# OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Review (2026): 7.6/10 · Coursera · Paid

> Independent review of OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course on Coursera. Rated 7.6/10 by our editorial team. Pros, cons, price, and top alternatives. Certificate availa…

OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course

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# OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course — Review (7.6/10)

This Coursera specialization by Infosec offers a clear, structured introduction to the OWASP Top 10 2021 security risks. It effectively breaks down complex topics like Injection and Broken Access Cont...

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OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course is a 10 weeks online beginner-level course on Coursera by Infosec that covers cybersecurity. This Coursera specialization by Infosec offers a clear, structured introduction to the OWASP Top 10 2021 security risks. It effectively breaks down complex topics like Injection and Broken Access Control using visuals and real-world examples. While the course lacks hands-on labs, it's ideal for beginners seeking foundational knowledge in web application security. The content is concise but could benefit from deeper technical exploration. We rate it 7.6/10.

## Prerequisites

No prior experience required. This course is designed for complete beginners in cybersecurity.

## Pros

- Well-structured curriculum covering all OWASP Top 10 2021 risks

- Uses real-life examples and graphics for better understanding

- Suitable for beginners in cybersecurity and web development

- Affordable compared to similar security certifications

## Cons

- Limited hands-on coding or lab exercises

- Minimal coverage of advanced exploitation techniques

- Lacks in-depth discussion on mitigation tools and frameworks

## OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course Review

Platform: Coursera

Instructor: Infosec

Updated May 5, 2026·Editorial Standards·How We Rate

## What will you learn in OWASP Top 10 - 2021 course

- Understand the mission and structure of the OWASP Foundation and its role in improving software security

- Identify and mitigate Broken Access Control vulnerabilities in web applications

- Analyze Cryptographic Failures and implement secure data protection practices

- Recognize and prevent common Injection Attacks such as SQLi and XSS

- Apply best practices to address Insecure Design and Security Misconfiguration flaws

### Program Overview

### Module 1: Introduction to OWASP and Web Security

2 weeks

- History and purpose of OWASP

- Overview of the OWASP Top 10 2021 update

- Threat modeling fundamentals

### Module 2: Top Security Risks – Broken Access Control & Cryptographic Failures

3 weeks

- Access control principles and common flaws

- Authentication bypass techniques

- Weak encryption and key management issues

### Module 3: Injection Attacks and Insecure Design

3 weeks

- Types of injection: SQL, command, and code injection

- Input validation and sanitization strategies

- Design-level security flaws and anti-patterns

### Module 4: Security Misconfiguration to Monitoring Failures

2 weeks

- Common server and framework misconfigurations

- Managing outdated and vulnerable components

- Logging, monitoring, and incident detection gaps

### Get certificate

#### Job Outlook

- High demand for professionals skilled in application security and secure coding

- Relevant for roles in cybersecurity, penetration testing, and DevSecOps

- Foundational knowledge applicable across industries handling sensitive data

## Editorial Take

The OWASP Top 10 - 2021 specialization on Coursera, offered by Infosec, delivers a beginner-friendly overview of critical web application security flaws. It aligns with the latest 2021 OWASP framework, making it timely and relevant for aspiring security professionals.

### Standout Strengths

- Curriculum Relevance: The course covers all ten risks from the OWASP Top 10 2021 list, ensuring learners gain exposure to current industry standards. This alignment enhances credibility and practical applicability in real-world environments.

- Beginner Accessibility: Designed for those new to cybersecurity, the course uses plain language, diagrams, and examples to demystify complex topics like Injection and Broken Access Control. No prior security experience is required.

- Visual Learning Support: Graphics and demonstrations are integrated throughout to illustrate attack vectors and vulnerabilities. These visuals help reinforce understanding, especially for visual learners and those unfamiliar with technical debugging.

- Instructor Reputation: Infosec is a well-known name in cybersecurity training, lending authority to the content. Their experience ensures the material is grounded in real-world penetration testing and secure development practices.

- Flexible Learning Path: Hosted on Coursera, the course allows self-paced study with mobile access and downloadable content. This flexibility supports learners balancing work, study, or other commitments.

