC Essentials | SOC Essentials | 20h | R12,900 | Entry |
| ECDE | EC-Council Disaster Recovery Professional | 20h | R12,900 | Entry |
| ECES | Certified Encryption Specialist | 20h | R12,900 | Inter. |
| ECSS | EC-Council Certified Security Specialist | 20h | R12,900 | Inter. |
| CSA | Certified SOC Analyst | 20h | R18,900 | Inter. |
| CTIA | Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst | 20h | R18,900 | Inter. |
| CND | Certified Network Defender | 20h | R18,900 | Inter. |
| CHFI | Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator | 20h | R18,900 | Inter. |
| ECIH | Certified Incident Handler | 20h | R18,900 | Inter. |
| WAHS | Web Application Hacking & Security | 20h | R18,900 | Inter. |
| SCP | Security Certified Practitioner | 20h | R18,900 | Inter. |
| ICS/SCADA | ICS/SCADA Security | 20h | R18,900 | Inter. |
| CEH | Certified Ethical Hacker | 80h | R43,600 | Adv. |
| CPENT | Certified Penetration Testing Professional | 40h | R28,800 | Adv. |
| C|CSE | Certified Cloud Security Engineer | 40h | R28,800 | Adv. |
| CASE Java | Certified Application Security Engineer – Java | 40h | R28,800 | Adv. |
| CASE .NET | Certified Application Security Engineer – .NET | 40h | R28,800 | Adv. |
| OSCP | Offensive Security Certified Professional | 40h | R32,700 | Elite |
| CCISO | Certified Chief Information Security Officer | 40h | R32,700 | Elite |
⚠ All international certification exam fees are additional in price — EC-Council, CompTIA and OffSec exams are paid directly to the respective certification body. School of IT course fees cover live 1-on-1 training and official courseware only.
Flagship Cyber Security Courses — South Africa
Entry-Level
CCST — Certified Cybersecurity Technician
R16,900 · 20 hours · approximately 1 month🎯 No experience required💻 EC-Council🌍 100% online · live 1-on-1
The CCST is EC-Council's official entry-level cybersecurity certification — the recommended starting point for anyone new to cyber security in South Africa. Vendor-neutral, beginner-friendly and designed to build the foundational knowledge needed to progress to CEH and other advanced certifications.
- Core security concepts — CIA triad, risk, threats and vulnerabilities
- Network security — firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, protocols
- Endpoint security — OS hardening, patch management, antimalware
- Threat identification — attack types, malware categories, social engineering
- Incident response fundamentals — detection, containment, recovery
- Identity and access management — authentication, authorisation, MFA
Entry-Level
EHE — Ethical Hacking Essentials
R16,900 · 20 hours · approximately 1 month🎯 No experience required💻 EC-Council🌍 100% online · live 1-on-1
Foundation ethical hacking training — ideal for IT professionals who want to understand how attacks happen before advancing to CEH. Covers the offensive security mindset, key hacking techniques and how defenders counter them, in a structured lab environment.
- Information gathering and reconnaissance techniques
- Scanning — network and vulnerability scanning tools
- Enumeration — extracting system, user and service information
- Vulnerability assessment methodology
- Basic exploitation techniques — how attacks work in practice
- Introduction to web application security and session hijacking
Most In-Demand
CEH — Certified Ethical Hacker
R43,600 · 80 hours · 4 months🎯 Basic IT/security knowledge💻 EC-Council · 20 hacking domains🌍 100% online · live 1-on-1
The CEH is the industry benchmark for offensive security and the most recognised ethical hacking certification in South Africa. It covers 20 hacking domains using EC-Council's "hacker methodology" — the same approach used by real-world attackers — so you learn to think, act and defend like a professional ethical hacker.
