Best Laptop for Cyber Security Students & Professionals

Best Laptop for Cyber Security Students

In your role as a cybersecurity professional, you might need a laptop that supports several programming languages. It can handle heavy data crunching tasks like password cracking easily. 

Additionally, you should ensure that the machine you get will be able to run dual-boot Linux (Ubuntu), virtual machines, and network monitoring

As market is growing for cyber security experts, the desire for students and professionals to pick cyber security as a field is currently greater than ever.

If you are a student or professional and looking for the best laptop for cyber security then make sure you read the guide given below to choose the one that is good enough to handle most cyber threats.

Recommendations for Best Laptop for Cyber Security Students and Professionals

As you know that you will be running a lot of virtual machines and programs at once. Event when studying cyber security you may have to run 4 Virtual Machines at once, which can consume up to 10 GB of RAM.

 You’ll also need a lot of storage because the VM’s also create VDI’s and download a large amount of ISO files. In the future, there will be certain programs that will require a lot of processing power so investing in a gaming type laptop will be a good move.

IMAGEPRODUCTSFEATURESPRICE
MSI Creator 15MSI Creator 15Display: 15.6 Inches
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Apple MacBook ProApple MacBook ProDisplay: 16 Inches
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Battery: Up to 11 hours
MSI GF63 ThinMSI GF63 ThinDisplay: 15.6 Inches
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Dell XPS 15Dell XPS 15Display: 15.6 Inches
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Razer Blade 15Razer Blade 15Display: 15.6 Inches
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Lenovo IdeaPad Y700Lenovo IdeaPad Y700Display: 17.3 Inches
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
ASUS TUF FX505DTASUS TUF FX505DTDisplay: 15.6 Inches
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
MSI GS65 StealthMSI GS65 StealthDisplay: 15.6 Inches
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Acer Swift 3Acer Swift 3Display: 14 Inches
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB SSD
Battery: Up to 16 hours
HP Spectre x360HP Spectre x360Display: 12 Inches
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB SSD
Battery: Up to 14 hours

In this article we have covered about best laptops for cyber security either for students of cyber security degree majors /any course / school or for professionals on job with buyer guide.

These machines are excellent because you can run different operating systems, virtual systems and run all cyber security programs that involve considerable computing with no setbacks.

Any laptop is one time investment to sustain in future.

So, remember choose a laptop that has maximum RAM to run your VMs and dual boot other operating systems easily. It should have latest operatign system to keep yourself secure from attacks.

Some Stats and Facts About Cyber Attacks

According to a report by Emboroker cyber attacks have seen a big leap in the current year. It appears to be the most alarming situation when you realize that the frequency of attacks and cost is increasing year by year at an almost 15% rate.

Furthermore, the report states that

  • Small businesses are targeted by 43% of cyber attacks, but only 14% are prepared to defend themselves.
  • Databreach can cost a long-tail cost to companies from 12% – 68% year wise.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a 600% increase in cyber crime.
  • A ransomware attack caused 57x more damage in 2021 than it did in 2015.
  • A small business can incur an average cost of $1.2 to $1.24 million due to a data breach.

Further, Global News Wire has stated that cyber attacks will cost up to $10.5 trillion to companies of all levels of business from 2015 – 2025.

These are just a mere look of facts, there are many other facts, but to keep it short we have just summarized all of them.

How can a cyber attack be lethal for business?

A cyber attack can disrupt normal routine work, damage your reputation, IT infrastructure, and assets, which will require resources and time to recover, meaning loss and deterioration at the same time. 

A company can suffer from any kind of loss, as stated below.

  • Financial losses
  • Productivity Loss
  • ruined reputations online and offline.
  • Legal liabilities or accountability
  • Issues in business growth 

The above-mentioned losses are just an overview, but in fact there are many other fields and facts where cyber attacks can put you in a vulnerable situation. 

Why is it crucial to hire a cyber security expert?

Globally and locally operated companies need to hire a competent cyber security professional, even though they don’t have enough budget.

Why . . . ?

As you have studied the facts of cyber attacks above, it clearly shows the importance of cyber security professionals for companies working digitally or non digitally. Every person owns a device that needs protection from cyber attacks in this era.

Is cyber security a good career for students?

