Top 7 Cybersecurity Incident Response Courses in 2025

In today's rapidly evolving threat landscape, cybersecurity incident response has become a critical skill for IT professionals. When breaches happen—and they will—organizations need trained experts who can quickly identify, contain, and remediate security incidents. The right training can make the difference between a minor security event and a major data breach with devastating consequences.

Whether you're looking to start a career in cybersecurity or enhance your existing skills, specialized incident response courses provide the knowledge and hands-on experience needed to effectively manage security incidents. Let's explore the best cybersecurity incident response courses available in 2025.

Quick Comparison: Top Cybersecurity Incident Response Courses

1. SANS FOR508

   • Provider: SANS
   • Level: Advanced
   • Format: In-person/Online
   • Duration: 6 days
   • Certification: GIAC GCFA
   • Best For: Experienced security professionals
   • Price: $7,770

2. Cyber Incident Response

   • Provider: Coursera
   • Level: Intermediate
   • Format: Online
   • Duration: 4 weeks
   • Certification: Course Certificate
   • Best For: IT professionals & students
   • Price: $49/month with subscription

3. Computer Security Incident Handler

   • Provider: EC-Council
   • Level: Intermediate
   • Format: Self-paced
   • Duration: Flexible
   • Certification: ECIH
   • Best For: Security analysts
   • Price: $338

4. Incident Response Foundations

   • Provider: Antisyphon
   • Level: Beginner
   • Format: Online
   • Duration: 16 hours
   • Certification: Certificate of Completion
   • Best For: Beginners & new IR programs
   • Price: $575

5. Network Forensics and IR

   • Provider: Antisyphon
   • Level: Intermediate
   • Format: Online
   • Duration: 16 hours
   • Certification: Certificate of Completion
   • Best For: Network analysts
   • Price: $575

6. Cybersecurity Incident Command

   • Provider: Antisyphon
   • Level: Advanced
   • Format: Online
   • Duration: 16 hours
   • Certification: Certificate of Completion
   • Best For: IR leaders & managers
   • Price: $575

7. Incident Response Planning

   • Provider: LinkedIn Learning
   • Level: Beginner
   • Format: Online
   • Duration: 2 hours
   • Certification: Course Certificate
   • Best For: Business leaders & managers
   • Price: $39.99 or subscription

Top Cybersecurity Incident Response Courses

1. SANS FOR508: Advanced Incident Response, Threat Hunting, and Digital Forensics

• Best for: Experienced security professionals looking to master advanced threat hunting techniques
• Price: $8,780 (includes course materials and GIAC certification attempt)
• Visit website: Link

SANS Institute's FOR508 is widely regarded as the gold standard for advanced incident response training. This comprehensive course prepares cybersecurity professionals to detect, respond to, and mitigate sophisticated cyber threats, including advanced persistent threats (APTs).

• In-depth training: Threat hunting techniques
• Memory forensics: Timeline analysis capabilities
• Advanced techniques: Anti-forensics detection methods
• Practical experience: APT threat group incident response challenge
• Tools access: SIFT Workstation toolkit

This intensive six-day course provides 36 CPEs and includes over 500 pages of exercises designed to simulate real-world scenarios. Participants learn to understand attacker tradecraft, detect breaches, perform damage assessments, and develop intelligence-driven response strategies.

2. Cyber Incident Response

• Best for: IT professionals and cybersecurity students seeking foundational knowledge

• Price: Included with Coursera Plus subscription

• Visit website: Link

• Instructional content: 54 minutes of instructional videos

• Comprehensive materials: Detailed readings on incident response frameworks

• Practical learning: Assignments with simulated scenarios

• Flexible format: Self-paced learning structure

• Real-world application: Applicable strategies for implementation

The course covers the fundamentals of incident response, steps in incident management, and tools for incident detection. It's designed as an accessible entry point for IT professionals, cybersecurity students, and security analysts.

3. Computer Security Incident Handler (ECIH) Certification

• Best for: Security analysts seeking industry-recognized certification

• Price: From $338 before tax for a single video course

• Visit website: Link

• Methodology: Comprehensive incident handling methodology

• Investigation: Investigation and forensic techniques

• Malware handling: Malware incident response procedures

• Learning options: Self-paced learning options

• Recognition: Industry-recognized certification

The ECIH program covers a broad range of incident types, from network security incidents to malware outbreaks, preparing security professionals to handle diverse threats. The certification is highly regarded in the industry.