- Reconnaissance — passive and active information gathering, OSINT
- Scanning — network scanning, port scanning, OS fingerprinting
- Enumeration — NetBIOS, SNMP, LDAP, NFS, DNS enumeration
- Vulnerability analysis — automated and manual vulnerability assessment
- System hacking — password cracking, privilege escalation, persistence
- Malware threats — Trojans, viruses, ransomware, fileless malware
- Sniffing, social engineering, DoS and session hijacking
- Web application hacking — OWASP Top 10, SQL injection, XSS
- SQL injection, IDS evasion, cloud and IoT hacking
- Cryptography — encryption, PKI, hashing, stenography
Digital Forensics
CHFI — Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator
R18,900 · 20 hours · approximately 1 month🎯 Security knowledge recommended💻 EC-Council🌍 100% online · live 1-on-1
Digital forensics methodology for investigating cyber incidents — from evidence acquisition through to report writing for legal proceedings. High demand in South African law enforcement, banking fraud investigation and corporate incident response teams.
- Digital forensics process — identification, preservation, analysis, reporting
- Disk forensics — imaging, evidence acquisition, file system analysis
- Network forensics — log analysis, packet capture, intrusion investigation
- Mobile forensics — smartphone and application data acquisition
- Email forensics — header analysis, email tracing and recovery
- Report writing for legal proceedings and chain of custody
Advanced Pentest
CPENT — Certified Penetration Testing Professional
R28,800 · 40 hours · 2 months🎯 CEH-level knowledge required💻 EC-Council🌍 100% online · live 1-on-1
Advanced penetration testing across enterprise networks, IoT, OT and cloud environments. The CPENT is EC-Council's advanced offensive security certification — the next step after CEH for professionals wanting to specialise in penetration testing careers in South Africa.
- Advanced network penetration testing — multi-layered pivot attacks
- Exploit development and custom shellcode writing
- Bypassing network security — IDS/IPS/firewall evasion
- OT/SCADA penetration testing
- IoT device hacking and embedded security
- Cloud penetration testing — AWS, Azure and GCP attack vectors
- Binary exploitation and advanced privilege escalation
Elite Level
OSCP — Offensive Security Certified Professional
R32,700 · 40 hours · 2 months🎯 Strong Linux, networking & pentesting knowledge💻 OffSec (Offensive Security)🌍 100% online · live 1-on-1
The OSCP is the gold standard penetration testing certification globally — uniquely demanding because the exam is a 24-hour practical hands-on penetration test with no multiple-choice questions. Holding an OSCP is widely considered proof of real-world offensive security capability and commands the highest pentester salaries in South Africa.
- Linux and Windows exploitation techniques
- Buffer overflow exploitation — x86 and modern protections
- Active Directory attacks — Kerberoasting, Pass-the-Hash, DCSync
- Privilege escalation — Linux and Windows techniques
- Network pivoting and tunnelling through compromised hosts
- Web application exploitation — SQLi, LFI, RFI, command injection
- Custom exploit development and shellcode
- 24-hour practical exam preparation and strategy
Executive Level
CCISO — Certified Chief Information Security Officer
R32,700 · 40 hours · 2 months🎯 Senior IT/security leadership experience💻 EC-Council🌍 100% online · live 1-on-1
The CCISO is the world's first certification specifically designed for current and aspiring CISOs — covering the governance, risk, legal, financial and strategic leadership dimensions of information security at executive level. South African CISOs with this certification are among the highest-paid security professionals in the country.
- CISO governance frameworks — COBIT, ISO 27001, NIST
- Security programme management and strategy
- Information security risk management and treatment
- Security finance — budgeting, ROI, security investment justification
- Legal, compliance and regulatory requirements — POPIA, GDPR, PCI DSS
- Strategic leadership and board-level communication
- Vendor management and third-party risk
SOC / Blue Team
CSA — Certified SOC Analyst
R18,900 · 20 hours · approximately 1 month🎯 Basic IT/networking knowledge💻 EC-Council · SIEM · Log analysis🌍 100% online · live 1-on-1
The CSA covers Security Operations Centre (SOC) workflows — one of the most actively recruited entry-to-mid level cyber security roles at South African banks, telecoms and large enterprises. Covers Tier 1 and Tier 2 SOC analyst skills including log analysis, SIEM platforms and threat escalation.