When we talk about facts, then it can easily be assumed that cyber security has huge potential with increasing opportunities and budget. Embroker states that

  • The frequency of cyber attacks has tripled compared to previous years.
  • Global cyber security spending has exceeded $1 trillion or 12 – 15 % per year increase.
  • The budget to control these cyber attacks is expected to grow by almost 71% in the next 3 years.
  • According to Forbes and ransomware stats, in 2021, 37% of all-level businesses and firms/organizations were hit by ransomware cyber attacks.
  • In the year 2021, a company suffered a ransomware attack every 11 seconds, and it is expected that it’ll be reached 2 seconds up till 2031.

You now have a clear idea that cyber security is a wonderful and fast-growing profession in the current and future era.

A cyber security expert deals with how many types of threats?

There are several types of threats that cyber experts deal with, but to keep it simple we’ll see primary types here.

  • Emotet
  • Denial of Service (DoS)
  • Man-In-the-Middle (MITM)
  • Password Attacks
  • Malware
  • Phishing
  • Zero-Day Exploits
  • SQL Injection

Keeping the above information in view, we have prepared a list of laptops for cyber security students and professionals. Let’s have a simple overview.


1. MSI Creator 15 – Best Laptop for Cyber Security Course

MSI Creator 15 - Best Laptop for Cyber Security Course
  • CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7, Up to 5.1 GHz
  • RAM: 32 GB
  • Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD
  • Screen Size Resolution: 15.6″ FHD (1920×1080)
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070,

Every cyber security student requires a powerful CPU to perform various tasks and multiple functions with ease. The MSI Creator 15 comes with an Intel Core i7-10875H processor, which is pretty reliable for cybersecurity.

An adequate amount of RAM is a must for cyber security students. It features 32 GB RAM, which along with the 1TB NVMe SSD, works wonders for performance. The laptop measures 21.9 x 13.3 x 3.4 inches and weighs about 9.08 pounds. It offers an excellent battery life of up to 10 hours which is good enough for a cyber security course.

The laptop features a 15.6″ Ultra-Thin Bezel Display and a well-built keyboard suitable for cyber security students. Altogether, the MSI Creator 15 laptop is exceptional and one of the best laptops for cyber security courses.


2. Apple MacBook Pro-Best Laptop for Cyber Security Professionals

Apple MacBook Pro-Best Laptop for Cyber Security Professionals
  • CPU: 9th Gen Intel Core i7,  Up to 4.5 GHz
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 512 GB SSD
  • Screen Size Resolution: IPS 16″ Retina Display (3072×1920)
  • Graphics: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M, 4GB

The Apple MacBook Pro is a top cyber security professional laptop. It provides an outstanding balance of speed, performance, storage, battery timing and memory altogether.

This elegantly stylish laptop comes with the 9th gen Intel Core i7 or i9 having 2.6 GHz clock rate, one of the best processing systems for heavy-duty tasks such as hacking and cyber security.

The MacBook features 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. An ultra-fast SSD makes transferring data easy and straightforward. The graphics of the laptop accompany the AMD Radeon Pro 5300M graphics card. It makes the performance of the device smooth and seamless.

The laptop features a 16-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology and a 4K resolution of 3072×1920 pixels, which brings out the most vibrant and vivid colors.

This laptop features Wi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0, a thunderbolt port, and a display port in terms of connectivity. It has an exceptionally remarkable battery life of up to 11 hours.

All in all, the Apple MacBook Pro is one of the best laptops for cyber security professionals.


3. MSI GF63 – Best Laptop for Computer Forensics

MSI GF63 – Best Laptop for Computer Forensics
  • CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7, 2.6 – 4.5GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 512 GB NVMe SSD
  • Screen Size Resolution: 15.6”FHD (1920×1080)
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX1650, 4GB

The MSI GF63 is a great pick when it comes to computer forensics and cyber security laptops. It comes with the Intel Core i7-9750H processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650.

These two combined ensure to provide you a unique and one-of-a-kind experience in computer forensics. The laptop is thin and lightweight and is easy to carry around. 

It features 16 GB RAM, 512GB NVMe solid-state drive, and Windows 10 operating system, which are undoubtedly the best in high-end performance. The laptop measures 14.13 x 9.99 x 0.85 inches and weighs about 4.10 lbs only.

