Agents, AI, and a Dash of Cybersecurity: My Top Two LinkedIn Learning Courses.

Towards the end of last year, it became crystal clear: 2025 is the year of AI agents! These self-directed systems are set to revolutionize the way we work and live, particularly in industries such as finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. As someone in cybersecurity with a healthy dose of curiosity (and a pinch of skepticism), I knew I had to dive deeper into this fascinating world. Fortunately, my journey led me to two must-take courses on LinkedIn for Learning that I’m thrilled to share with you!

Course #1: Agentic AI Fundamentals: Architectures, Frameworks, and Applications

Instructor: David Linthicum

When I first encountered this course, I was immediately drawn to its methodical yet accessible approach. David Linthicum, a veteran cloud computing and AI expert, breaks down the complex subject of agentic AI into digestible pieces. Here are my 5 key takeaways from this course, especially valuable for those of us in cybersecurity:

1. Understanding Autonomous Agents: Learn how agents operate independently, making decisions based on predefined rules and learned patterns. Think of it as having a mini digital assistant that handles everything from mundane tasks to critical operations—even filing taxes (if only it could handle my laundry too)!
2. Goal-Oriented Design: Agents aren’t just passive executors; they’re programmed to set and achieve their own goals. This principle is crucial when designing systems that can operate with minimal human oversight.
3. Learning and Adaptation: Just as we evolve through experience, agentic AI uses machine learning to adapt over time. This continuous improvement is key to staying ahead of dynamic cybersecurity threats.
4. Contextual Awareness: Agents possess the ability to understand nuanced contexts—be it weather trends or market shifts. This smarts them up, allowing for more tailored and effective decision-making.
5. Security Implications: In the age of autonomous systems, knowing the security risks is non-negotiable. This course covers how agentic AI can transform businesses while also posing unique security challenges that require careful planning and redundancy measures.

Course #2: Agentic AI for Developers: Concepts and Application for Enterprises

Instructor: Kumaran Ponnambalam

If you’re looking for a hands-on approach, Kumaran Ponnambalam’s course is your go-to resource. With a focus on practical implementation, it guides you through the nuts and bolts of building an AI agent. Here are 5 essential takeaways from this course, tailored for the cybersecurity professional:

1. Component Integration: Understand how various components—orchestrator, planner, executor, and memory—come together to create a robust agentic AI system. It’s like assembling a high-tech Lego set where security of every piece matters.
2. Design Patterns and Architecture: Gain insights into reference architectures and design patterns that ensure your AI systems are not just functional but also scalable and secure.
3. Hands-on Implementation: This isn’t just theory—expect to roll up your sleeves and implement your first AI agent. The course’s practical approach demystifies the process, even if you’re not a secure coding wizard.
4. Real-World Use Cases: Explore applications in industries such as finance and human resources, which currently matters most to me, where AI agents streamline processes and enhance security—think secure document workflows and robust loan verification systems.
5. Security & Reliability: With a focus on fault tolerance and error detection, learn how to build systems that are as resilient as they are intelligent. After all, we wouldn’t want our agents to take a coffee break at a critical moment!

Final Thoughts

Diving into these courses has been an enlightening experience—a perfect blend of theory, practical application, and a sprinkle of humor to keep things light. Whether you’re in cybersecurity, development, or simply intrigued by the potential of AI agents, I highly recommend checking out these courses to stay ahead of the curve.

Some other LinkedIn Learning Courses I am looking forward to:

AI Orchestration: Foundations by Denys Linkov

Agentic AI Business Strategy: A Conversation with Charlene Li by Ashley Kennedy , Charlene Li

#AgenticAI #Cybersecurity #LinkedInLearning #AIRevolution #TechInnovation #LearningJourney