In her winning video, Chesapeake Woods, 17, offers relationship advice aimed at our human tendency toward “uncontrollable judginess.”
Word of the Day: pungent
This word has appeared in 113 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
Alison vs Udemy: The Best Platform for Cyber Security Courses
We live in a digital-first world where cyber security skills are no longer optional; they’re essential. Whether you need to protect your personal data or defend business systems against cyber threats, the demand for cyber security professionals is growing. Fortunately, online learning platforms offer flexible and affordable free cyber security courses with certificates.
But with so many online learning platforms out there, it’s not always easy to decide which one is right for you. In this article, we’ll compare Alison and Udemy, two popular platforms, to help you choose the best option for gaining cyber security certifications, whether you’re a beginner or a professional.
Whether you’re budget-conscious, just starting your career, or switching to a fast-growing field, this guide will help you choose the right cyber security certifications for beginners with confidence.
Why Cyber Security Is a Top Career in 2025
The global shift towards digitisation has created an urgent need for skilled cyber security professionals. Statistics show that there are 2,200 cyber attacks every day, with one happening every 39 seconds. Businesses, governments, and individuals have become more open to sophisticated cyber attacks, including phishing, ransomware, and data breaches. Cyber crime is projected to cost the world $23 trillion by 2027.
The numbers don’t lie. It’s clear that cyber security skills are not only valuable, they’re a gateway to a future-proof career, and it is necessary for businesses and individuals alike to be educated on this. Cyber security roles like Information Security Analysts, Ethical Hackers, and Computer Security Specialists offer competitive salaries, job security, and growth opportunities, especially in the new digital era.
Factors behind the growing demand for cyber security skills:
- Increased cyber attacks: The number and complexity of cyber attacks, including ransomware and phishing, are steadily increasing.
- Data sensitivity: Many organisations handle sensitive customer data, like credit card details and addresses. Cyber security is a critical priority for these organisations.
- Digital transformation: Everything has become digital. Remote work and cloud computing have increased the number of ways hackers can access company systems, which creates a greater need for cyber security.
- Skills gap: The demand for cyber security professionals far outweighs the supply.
- Economic impact: Cyber attacks have major financial implications such as direct loss, legal fees and reputational damage.
Alison: Free Cyber Security Courses with Certificates
When it comes to free online cyber security courses with certificates, Alison stands out for its accessibility and quality learning content. As one of the world’s largest free learning platforms, Alison offers a wide range of cyber security courses for beginners, all designed with flexibility and affordability in mind. They also offer prep courses for exams like CompTIA Security+, which focuses on Exam SYO-501 and CISSP.
Key Features of Alison’s Cyber Security Courses:
- 100% free learning: Learners can access all course content at no cost. There is no upfront payment required and you only pay if you choose to purchase a Digital or Printed Certificate or Diploma.
- Accredited by the CPD UK: All courses are CPD-accredited, giving your CV a credible boost and showing employers you’re committed to professional development.
- Exam prep support: Alison also offers prep courses for key industry exams, including CompTIA Security+ (Exam SY0-501) and CISSP.
- Expertly designed: Courses are developed by industry experts to help learners build practical, job-ready skills and prepare for official certifications.
- Tailored for beginner and intermediate learning: Alison offers a wide range of beginner and intermediate courses to match any level.
Popular free cyber security courses available on Alison include “Diploma in Cyber Security“, “Digital and Cyber Security Awareness“, and “Diploma in Information Security“.
Udemy: Paid Cyber Security Courses for All Levels
Udemy is another popular platform offering a vast library of cyber security courses, including advanced certifications and prep courses for exams like CompTIA Security+, and CISSP. Courses range from beginner to expert level and often include video lectures, hands-on labs, and quizzes to help learners apply their knowledge.
Key Features of Udemy Cyber Security Courses:
- Monthly subscription fee: Learners can access a wide range of courses starting from just $20 per month.
- Course accreditation varies: Some courses may include a certificate of completion, but most are not formally accredited by recognised bodies.