It also offers a pretty decent battery life of up to 7 hours. Overall, if you are looking for a machine best for computer forensics, the MSI GF63 is one of the best laptops for computer forensics.


Dell XPS 15 – Best Dell Laptop for Cyber Security Recommended by Reddit
  • CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 512 GB SSD
  • Screen Size Resolution: 15″ FHD IPS (3840×2400)
  • Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 T, 4GB

The Dell XPS 15 is top-notch and one of the best laptops for cyber security recommended by Reddit. It comes with the 10th Generation Intel Core i7 processor, an outstanding processor for running ethical hacking and cyber security softwares. 

This elegant laptop features a 15.6-inch screen with 4K screen having (3840 x 2400) pixels resolutions. The screen gives a fantastic display experience. It features 16GB RAM, which allows you to multitask effortlessly with no lag.

The laptop also features 512 GB of solid-state drive for pursuing hacking and cyber security heavy-duty tasks. SSD is very convenient because they provide a fast transfer rate, making transferring data reliable. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Ti carries an extraordinary graphics quality.

It measures 21.89 x 15.79 x 4.02 inches and weighs about 6.47 lbs. The keyboard and trackpad offer a superb typing experience. It runs on the Windows 10 operating system and has a decent battery life which lasts up to 8 hours.

Last, the Dell XPS 15 is a powerful and one of the best Dell laptops for cybersecurity.


5. Razer Blade 15 – Best Laptop for Cyber Security School

Razer Blade 15 – Best Laptop for Cyber Security School
  • CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7, Up to 5.0 GHz
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 512GB SSD
  • Screen Size Resolution: 15.6″ FHD 4K (3840×2160)
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, 8GB

Razer Blade 15 is another one of the most popular laptop choices amongst cyber security school students and professionals. The laptop comes with the 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor having 6 cores with up to 5.0 GHz clock rate. 

It is an outstanding processor for cyber security personnels due to its extraordinary performance even under pressure.

The device features 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD storage. The RAM, along with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q, offers the ultimate graphics power. 

It measures 13.98 x 0.78 x 9.25 inches and weighs about 8.7 lbs. The device runs on the Windows 10 operating system and has an average battery life of 4 hours. For connectivity, the laptop comes with Wi-Fi 6, Gigabit Ethernet, Thunderbolt 3, and USB type-A and type-C ports, and HDMI.  The device has a 15.6-inch sharp and colorful display. 

With excellent performance and outstanding features, the Razer Blade 15 is worth buying and one of the best laptops for cyber security schools.


6. Lenovo IdeaPad Y700 – Best Laptop for Cyber Security Majors

  • CPU: Intel Core i7, 2.60 GHz
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 128 GB SSD + 1 TB HDD HDD
  • Screen Size Resolution: 17.3″ FHD (1920 x 1080)
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, 4GB

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y700 is one of the best laptops for cyber security majors. It comes with an  Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor having 2.6GHz speed and a 17.3-inch full HD display. 

Although the high-resolution display is an ideal choice for cyber security majors and professionals as well. But the 16 GB RAM, along with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, enhances the laptop’s overall performance. It facilitates the laptop to work effortlessly with no glitches. 

The students can do multitasking with ease as it comes with 1TB HDD + 128GB SSD storage. It comes with USB 3.8 ports, USB 2.0 ports, HDMI ports, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

The battery lasts up to 4 hours while doing work or streaming online videos. It runs on the Windows 10 operating system, measures 16.7 x 12 x 1.1 inches, and weighs about 7.72 lbs.

Hence the Lenovo IdeaPad Y700 is one of the best laptops for cyber security majors currently available in the market.


7. ASUS TUF FX505DT- Best Laptop for Cyber Security Jobs

ASUS TUF FX505DT- Best Laptop for Cyber Security Jobs
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 R5, Quad-core, 3.7 GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB
  • Storage: 256 GB SSD
  • Screen Size Resolution: 15.6 Inches FHD (1920 x 1080)
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650, 4 GB

The ASUS TUF is not only a high-quality laptop for cyber security jobs but also fit for top professionals of the same field. It is equipped with an Quad-coreAMD Ryzen 5 R5-3550H processor, which provides super-fast performance without any lagging.