- SOC fundamentals — roles, tiers, workflows and tooling
- Log analysis — Windows, Linux, network device logs
- SIEM platforms — Splunk, IBM QRadar, Microsoft Sentinel overview
- Threat detection — indicators of compromise (IoCs), threat hunting basics
- Incident escalation — triage, classification and handoff procedures
- Threat intelligence integration into SOC operations
GRC
GRC Analyst & IT Auditor Courses
R18,900 each · 20 hours · approximately 1 month🎯 Basic IT & compliance awareness💻 GRC frameworks · ISO 27001 · COBIT🌍 100% online · live 1-on-1
Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) and IT Audit are the business-facing side of cyber security — high demand in South African financial services, consulting and regulated industries for professionals who can assess, document and manage cyber risk without writing a line of code.
- GRC Analyst: risk frameworks (ISO 31000, NIST), control design, audit support, GRC tooling
- IT Auditor: ISACA audit standards, COBIT, ISO 27001, audit planning, evidence collection
- POPIA and GDPR compliance fundamentals
- Security policy development and documentation
- Third-party risk management and vendor assessment
EC-Council Cyber Security Certification Pathway — South Africa
School of IT covers the complete EC-Council learning pathway from beginner to CISO:
Entry
CCST / EHE
Foundations — R16,900 · exam additional
Intermediate
CSA / CND / CHFI
Specialist skills — R18,900 · exam additional
Advanced
CEH
Ethical Hacker — R43,600 · exam additional
Expert
CPENT / OSCP
Penetration Testing — from R28,800 · exam additional
Executive
CCISO
CISO Leadership — R32,700 · exam additional
Why Study Cyber Security at School of IT South Africa?
✔
EC-Council Authorised Training CentreOfficial EC-Council courseware included in all EC-Council courses
✔
Live 1-on-1 LecturingA real cyber security expert teaches you — not a study pack or video course
✔
Commence AnytimeNo fixed cohort dates — start within days of enrolling
✔
Flexible SchedulingMornings, evenings, weekends — sessions fit around your work
✔
30+ Courses AvailableEntry-level to CISO — the widest cyber security catalogue in SA
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Study Anywhere in SAJohannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth or internationally
✔
All Levels CoveredAbsolute beginner (CCST) through to expert penetration tester (OSCP) and CISO (CCISO)
✔
Lab-Focused TrainingReal tools, real scenarios and hands-on labs in every session
School of IT vs Other Cyber Security Course Providers in South Africa
❌ Universities / Short Course Providers
- Fixed semester or cohort start dates
- Group-paced — move at the class speed
- Theory-heavy academic content
- No internationally recognised vendor certifications
- NQF credentials don't match employer requirements for CEH/OSCP
- Travel to campus or rigid virtual schedules
- Months of full-time commitment required
✔ School of IT
- Commence any day — no waiting
- Your pace — go faster or slower as needed
- Hands-on lab-based training from session one
- EC-Council, CompTIA and OffSec certifications
- Credentials employers screen for in SA job listings
- 100% online — evenings and weekends available
- 20 hours (1 month) to 80 hours (4 months) options
Cyber Security Career Paths in South Africa
🛡️ SOC Analyst (Tier 1/2)Monitor, triage and investigate security alerts in a Security Operations Centre. Entry-level — high demand at SA banks, telecoms and MSSPs.
🔍 Penetration TesterTest organisations' defences by simulating real attacks. CEH and OSCP are the standard credentials for SA pentesting roles.
🔬 Digital Forensics InvestigatorInvestigate cyber crimes, collect and analyse digital evidence. Demand across SA law enforcement, banking fraud teams and consulting firms.
🌐 Network Security EngineerDesign, implement and maintain secure network infrastructure. CND is the recognised certification for SA network security engineers.
📊 Threat Intelligence AnalystGather, analyse and operationalise threat intelligence to inform defensive decisions. Growing role in SA enterprise security teams.
🏗️ Security ArchitectDesign the overall security architecture of enterprise systems. Senior role requiring broad security knowledge across all domains.
⚖️ GRC Analyst / IT AuditorAssess, document and manage cyber risk and compliance. High demand in SA financial services, consulting and regulated industries.
👔 CISOChief Information Security Officer — the most senior security leadership role. CCISO is the globally recognised credential. Highest-paid security role in SA.