- Beginner and intermediate courses: Udemy offers cyber security courses suited to those just starting out as well as learners looking to build on existing knowledge.
- Self-paced learning: Like Alison, Udemy allows learners to study at their own pace.
Who Should Choose Alison?
Alison is perfect for:
- Learners with a limited budget who want to access high-quality courses without upfront fees.
- Job seekers and career changers looking for practical, job-ready skills and CPD-accredited courses.
- Anyone exploring a new field who isn’t ready to commit financially to a single course and would rather have the freedom to explore a variety of topics.
- Professionals looking to boost their CV quickly with skills employers are actually hiring for.
- Learners who value structured learning through Verticals and Diploma courses.
- Those who value global impact and want to learn on a platform that champions free education for all.
If you want to start learning without spending a cent and still earn a certificate for a CPD-accredited course, Alison is the perfect place to begin. Explore our entire range of free online cyber security courses with certificates here.
Who Should Choose Udemy?
Udemy suits:
- Learners willing to pay upfront for access to learning content and a certificate of completion.
- Professionals who want to learn from specific industry experts or instructors with a large following.
- Those who prefer instructor-led teaching styles with more personal flair or storytelling.
If you’re willing to pay for more advanced content or a particular instructor’s teaching style, Udemy offers good value.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Cyber Security Course Platform
Both Alison and Udemy offer valuable pathways into cyber security, but the right platform for you depends on your goals, budget, and experience level.
If you’re starting out and looking for free online cyber security courses with certificates, Alison is the best place to begin. With CPD accreditation, beginner-friendly options, and no financial barrier, it’s the ideal launchpad for your cyber security journey.
Ready to take your first step? Discover Alison’s full range of Cyber Security courses and start learning today, for free.
Word of the Day: sublimity
This word has appeared in five articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
Word of the Day: vexatious
This word has appeared in 16 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
Cognitive Networks and Implicit Bias
Images above by WOKANDAPIX, Yinan Chen, Taken, kieurope, M S, and GSLCMedia, from Pixabay
We are able to categorize, and to generalize. Every time you see a chair that you have never seen before, you don’t have to learn that it is a chair and can be used for sitting. This is because you have learned some general rules for chairs, as well as a prototype for a chair. You have experience with a lot of different types of chairs, so you can group similar items together and flexibly apply the category, in what feels like an automatic way seemingly without even thinking. (Of course, your cognitive system is working even though you consciously don’t realize it!)
We need to be able to do this with what we perceive in the world around us. This is an extremely helpful feature of our cognitive systems. The problem is, we don’t just do this with chairs and desks, or other physical objects. We also do it with people. This may not have been a problem when we lived in small tribes and rarely interacted with people outside of our in group. But now, it leads to what we call implicit bias.
Our experiences, what we see and hear ourselves, what we read, what we are told, are all integrated into our cognitive networks. Automatically, and seemingly without even thinking, we create general rules and prototypes and use those to quickly categorize people. There are countless examples of this, but I find it easier to use a personal example. Imagine, in your mind, what a doctor looks like. What is the first image that pops into your head? For many, this will be a male wearing a white coat. Now, imagine a cheerleader. Was she blonde? Was she the same person that was wearing the white coat when you imagined a doctor?
My sister was blonde when she was little, and was a cheerleader. What is the typical stereotype about blonde cheerleaders? Not very smart, very into their looks, the kind of kid who ditches school, and so on. However, my sister is extremely smart, took school extremely seriously, and ultimately went to medical school and became an OBGYN. I wear glasses, and people call me “Doctor Sumeracki” at my job. But that is because I have a PhD, not an MD. My sister is smarter than me, and you definitely want her in the room if there is a medical emergency and not me.
By the way, because humans built AI language models, and the models are trained on the language we produce, they have bias built into them too. I asked Google Gemini to generate a picture of a doctor. I didn’t give it any other characteristics. Below is the image I got:
How to Change Logo on WordPress Login Page
Want to add a personal touch to your WordPress login page? Changing the default WordPress logo to your own custom image is a simple yet effective way to brand your site and make the login experience more visually appealing. This tutorial will guide you through the process using a user-friendly plugin.