 It also contains the GeForce GTX 1650 graphics and 8 GB RAM, which is why most cyber security personnels prefer purchasing this notebook.

The 256 GB PCIe SSD ensures sufficient space for routine work and runs most of the cyber security softwares and apps. It has a RGB backlit keyboard and a 15.6 -inch 120Hz Full HD IPS-type display with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution.

 It runs on the Windows 10 operating system, measures 14.2 x 10.3 x 1 inches, and weighs about 4.80 lbs. For connectivity, the laptop features the fastest Wi-Fi, USB Type-A ports, and HDMI port.

The device’s dual outflow fans has an anti-dust technology and an average battery life of up to 4 hours.

It meets all the cyber security laptop requirements and is undoubtedly one of the best laptops for cyber security jobs.


8. MSI GS65 – Best Laptop for Cyber Security Students

MSI GS65 - Best Laptop for Cyber Security Students
  • CPU: Intel Core i7, 2.2 – 4.1 GHz 
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 256 GB SSD
  • Screen Size Resolution: 15.6 Inches FHD (1920 x 1080)
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060, 6 GB

If you want to learn cyber security, want to become a top professional, and are looking for the best laptop for learning cyber security, this may be the best option.

It comes with an Intel Core i7-8750H processor, 16 GB RAM and NVIDIA GeForce GTX1060 graphics card is a perfect combination for learning it. 

The processor and high-quality graphics card enhance the performance of the laptop while running all relevant softwares. It features 256GB SSD storage along with 16 GB RAM which are sufficient for cyber security students.

The laptop weighs 4.14 lbs and is easy to carry around. It allows the students to perform different tasks with ease. The device has a 15.6-inch display and an average battery life of up to 5 hours.

When it comes to connectivity, the left panel comes with an Ethernet jack, a pair of USB 3.1 ports, headphones, and mic jacks.

The right panel has another USB 3.1 port, a USB-C port with Thunderbolt 3, an HDMI port, and a Mini DisplayPort connection.

Hence it is undoubtedly a reliable and one of the best laptops for cyber security students in the market today.


9. Acer Swift 3 – Best Budget Laptop for Cyber Security Students

Acer Swift 3 - Best Budget Laptop for Cyber Security Student
  • CPU: 10th Gen Intel Core i7, Up to 4.7GHz
  • RAM: 8 GB / 16 GB
  • Storage: 256 GB NVMe SSD / 1 TB
  • Screen Size Resolution: 14″ FHD (1920 x 1080)
  • Graphics: Intel Iris Xe Graphics
  • Fingerprint Reader

The Acer Swift 3 is a powerful laptop and one of the best budget laptops for cyber security students. It comes with an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor, which provides the ultimate level of performance required by cyber security students.

If we talk about its GPU, this laptop features an Intel Iris Xe Graphics, which handles everyday tasks effortlessly.

In terms of memory, this laptop features 8GB RAM, which makes the performance glitch-free. If we look at the storage, this laptop features a 256GB NVMe SSD.

All in all, the Acer Swift 3 offers sufficient storage for cyber security students. It has a 14-inch display and a long battery life of up to 16 hours. 

The laptop measures 12.73 x 8.62 x 0.63 inches and weighs about 2.65 lbs.It has a backlit keyboard, which provides a superb typing experience. 

If you like an ultra-thin and lightweight laptop that fulfills all your cyber security needs, then this laptop is for you.


10. HP Spectre x360 – Best Laptop for Cyber Security Degree

HP Spectre x360 - Best Laptop for Cyber Security Degree
  • CPU: 8th Gen Intel Quad Core i7, Up to 4 GHz
  • RAM: 16 GB
  • Storage: 512 GB SSD
  • Screen Size Resolution: 15.6″ FHD (1920 x 1080)
  • Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 620

HP Spectre x360 has everything you need in the best laptop for a cyber security degree. It is an efficient 2-in-1 convertible everyday usage laptop for cyber security students.

The students can perform all the basic tasks like moving files from one location to another location, opening multiple tabs on internet browsers, and working on numerous Excel spreadsheets, etc., effortlessly.