Cyber Security Salary Guide — South Africa 2026
| Role | Entry Level | Mid-Level | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| SOC Analyst (Tier 1) | R220,000 – R350,000 | R350,000 – R520,000 | R550,000+ |
| Security Analyst | R300,000 – R450,000 | R450,000 – R680,000 | R720,000+ |
| Penetration Tester (CEH) | R380,000 – R550,000 | R550,000 – R850,000 | R900,000+ |
| Penetration Tester (OSCP) | R500,000 – R720,000 | R720,000 – R1,050,000 | R1,100,000+ |
| Digital Forensics Investigator | R320,000 – R480,000 | R480,000 – R720,000 | R780,000+ |
| Cloud Security Engineer | R420,000 – R620,000 | R620,000 – R920,000 | R980,000+ |
| Security Architect | R650,000 – R850,000 | R850,000 – R1,200,000 | R1,300,000+ |
| CISO | R900,000 – R1,200,000 | R1,200,000 – R1,800,000 | R2,000,000+ |
Cyber Security Demand by Industry — South Africa
🏦 Banking & Financial ServicesSA's most targeted sector — Standard Bank, ABSA, Nedbank and FNB all run large security operations teams and continuously hire certified security professionals at every level.
🏛️ Government & Public SectorState-owned enterprises, SARS, SAPS and national departments are significantly expanding cyber security capabilities following high-profile breaches of SA government systems.
🏥 HealthcarePatient data protection, medical device security and healthcare network defence create growing demand for security professionals across SA's public and private health sectors.
📡 Telecoms & MediaMTN, Vodacom and Cell C run large security operations to protect critical network infrastructure, customer data and communication services across southern Africa.
⛏️ Mining & EnergyCritical OT/ICS and SCADA security protecting industrial control systems at SA mines, power stations and energy infrastructure — a rapidly growing security specialisation.
🏗️ MSSP & ConsultingManaged Security Service Providers and consulting firms (Deloitte, PwC, BCX, Accenture) are among the largest employers of certified cyber security professionals in South Africa.
Cyber Security Courses Available Across South Africa
All courses 100% online — study from anywhere with a live 1-on-1 lecturer:
🛡️ JohannesburgCyber Security Courses Johannesburg — study from home in Gauteng
🛡️ Cape TownCyber Security Courses Cape Town — study from home in the Western Cape
🛡️ DurbanCyber Security Courses Durban — study from home in KwaZulu-Natal
🛡️ PretoriaCyber Security Courses Pretoria — study from home in Tshwane
🛡️ Port ElizabethCyber Security Courses Gqeberha — study from home in the Eastern Cape
🛡️ InternationalStudy from anywhere in the world — same live 1-on-1 experience
Frequently Asked Questions — Cyber Security Courses South Africa
What cyber security courses are available in South Africa?
School of IT offers 30+ cyber security courses in South Africa. Entry-level: CCST R16,900, EHE R16,900, Security+ Fundamentals R12,900, CSCU R12,900 and the essentials range (NDE, DFE, ISE, DSE, CSE, TIE — all R12,900). Intermediate: CSA, CTIA, CND, CHFI, ECIH, WAHS, SCP, ICS/SCADA — all R18,900 for 20 hours. Advanced: CEH R43,600 (80h), CPENT, C|CSE, CASE Java, CASE .NET — R28,800 (40h). Elite: OSCP and CCISO — R32,700 (40h). All international exam fees are additional in price.
How much do cyber security courses cost in South Africa?
Cyber security courses at School of IT range from R12,900 (entry-level essentials, 20 hours) to R43,600 (CEH Certified Ethical Hacker, 80 hours). Most EC-Council intermediate courses are R18,900 for 20 hours. OSCP and CCISO are R32,700 for 40 hours. All prices include official courseware. All international certification exam fees are additional in price.
Do I need experience to study cyber security?
No prior experience is required for entry-level courses — CCST, EHE, Security+ Fundamentals and CSCU are all beginner friendly. Basic computer literacy is all you need to start. Intermediate courses (CSA, CHFI, CND) recommend basic IT or networking knowledge. Advanced courses (CEH, CPENT) require Security+ or equivalent experience. OSCP requires strong Linux and pentesting skills.
Which cyber security certification is most in demand in South Africa?
The CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) and CompTIA Security+ are the most requested cyber security certifications in South African job listings — appearing in the majority of security analyst, penetration tester and SOC analyst roles. For senior roles, OSCP and CCISO are highly valued. For entry level, CCST is the recommended EC-Council starting point.
Can I study cyber security online in South Africa?
Yes. School of IT delivers all cyber security courses fully online with a real live 1-on-1 lecturer — not a study pack or video library. Students from Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria, Port Elizabeth and internationally can study from home and schedule sessions at times that suit them, including evenings and weekends. EC-Council and CompTIA exams can be written online via proctoring from home.
What is the salary of a cyber security professional in South Africa?
Cyber security salaries in South Africa range from R220,000 (SOC Tier 1, entry level) to R2,000,000+ (CISO at large enterprise). Penetration testers with CEH earn R380,000–R900,000. OSCP holders earn R500,000–R1,100,000+. Security architects earn R650,000–R1,300,000. CISOs at major SA companies earn R1,200,000–R2,000,000+. Cyber security is consistently one of the top-paying IT careers in South Africa.
What is the difference between CCST and CEH?
CCST (Certified Cybersecurity Technician, R16,900/20h) is EC-Council's entry-level certification — no experience required, covering foundational security concepts. CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker, R43,600/80h) is the advanced ethical hacking certification requiring basic IT and security knowledge — covering 20 offensive hacking domains in depth. CCST is the recommended starting point before progressing to CEH. Both international exam fees are additional in price.
Is cyber security in demand in South Africa?
Yes — cyber security is one of the most in-demand and fastest-growing IT disciplines in South Africa. South Africa ranks among the most cyber-attacked nations in Africa, and organisations across banking, government, healthcare, telecoms and mining are actively expanding security teams. The skills shortage means trained, certified security professionals are consistently in a strong position in the SA job market.
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30+ EC-Council, CompTIA & OffSec certifications · From R12,900 · Live 1-on-1 lecturer · Official courseware included · Commence anytime · All exam fees additional in price.
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Cayden Godsell15 September 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I just finished the Web and Software Engineer Master course, and its been a great experience. The online learning worked much better than i previously thought it would and the lessons with James were easy to understand, well structured and engaging. Would definitely recommend!
Johandri Rossouw23 July 2026had an excellent experience with the School of IT. My lecturer was friendly, professional, and always willing to help. Communication was clear, classes were well organized, and I learned a lot throughout the course. I highly recommend the School of IT to anyone looking for quality online training. Thank you for a great learning experience!
Tlotlego Lehabe30 April 2026I've had a wonderful lesson with full 1 on 1 lessons which gave me confidence in my career
Nandipha Mpongoshe22 April 2026I had a great experience studying the Microsoft Azure Data Analysis course at School of IT. The course was well-structured and practical, with a strong focus on real-world application using tools like Power BI and Azure. The instructors were knowledgeable and supportive, making complex concepts easy to understand. This course has significantly strengthened my data analysis skills and confidence in working with cloud-based solutions. Highly recommended for anyone looking to upskill in data analytics.
Mikhe Bezuidenhout23 January 2026I found the content and course material very useful and user friendly. My lecturer did an outstanding presentation of the course contents. Can definitely highly recommend School of IT
Michael Duvenhage21 January 2026Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The first Cybersecurity course was an excellent introduction to Cybersecurity and was explained properly.
Danyella Camarena4 January 2026Had the most wonderful experience here! I learnt so much with my graphic design masterclass course - Carmel is wonderful and is an amazing teacher. 100% recommend!!!!!!!!!!!
Chantal Hamman27 November 2025I did the SQL Administrator Master Course through The School of IT in August 2025 and successfully completed my Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate exam with the help of the incredible team. Online sessions were scheduled to fit in with my available hours, as I’m working full time and the lecturers were amazing. Always available to assist and answer questions. Shaun assisted me with the preparation of the exam with the all the online learning material and manuals that I needed. I can definitely recommend School of IT! Chantal Hamman
Christof Van Niekerk26 September 2025I completed the Solid Works CAD design associate course, the course was well structured and able to accommodate my schedule.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more