Why Customize Your Login Page?
Adding your own logo instantly elevates your site’s professionalism and strengthens your brand identity. It’s a small detail that makes a big difference, creating a more cohesive and personalized experience for anyone logging into your WordPress dashboard.
Step-by-Step Guide: Adding Your Login Logo with a Plugin
We’ll be using the “My WordPress Login Logo” plugin for this tutorial, but many similar plugins are available if you prefer an alternative.
Step 1: Install the Plugin
In your dashboard go to Plugins > Add Plugin. In the search bar type in My WordPress Login Logo. Once the My WordPress Login Logo plugin has been pulled up, click the Install Now button.
Step 2: Activate the Plugin
After the installation is complete, click Activate Plugin.
Step 3: Upload Your Custom Logo
To access the plugin settings, go to your dashboard and click on Login Logo.
Click the Upload Image button to select your logo file from your computer. For the best results, use a .png file with a transparent background. A .jpeg image will typically have a white box around it, which can look less professional. You’ll also have options to set your logo width and height to ensure it displays perfectly. Once you’re satisfied with your selections, click the Update button.
A preview of your uploaded image will appear, confirming it’s saved.
Step 4: See Your New Login Page!
Finally, to see your new login page, simply log out of your WordPress site. You’ll now be greeted by your customized login page featuring your brand-new logo!
Customizing your WordPress login page is a quick win for enhancing your site’s appearance and branding. Give it a try and enjoy a more personalized login experience!
The AI Skills Gap: Why Businesses Must Act Now
“The AI skills shortage among UK tech leaders has more than doubled in the last year.”
A drastic growth in the demand for AI skills has created a skills shortage in the tech industry. AI is changing the way businesses operate, from logistics and compliance to support services and product development. However, there is still one major setback: the skills gap.
The digital space continues to evolve and improve at lightning speed, but the workforce hasn’t kept up. So many employees lack the AI skills needed to adapt to a new era of work shaped by automation, predictive analytics, and reinforcement learning.
This radical change from the way things have been done in the past seeks to improve the way we operate in our daily tasks, rather than to simply disrupt us in the way that has been fearmongered by some. With the right AI training and strategy, businesses can empower their staff to use these tools in a meaningful way.
What’s Fueling the AI Skills Gap?
9 out of 10 UK tech leaders are now investing in or piloting AI, yet the internal knowledge to make those tools work is lagging far behind. Why?
- New roles, unclear skills: Titles like “AI Product Manager” or “Prompt Engineer” have emerged without widely adopted training frameworks.
- Siloed knowledge: AI understanding often sits only within IT or data teams, leaving other departments behind.
- Poor change management: Digital tools are being implemented faster than people can adapt, with no structured support.
The Consequences of Doing Nothing
Companies that fail to build AI capability across functions risk:
- Project failures are due to not using AI tools efficiently.
- Wage inflation sets in as AI-proficient professionals can command higher salaries.
- Falling behind as AI-ready competitors gain speed, accuracy, and forward-thinking momentum.
L&D is Your Strategic Advantage
When done right, Learning and Development (L&D) can be a powerful tool in closing the AI skills gap. It’s not just about offering training; it’s about thoughtful strategies that blend hands-on learning, internal mentorship, and flexible online platforms, such as Alison.com.
And it’s not just IT teams that need support. From HR to operations, marketing to compliance, every function now interacts with AI in some way. That’s why L&D must provide relevant, job-specific training that empowers all departments to adapt. Alison’s free, CPD-accredited courses are designed with this in mind, helping cross-functional teams develop the skills they need to use AI meaningfully in their everyday roles.
For organisations looking to scale learning across teams, our Free LMS makes it easy to roll out AI training at pace, without the usual cost or complexity.
