Last updated: September 2026. Written by Josh Hutcheson, OnlineCourseing editor. See our review methodology.
By Josh Hutcheson · E-Learning Specialist
Reviewing online learning platforms since 2019. Review methodology
QUICK VERDICT
Bottom line: A project-heavy program that has you think like an enterprise security architect across four layers (network, endpoint, application and data), with a build in Azure and three security assessments. The syllabus is current and practical, but the public review base is almost nonexistent and it leads to a completion certificate, not a recognized security certification.
- Best for: IT administrators and junior security staff moving toward security engineering or architecture
- Length: about 68 hours: 4 teaching courses, 22 lessons, 4 projects
- Pricing: Udacity subscription at $249/month list ($150/month for new members’ first four months when we checked), or $999 one-time, shown at $599.40
- Skip if: you are new to IT or security, or you need Security+/CISSP exam prep
See the Enterprise Security Nanodegree →
What the Enterprise Security Nanodegree covers
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Udacity’s Enterprise Security Nanodegree (program code nd0035) is about defending an organization rather than a single machine. Its four teaching courses map to the layers a security team has to protect: the network perimeter, the endpoints, the applications and the data. Each ends with a project that puts you in a defined role, from building a monitored, Zero Trust network in Azure to acting as lead security architect for a startup’s web application.
We read the full outline on Udacity’s program page on 18 September 2026. It was updated on 21 August 2026 and lists the program as Intermediate, about 68 hours, with 6 courses (two of them a short welcome and close), 22 lessons and 4 projects. The skills list includes Zero Trust, API security, container vulnerability management, device and cloud hardening, security auditing and cybersecurity policy writing.
The instructors include Christine Izuakor, PhD, CISSP, founder and CEO of Cyber Pop-up; Vamsee Kandimalla, a cybersecurity architect; and security engineers Jerry Smith and Milind Adari.
Prerequisites: nine of them
Udacity lists nine prerequisites: Kali Linux, Windows administration, basic Linux, the client-server model, command-line basics, networking basics, cybersecurity fluency, cloud computing fluency and cloud environment configuration. That is an honest description of who can keep up. The program assumes you already understand how enterprise IT fits together and teaches you how to secure it.
If that list is mostly new, start with an entry-level route: the Google Cybersecurity certificate below, or Udacity’s own Cybersecurity Nanodegree.
The curriculum, course by course
| Course | Hours | Project |
|---|---|---|
| Enterprise Perimeter and Network Security | 20 | Securing the Perimeter: design and build in Azure, SIEM, Zero Trust |
| Enterprise Endpoint Security | 15.5 | FedF1rst Security Assessment |
| Enterprise-Wide Application Security | 17.5 | CryptoV4ULT Enterprise Security Assessment |
| Data Security | 13.8 | Data Security Analysis in Online Payment Processing |
1. Enterprise perimeter and network security (about 20 hours)
The longest course covers network security architecture, building an enterprise network, continuous monitoring with a SIEM, and Zero Trust. In the project you design a secure network architecture for a simulated business, build it in Microsoft Azure, set up SIEM monitoring and create a Zero Trust model. It is the most portfolio-worthy piece in the program, because it produces a working, cloud-hosted design rather than a report.
2. Enterprise endpoint security (about 15 hours)
How to write enterprise-level endpoint security policies and hardening strategies: system hardening, policies and compliance, and cloud management. The project is a security assessment of a fictional organization, FedF1rst. Expect policy and hardening documentation, which reflects a large share of the day-to-day work on an enterprise security team.
3. Enterprise-wide application security (about 17 hours)
Threat assessment through threat modeling and penetration testing, security architecture, threat hunting, and container and API vulnerabilities, all framed around shifting security left into the development lifecycle. In the project you become lead security architect for a startup’s web application, CryptoV4ULT, identifying vulnerabilities and building a mitigation roadmap.
4. Data security (about 14 hours)
Data governance and the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data: classifying and protecting it, applying encryption, auditing systems and preventing data loss. The project follows a day in the life of a data security professional establishing controls for online payment processing.
View the full Enterprise Security syllabus →
How much it costs
When we checked Udacity on 18 September 2026 there were three ways to pay:
| Option | List price | Shown to new members |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly subscription (full catalog) | $249/month | $150/month for the first four months (40% off) |
| Four-month prepaid bundle | $212/month | $127/month, a single payment of $507.60 |
| Buy just this program | $999 one-time | $599.40 |
Udacity describes the one-time option as “One payment. Flexibility to study the program in your own time. Career coaching and access to the full catalog come with the subscription.”
At a steady pace the subscription is cheaper. Sixty-eight hours at 10 hours a week is about seven weeks, or two months of the discounted subscription, roughly $300. The one-time $599.40 pays off only if you expect to take four months or longer. Current codes are on our Udacity coupon page.