4. Incident Response Foundations with Derek Banks

• Best for: Beginners and professionals establishing new IR programs

• Price: $575.00

• Visit website: Link

• Comprehensive foundation: Core components of successful IR programs

• Hands-on learning: 12 months access to Cyber Range

• Expert instruction: Support from experienced instructors

• Flexible format: 16 hours of self-paced training

• Practical focus: Real-world application of IR concepts

This course provides essential knowledge for those starting their incident response journey or establishing new IR programs. It covers fundamental concepts, team composition, logging and monitoring capabilities, and lays the groundwork for advanced forensics and analysis skills.

5. Network Forensics and Incident Response with Troy Wojewoda

• Best for: Incident responders and security analysts focusing on network analysis

• Price: $575.00

• Visit website: Link

• Network focus: Comprehensive network traffic analysis training

• Hands-on labs: Real-world attack scenarios and exercises

• Tool mastery: Open-source, vendor-neutral solutions

• Protocol analysis: Deep dive into network protocols and abuse detection

• Zeek scripting: Custom network analysis capabilities

This 16-hour course provides practical experience in network forensics and incident response, covering everything from reconnaissance to data exfiltration. Students learn to analyze network traffic, detect protocol abuse, and work with tools like Zeek for network analysis. The course includes hands-on lab exercises and real-world attack scenarios to reinforce learning.

6. Cybersecurity Incident Command with Gerard Johansen

• Best for: Incident response leaders and managers

• Price: $575.00

• Visit website: Link

• Command focus: Operational and strategic incident management

• Crisis management: Crisis communications and team coordination

• Business integration: Cross-functional team management

• Practical scenarios: Realistic incident response exercises

• Documentation: IRIS-DFIR platform and template usage

This comprehensive course focuses on the leadership aspects of incident response, teaching students how to manage cybersecurity incidents at both operational and strategic levels. Participants learn to coordinate technical actions with business needs, handle crisis communications, and develop effective containment and eradication plans. The course includes practical exercises using the IRIS-DFIR platform and real-world documentation templates.

7. Incident Response Planning

• Best for: Business leaders and managers responsible for organizational security

• Price: Included with LinkedIn Premium

• Visit website: Link

• Business focus: Business-focused approach

• Policy development: Policy and procedure development

• Team structure: Team structure and roles

• Communication: Communication planning

• Compliance: Legal and compliance considerations

This two-hour course is particularly valuable for managers, business leaders, and those responsible for developing organizational incident response capabilities rather than handling technical responses.

How to Choose the Right Incident Response Course

When selecting an incident response course, consider these key factors:

• Experience level: Different courses cater to different experience levels. Beginners should start with foundational courses like LinkedIn Learning's Incident Response Planning or the Coursera offering. Advanced professionals will benefit more from specialized courses like SANS FOR508.

• Learning style: Do you prefer hands-on learning, traditional instruction, or self-paced study? Courses like RangeForce offer interactive lab environments, while others like SANS provide instructor-led training.

• Certification value: If professional certification is important to your career goals, prioritize courses that offer industry-recognized credentials like the GIAC GCFA or EC-Council's ECIH.

• Time and budget: Course costs range from free (CISA training) to several thousand dollars (SANS), with durations spanning from a few hours to several days. Choose a course that fits your schedule and budget.

Career Benefits of Incident Response Training

Completing specialized incident response training can significantly enhance your cybersecurity career:

• Salary premium: Incident response specialists typically earn 15-20% more than general IT security roles
• Job security: As security incidents continue to rise, professionals with incident response skills remain in high demand
• Career advancement: Specialized skills in areas like forensic analysis and threat hunting open doors to senior security positions
• Cross-industry applicability: These skills are valuable across virtually all industries, from finance to healthcare to government

Conclusion

The best cybersecurity incident response course for you depends on your current skill level, career goals, and learning preferences. Whichever path you choose, investing in incident response training is increasingly essential in today's threat landscape. These skills not only enhance your career prospects but also contribute to the overall security posture of your organization.