It comes with an 8th Gen Intel i7-8550U, which ensures super-fast performance for cyber security students.

The 16GB RAM and 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD make it one of the best options for a cyber security degree student and beginner level cyber security experts

It comes with an Intel UHD Graphics 620, which is capable of handling all complex tasks. The laptop has a 12-inches screen and a long battery life of 16 hours.

It runs on the Windows 10 Home, measures 12 x 8.6 x 0.5 inches, and weighs about 2.78 lbs.

That said, the HP Spectre x360 is powerful and one of the best HP laptops for cyber security.

How to Select the Best Laptop for Cyber Security Students? – Buyer Guide

A laptop is a huge investment, so buying the best cyber security laptop either for students or professionals is not an easy task. Therefore we suggest you gather all the required information about the laptop you plan to buy.

We hope that our buying guide will help you find the one that suits your needs.

Processor

The processor determines the speed and performance of a cyber security laptop. We suggest you buy a 9th or 10th generation processor if you do not have any budget issues.

RAM

All cyber security students should pay special attention to the RAM of the laptop. We suggest a device with at least 8 GB RAM. It will help you to run multiple applications without any difficulty.

RAM for Laptop

Weight

A cyber security student needs to carry the laptop to school or university and professionals need to carry it to the office. Try to buy an ultra-thin and lightweight laptop that should not weigh more than 3 pounds.

Storage

Storage is one of the significant factors you should consider before buying a cyber security laptop. You can choose an M2 or M3 SATA or NVMe SSD. It will help you to perform the entire everyday tasks effortlessly.

hard disk drive icon

We recommend you buy an NVMe SSD having 512 GB storage. It is a perfect storage capacity for cyber security students.

Battery life

All cyber security professionals and students need a laptop with decent battery life. Try to buy a laptop with a battery life of at least 5 hours plus. A laptop with good battery life is a plus point for cyber security students.

All cyber security students need a high-quality laptop with excellent specifications. Our list of 10 best laptops for cyber security students will help you find the right one for you.

Below are the required minimum and maximum specifications.

Features Minimum Recommended
Operating System Windows 7 Windows 10 Pro, Windows 11 Pro
macOS 10 or higher
RAM 4 GB  8 GB, 16 GB or higher
Processor Intel Core i3 Processor Intel Core i7, i9 Processor or AMD equivalent 
Screen Size and Resolution 13-inch HD 14-15 inch FHD
Storage 256 GB 512 GB or higher
LCD/LED Monitor 13″ LCD monitor 14″ LCD monitor

FAQs

1. Which laptop is best for cyber security students?

The market is full of laptops from different brands. Picking the best laptop for cyber security students is not an easy task. However, if you are looking for a budget-friendly laptop, we recommend you buy Acer Swift 3

If budget is not your concern, then Apple MacBook Pro is one of the top-rated laptops for cyber security students and professionals.

2. Is the MacBook good for cyber security students?

Yes, if you are a student or a beginner and know little about cyber security, the macOS has many impressive features that help keep your data safe and do your cyber security efficiently .

3. Do I need a laptop for cyber security majors?

Yes, All cyber security students need a high-quality and budget-friendly laptop for a cyber security majors degree. We recommend you buy a Lenovo IdeaPad Y700 in the list above for cyber security majors.

4. Is 16 GB of RAM good enough for cyber security students?

Yes, 16 GB of RAM is good enough for handling the everyday tasks of cyber security students.

5. Which laptop is the most secure for cyber security students and professionals?

We suggest you buy MSI Creator 15, Razer Blade 15, and Dell XPS 15 They are rated as one of the most secure and best laptops for cyber security students. 

Also Read

http://pielaptop.com/best-laptop-for-cinema-4d-3d-modeling-rendering-software/

Conclusion

A high-quality laptop for a cyber security student is a must. Our listed laptops come with impressive CPUs, graphics cards, and high storage capacity that will never mislead you.

They do not only offer excellent specifications and unmatched performance but also run all leading software and applications with no difficulty.

Overall, Apple MacBook Pro is the winner, Razer Blade 15 is runner up and Dell XPS 15 is in third overall position.

You can choose any of these laptops conforming to the demand and budget. We hope this article will end your research and you are capable enough to find the one that suits your needs.