- Industry Alignment: The topics directly relate to roles in application security, DevSecOps, and penetration testing. Mastery of these concepts supports compliance with standards like PCI-DSS and GDPR, increasing job readiness.

### Honest Limitations

- Limited Hands-On Practice: While the course explains vulnerabilities clearly, it lacks interactive labs or coding exercises. Learners must seek external platforms like Hack The Box or PortSwigger to practice exploitation and mitigation techniques.

- Surface-Level Technical Depth: Some topics, such as Software and Data Integrity Failures, are explained conceptually but lack code-level analysis. This limits usefulness for developers needing implementation-level guidance.

- Minimal Tool Integration: The course does not introduce or demonstrate security tools like Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, or static analyzers. These omissions reduce practical readiness despite strong theoretical coverage.

- Outdated Demo Environments: Some examples appear based on older web architectures, potentially reducing relevance for modern cloud-native or API-heavy applications. Updated scenarios would improve realism and engagement.

### How to Get the Most Out of It

- Study cadence: Dedicate 4–5 hours weekly to complete modules on time. Consistent pacing helps retain complex security concepts and builds progressive understanding across the ten risk categories.

- Parallel project: Set up a local lab using OWASP WebGoat or Juice Shop to test each vulnerability type. Applying theory in a safe environment deepens retention and practical skill development.

- Note-taking: Maintain a threat journal mapping each OWASP risk to real-world breaches. This reinforces learning and builds a reference library for future security assessments.

- Community: Join Coursera forums and Reddit’s r/netsec to discuss concepts and share mitigation strategies. Peer interaction can clarify doubts and expose you to diverse security perspectives.

- Practice: Recreate injection demos using safe test environments. Hands-on replication of SQLi or XSS attacks solidifies understanding beyond passive video watching.

- Consistency: Complete quizzes and module reviews immediately after lectures. Delaying review weakens memory retention, especially for nuanced topics like cryptographic key management.

### Supplementary Resources

- Book: 'Web Application Security: A Beginner’s Guide' by Bryan Sullivan complements the course with deeper technical walkthroughs and real-world attack case studies.

- Tool: Use OWASP ZAP for automated vulnerability scanning. It's free, open-source, and directly applicable to testing the flaws discussed in the course.

- Follow-up: Enroll in 'Google Cybersecurity Certificate' for broader security operations knowledge. It builds on OWASP concepts with SIEM, incident response, and network security.

- Reference: Bookmark the official OWASP Top 10 2021 documentation. It provides detailed cheat sheets, testing guides, and mitigation code samples for each risk category.

### Common Pitfalls

- Pitfall: Assuming theoretical knowledge alone is sufficient. Without hands-on practice, learners may struggle to identify or fix real vulnerabilities during security audits or development work.

- Pitfall: Overlooking the importance of secure design principles. Many breaches stem from architectural flaws not just code bugs—focusing only on coding misses the bigger picture.

- Pitfall: Neglecting updates after course completion. The threat landscape evolves; failing to follow OWASP’s updates or CVE databases leads to outdated defensive strategies.

### Time & Money ROI

- Time: At 10 weeks with 3–4 hours per week, the time investment is reasonable for foundational knowledge. However, mastery requires additional self-directed learning and lab practice.

- Cost-to-value: While not free, the course offers solid value for beginners. It's more affordable than formal certifications like CISSP but lacks the same industry recognition.

- Certificate: The specialization certificate enhances LinkedIn and resumes, especially for entry-level cybersecurity roles. It signals initiative but should be paired with hands-on projects for credibility.

- Alternative: Consider free OWASP Foundation resources or PortSwigger Academy for deeper technical training. These offer more advanced content at no cost, though with less structure.

### Editorial Verdict

The OWASP Top 10 - 2021 specialization serves as a solid entry point for individuals new to application security. It delivers a well-organized, visually supported overview of the most critical web risks, making complex topics approachable for non-experts. The alignment with the 2021 OWASP list ensures relevance, and the concise format allows learners to quickly build foundational knowledge. While it doesn’t replace hands-on training or professional certifications, it effectively bridges the gap between awareness and technical literacy for developers, testers, and IT professionals.