Enterprise Security Nanodegree vs Security+ vs CISSP
People comparing this program usually have a certification in mind, so it is worth being precise about what each one is.
| Udacity Enterprise Security | CompTIA Security+ | ISC2 CISSP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Project-based training program | Entry-level certification exam | Senior certification exam |
| What you get | Udacity completion certificate + 4 portfolio projects | Industry certification | Industry certification |
| Experience needed | Nine listed prerequisites | None required; CompTIA recommends Network+ and two years in a security or sysadmin role | Five years of required work experience, per ISC2 |
| Best use | Building hands-on architecture skills | Getting past HR filters for first security roles | Senior and management roles |
The honest summary: this Nanodegree builds skills and a portfolio; the certifications prove knowledge to employers and recruiters. They complement each other, and a program like this can make the practical parts of either exam feel familiar, but it is not a substitute for sitting one.
Turning the four projects into a portfolio
Because this program ends in a completion certificate rather than a certification, the projects are what carry weight with an employer, so treat them as work samples from the start. The Azure perimeter build is the one to demonstrate live or with screenshots: an architecture diagram, the SIEM alerts you configured and the Zero Trust model you wrote. The three assessments are best presented as short, redacted reports that lead with findings and a prioritized remediation plan, which is exactly the format a security manager reads.
Two habits help. Write down why you made each design decision, not just what you built, because interviewers probe trade-offs. And map each project to the layer of defense it covers (network, endpoint, application, data), so a hiring manager can see at a glance that you have worked across the whole stack.
What we like
- Four real deliverables. An Azure build plus three assessments give you artifacts to discuss in interviews.
- Enterprise framing throughout. Policies, compliance and architecture trade-offs, not just hacking tools.
- Current topics. Zero Trust, container and API vulnerabilities, and shift-left security are all in scope, and the page was updated in August 2026.
- A credentialed instructor lineup, including a CISSP-holding PhD.
What we don’t like
- Almost no public reviews. The course page shows no rating; Udacity’s structured data lists 4.3 from just three ratings.
- No industry certification. Security hiring leans heavily on certifications, and this program doesn’t award one.
- Azure-specific network build. Useful if your employer runs Azure, a translation job if it runs AWS or Google Cloud.
- Sloppy product page. When we checked, the page’s “About this program” blurb described Udacity’s Java Web Developer Nanodegree instead of this one, a copy error worth knowing about before you rely on the page’s marketing text.
Alternatives worth comparing
Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate (Coursera). A nine-course, beginner-friendly program from Google, listed at about six months at 7 hours a week. It is the better starting point if the prerequisites above are unfamiliar. See it on Coursera.
Udacity’s other security programs. The Security Architect Nanodegree goes further into architecture, and the Cybersecurity Nanodegree is the broader entry point. For the certification route, see our guide to cybersecurity certifications.
Who should take it, and who shouldn’t
Take it if you are an IT administrator, network engineer or junior security analyst who wants structured, reviewed practice designing enterprise defenses across all four layers, especially if your organization runs on Azure.
Skip it if you are new to IT, if you need a certification for a job application, or if you want offensive security and penetration testing as the main focus. Pen testing appears here as one input to application security, not as the core skill.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Enterprise Security Nanodegree for beginners?
No. Udacity lists nine prerequisites, including Kali Linux, Windows administration, basic Linux, networking basics, cloud computing fluency and cloud environment configuration. Beginners are better served by an entry-level program first.
How long does it take?
Udacity estimates about 68 hours across four teaching courses, roughly seven weeks at 10 hours a week.
How much does it cost?
It is included in Udacity’s subscription, listed at $249 a month. When we checked on 18 September 2026, new members were shown 40% off their first four months ($150 a month), and the program could be bought on its own for a one-time $999, shown at $599.40.
Does it prepare you for Security+ or CISSP?
Not directly. It is a project-based program, not an exam-prep course, and you receive a Udacity completion certificate rather than an industry certification. The content overlaps with parts of both, but if a certification is the goal, study for it specifically.
Which cloud does it use?
The network-security course has you design and build a secure architecture in Microsoft Azure, with SIEM monitoring and a Zero Trust model.
Is the Enterprise Security Nanodegree worth it?
It is worth it for IT or junior security professionals who want reviewed, portfolio-ready practice designing enterprise defenses across network, endpoint, application and data security. It is not the right first step into cybersecurity, and it is not a certification.
Final verdict: 4.1/5
The Enterprise Security Nanodegree is a current, well-structured program that makes you practice the work of an enterprise security architect, with an Azure build and three assessments worth putting in a portfolio. It is held back by a near-absent public review base, the lack of an industry certification at the end, and a product page that needs proofreading. Buy it for the skills and projects, and pair it with a certification if you are job-hunting.
Check the Enterprise Security Nanodegree →
Related: Udacity Nanodegree review (2026): pricing, mentor reviews and career services across the platform.
Related: Best Udacity courses: where this program ranks in Udacity’s catalog.