Sector-Specific AI Learning for the Modern Workforce
To make AI adoption practical and effective, employees need access to training that speaks directly to their day-to-day responsibilities. That’s why Alison offers a growing catalogue of sector-specific AI courses. Here are just a few of our specialised courses to help your organisation prepare for its AI future:
AI for Operations and Logistics
AI in Human Resources
AI Risk and Compliance
AI for Health and Safety
AI for Business Strategy and Productivity
AI for Customer Experience
The L&D Playbook: Upskilling at Scale
To succeed in today’s AI-driven workforce, organisations need a smart, scalable, and inclusive learning initiative. Here’s what that looks like:
- Learning Management Systems: Platforms like Alison offer free, accredited AI training across various industries, removing cost barriers. Our AI courses blend formal instruction, on-the-job learning and knowledge transfer. You will receive skills training that is relevant for your job and a structured course that takes you on a learning journey in stages from beginner to intermediate. This approach is ideal for understanding theory and being able to apply it to real-world settings. Now you and your organisation can access scalable and relevant AI training that reaches people within your team without high costs.
- Drive experiential learning: With these courses, you can go beyond theory with projects, simulations, and AI pilots. Let employees learn by doing, not just with book knowledge.
- Incorporate change management: Support your AI transformation with change champions, role-specific training, and structured learning paths that evolve with the business.
Monitor progress and impact: Use analytics to measure training engagement and tie it to business outcomes, especially in areas like process efficiency, compliance rates, and project delivery.
From AI Awareness to AI Action
The future of work will be shaped by AI. However, the winners won’t be those who adopt the flashiest tools. They’ll be the businesses that understand the importance of preparing their people to use AI intelligently, strategically, and responsibly.
At Alison, we believe in free, skills-based learning that equips teams at every level, whether they are entry-level or C-suite.
Regardless of whether you work in logistics, HR, safety, compliance, or product strategy, it’s essential to enhance your understanding of AI with Alison. The skills gap isn’t going away on its own, but with the right learning paths, you can close it faster than you think.
Word of the Day: kitschy
This word has appeared in 60 articles on NYTimes.com in the past year. Can you use it in a sentence?
Comment on Free June 2025 Wallpaper – Beach Vibes by Iris Rodriguez
Free June 2025 wallpaper is here!
Get ready to escape to the beach – right from your desktop! Our June freebie is here, and it’s a dreamy wallpaper with calming waves, a colorful beach ball, and lush tropical vibes. It’s the perfect dose of summer to kick off June!
Your June Free Wallpaper Package Includes:
Available in multiple sizes to fit your phone, tablet, and desktop. As an added bonus, I’ve included a social media-ready image featuring graphics from this month’s wallpaper and quote.
Waiting For Summer
We’ve all felt it – that longing for lazy beach days, warm breezes, and endless sunshine. Our June freebie wallpaper perfectly captures that summer yearning with its serene beach scene and the relatable quote, “Wake me up when summer begins.” It’s more than just a pretty background; it’s a little reminder on your desktop to embrace the slower pace and joyful spirit that summer brings.
P.S. This image is included as a larger file in the download package below! Feel free to post it on your Instagram or Facebook.
What’s included?
With the free download, you get three different desktop options: one with a calendar, a plain one (without any text), and another with a quote. Additionally, there’s a wallpaper available for tablets and three phone options. You’ll also find a social media-ready size that features this month’s quote.
Free June 2025 Wallpaper download includes the following:
FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY.
NOTE: This wallpaper is available as a free download through June 30, 2025 only. After that, a $5 download fee applies.
Looking for more?
Browse all wallpapers from this series.
Design Your Digital Success
Just like a great wallpaper transforms a room, a stunning design can elevate your website or blog. A fresh, visually appealing look captures attention and keeps visitors engaged. Take a look at the designs below to find the perfect one to enhance your online presence!
Blogger templates
WordPress Themes
Your voice matters!
If you have your favorite quotes or lyrics and would like them to appear on the next free wallpaper, make sure to post them in the comments below or send us your ideas via email.
Enjoy!