However, learners seeking deep technical proficiency or certification prep may find the course lacking. The absence of labs, limited tool coverage, and conceptual rather than code-level instruction mean it should be treated as a starting point, not a comprehensive solution. To maximize value, pair this course with practical labs, open-source tools, and real-world projects. For its target audience—beginners needing a structured, accessible introduction to web security—it delivers adequate return on time and money. It’s recommended as a primer, especially when combined with supplementary resources and active learning.

## How OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course Compares

| Course | Platform | Rating | Level | Duration |

| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

| OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course | Coursera | 7.6/10 | Beginner | 10 weeks |

| Identity and Access Management (IAM) Course | Udemy | 9.8/10 | N/A | N/A |

| Practical SOC T1/T2 Preparation Course | Udemy | 9.8/10 | N/A | N/A |

| Critical Concepts in Incident Response Frameworks Course | Udemy | 9.8/10 | N/A | N/A |

## Who Should Take OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course?

This course is best suited for learners with no prior experience in cybersecurity. It is designed for career changers, fresh graduates, and self-taught learners looking for a structured introduction. The course is offered by Infosec on Coursera, combining institutional credibility with the flexibility of online learning. Upon completion, you will receive a specialization certificate that you can add to your LinkedIn profile and resume, signaling your verified skills to potential employers.

If you are exploring adjacent fields, you might also consider courses in Agile & Scrum Courses, AI Courses, Arts and Humanities Courses, which complement the skills covered in this course.

### Career Outcomes

- Apply cybersecurity skills to real-world projects and job responsibilities

- Qualify for entry-level positions in cybersecurity and related fields

- Build a portfolio of skills to present to potential employers

- Add a specialization certificate credential to your LinkedIn and resume

- Continue learning with advanced courses and specializations in the field

## More Cybersecurity Courses on Coursera

Explore other highly rated courses in cybersecurity available on Coursera to expand your learning path:

- Foundations of Cybersecurity Course 10.0/10

- IBM and ISC2 Cybersecurity Specialist Professional Certificate Course 9.8/10

- Cybersecurity Assessment: CompTIA Security+ & CYSA+ Course 9.8/10

- Introduction to Cyber Security Specialization Course 9.7/10

- Palo Alto Networks Cybersecurity Professional Certificate Course 9.7/10

- Managing Cybersecurity Specialization 9.7/10

- Cybersecurity Compliance Framework, Standards & Regulations Course 9.7/10

- Cybersecurity Case Studies and Capstone Project 9.7/10

- Put It to Work: Prepare for Cybersecurity Jobs Course 9.7/10

- IT Security: Defense against the digital dark arts Course 9.7/10

## Top Alternatives on Other Platforms

Looking for a different teaching style or approach? These top-rated cybersecurity courses from other platforms cover similar ground:

- Identity and Access Management (IAM) Course 9.8/10 Udemy

- Practical SOC T1/T2 Preparation Course 9.8/10 Udemy

- Critical Concepts in Incident Response Frameworks Course 9.8/10 Udemy

- Cybersecurity Habits Masterclass Course 9.7/10 Udemy

- The Beginners 2025 Cyber Security Awareness Training Course 9.7/10 Udemy

- Information Security Management Fundamentals for Non-Techies Course 9.7/10 Udemy

- Cyber Security: From Beginner to Expert Course 9.7/10 Udemy

- Cyber Security For Normal People: Protect Yourself Online Course 9.7/10 Udemy

- Wireshark: Packet Analysis and Ethical Hacking: Core Skills Course 9.7/10 Udemy

- Cyber Security Masters Program Course 9.7/10 Edureka

## More Courses from Infosec

Infosec offers a range of courses across multiple disciplines. If you enjoy their teaching approach, consider these additional offerings:

- AI Security Course 9.0/10

- Python for Command-and-control, Exfiltration and Impact 8.7/10

- C++ Lab Content 8.5/10

- CompTIA Project+ (PK0-005) Certification Preparation Course 8.5/10

- CompTIA Security+ 701 Course 8.5/10

- Establishing Command-and-Control and Finding Credentials Course 8.5/10

- Fundamental Privacy Acts and Laws Course 8.5/10

- Cyber Threat Hunting Course 8.5/10

View all courses from Infosec →

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## FAQs

What are the prerequisites for OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course?

No prior experience is required. OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course is designed for complete beginners who want to build a solid foundation in Cybersecurity. It starts from the fundamentals and gradually introduces more advanced concepts, making it accessible for career changers, students, and self-taught learners.

Does OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course offer a certificate upon completion?

Yes, upon successful completion you receive a specialization certificate from Infosec. This credential can be added to your LinkedIn profile and resume, demonstrating verified skills to employers. In competitive job markets, having a recognized certificate in Cybersecurity can help differentiate your application and signal your commitment to professional development.

How long does it take to complete OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course?

The course takes approximately 10 weeks to complete. It is offered as a free to audit course on Coursera, which means you can learn at your own pace and fit it around your schedule. The content is delivered in English and includes a mix of instructional material, practical exercises, and assessments to reinforce your understanding. Most learners find that dedicating a few hours per week allows them to complete the course comfortably.

What are the main strengths and limitations of OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course?

OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course is rated 7.6/10 on our platform. Key strengths include: well-structured curriculum covering all owasp top 10 2021 risks; uses real-life examples and graphics for better understanding; suitable for beginners in cybersecurity and web development. Some limitations to consider: limited hands-on coding or lab exercises; minimal coverage of advanced exploitation techniques. Overall, it provides a strong learning experience for anyone looking to build skills in Cybersecurity.

How will OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course help my career?

Completing OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course equips you with practical Cybersecurity skills that employers actively seek. The course is developed by Infosec, whose name carries weight in the industry. The skills covered are applicable to roles across multiple industries, from technology companies to consulting firms and startups. Whether you are looking to transition into a new role, earn a promotion in your current position, or simply broaden your professional skillset, the knowledge gained from this course provides a tangible competitive advantage in the job market.

Where can I take OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course and how do I access it?

OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course is available on Coursera, one of the leading online learning platforms. You can access the course material from any device with an internet connection — desktop, tablet, or mobile. The course is free to audit, giving you the flexibility to learn at a pace that suits your schedule. All you need is to create an account on Coursera and enroll in the course to get started.

How does OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course compare to other Cybersecurity courses?

OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course is rated 7.6/10 on our platform, placing it as a solid choice among cybersecurity courses. Its standout strengths — well-structured curriculum covering all owasp top 10 2021 risks — set it apart from alternatives. What differentiates each course is its teaching approach, depth of coverage, and the credentials of the instructor or institution behind it. We recommend comparing the syllabus, student reviews, and certificate value before deciding.

What language is OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course taught in?

OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course is taught in English. Many online courses on Coursera also offer auto-generated subtitles or community-contributed translations in other languages, making the content accessible to non-native speakers. The course material is designed to be clear and accessible regardless of your language background, with visual aids and practical demonstrations supplementing the spoken instruction.

Is OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course kept up to date?

Online courses on Coursera are periodically updated by their instructors to reflect industry changes and new best practices. Infosec has a track record of maintaining their course content to stay relevant. We recommend checking the "last updated" date on the enrollment page. Our own review was last verified recently, and we re-evaluate courses when significant updates are made to ensure our rating remains accurate.

Can I take OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course as part of a team or organization?

Yes, Coursera offers team and enterprise plans that allow organizations to enroll multiple employees in courses like OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course. Team plans often include progress tracking, dedicated support, and volume discounts. This makes it an effective option for corporate training programs, upskilling initiatives, or academic cohorts looking to build cybersecurity capabilities across a group.

What will I be able to do after completing OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course?

After completing OWASP Top 10 - 2021 Course, you will have practical skills in cybersecurity that you can apply to real projects and job responsibilities. You will be prepared to pursue more advanced courses or specializations in the field. Your specialization certificate credential can be shared on LinkedIn and added to your resume to demonstrate your verified competence to employers.

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