BEST LAPTOP FOR CYBER SECURITY STUDENTS

With the advent of high-speed data and fast machines, cyber security is a growing and evolving field that is not only vast but also difficult to navigate. Resources that typically do not show up on a balance sheet need protection. Your data, intellectual property, financial details, personal information, and digital footprint are all vulnerable to theft or worse.

The need for students to choose cyber security as a field is now more than ever. When looking for the best laptop for cybersecurity students to use, and even if you are an employee or a self-made businessman or anyone who uses a laptop, the question you should be asking yourself is if your laptop is on par or capable of dealing with the cyber threats out there.

Given the speed at which phishing, hacking and internet frauds occur, there is a good chance your laptop security might be obsolete.

The Most Common Specifications To Look For In A Laptop Are:

1. A Powerful Processor:

Processors ensure a high speed for data transition, making it the backbone for laptops that have cyber security as a priority. Most cybersecurity professionals need to deal with lots of data and poor processing speeds, which always cause traffic jams for data transmission.

2. RAM:

With the advent of DDR4 RAMs, more and more cyber security professionals upgrade their laptops to include DDR4. However, DDR4 is pricier than the DDR3, though not as much as it was when the DDR4 first came out.

If you plan to use your laptop to set up VMs (Virtual Machine), then 16GB RAM would be a good investment for a virtual environment to run smoothly.

3. Fast Access Speed Storage:

A laptop for cyber security has three drives to choose from; SSD, HDD, or Hybrid. I prefer SSD if you have the budget as they are much faster and do not wear out as quickly as the other two.

An SSD drive has fat access and runs programs much quicker thus can manage the bigger apps for cyber security.

4. Long Battery Life:

Cyber security is a serious business. Most students studying cyber security or analysts and professionals are too engrossed in their work to remember to charge their laptops. This may seem a small point, but do you want your laptop shutting down after you have been working for two to three hours at a stretch?

I prefer a laptop with at least 5 hours of backup battery time, thus ensuring that I do not lose precious work done over that period. As a student, you should know how many watts does a laptop use when charging. I would highly suggest a read through on laptop charging.

The above points are the basis for choosing the best laptop for cybersecurity students. You can get various opinions or check out the University of Denver’s official laptop requirements.

	WINDOWS PC	APPLE MACINTOSH
Operating System	MINIMUM Windows 8.1 RECOMMENDED Windows 10 Home or Pro	Macintosh OS 10.13 or higher
Productivity Tools	Microsoft Office can be downloaded for FREE	Microsoft Office can be downloaded for FREE
Processor Type	MINIMUM Core i5 Processor RECOMMENDED Core i7 Processor	MINIMUM Core i5 Processor RECOMMENDED Core i7 Processor
Memory	MINIMUM 8 GB RAM or higher	MINIMUM 8 GB RAM or higher
Hard Drive	MINIMUM 250 GB *Do not purchase a 128 GB HD* RECOMMENDED 500 GB or higher	MINIMUM 250 GB* Do not purchase a 128 GB HD* RECOMMENDED 500 GB or higher
Graphics Card	MINIMUM 512 MB Video Memory or higher	MINIMUM 512 MB Video Memory or higher

10 Best Laptop for Cyber Security Students In 2021

1. ACER PREDATOR HELIOS 300 15.6″ – BEST LAPTOP FOR CYBER SECURITY STUDENTS

If you’re looking for a complete heavy-duty laptop that can handle heavy data manipulation, then the Acer Predator Helios fits the bill. Most cyber security software involves a lot of data processing and high-speed information transfer. The Acer laptop can handle with ease, thanks to its top of the line 9th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and its built-in 16GB DDR4 RAM. This laptop can handle everything related to cyber security.

Its 15.6″ screen is well lit up and can easily support being used in broad daylight. Its battery life may not be great, but as long as you can charge it or station yourself near a charging port, it’s nothing to worry about. 

The Acer Predator Helios has a high speed of 512 GB Solid State hard drive that speeds up data transfer. Since it has an open 2.5-inch slot for further storage, I suggest adding a second hard drive to enhance your storage needs. 

On the negative side, there have been some issues with the heating temperature and the noise of the cooling fans. If that happens with you, get someone to change the settings for your fan or read through the Acer guidelines here, if you want to fix it yourself. Please remember, however, noise is not an issue as compared to lack of cooling. Personally, I wouldn’t mind my fans making a bit of noise as long as I know for sure that the system is not overheating. 

The backlit keyboard is only in blue and may appear to be over bright at night. You can turn it off if you want. The keyboard design is superb and feels light and easy to use. The Wi-Fi is super-fast and has better connectivity and lower latency than most laptops I have used.

All in all, the Acer Predator Helios is a “go-to” model for anyone who wants a high-powered laptop at a very reasonable price.

Pros

• Very reasonably priced, as far as its specifications are concerned
• Very ergo dynamic outlook
• Extra slot for adding HDD’s

Cons

• Fan noise
• Built-in speakers are average

2. APPLE MACBOOK PRO 16″ – BEST LAPTOP FOR CYBER SECURITY & hACKING

For those who want the best laptop to combat and enhance your cybersecurity, and have no objection to the cost, then the Apple MacBook Pro has to be among your top choices. Apple has always been a leader in technology, and for those with heavy wallets, the MacBook does not disappoint. 

Available in silver or space grey, the slim laptop has a fantastic retina display that outshines any other laptop as far as graphics and display is concerned. It can produce 500 nits of brightness for spectacular highlights and bright whites, while at the same time delivering deep blacks thanks to its liquid crystal molecules for photo alignment. 

Works perfectly in the brightest of sunlight, which is a problem most other laptops have. The MacBook’s battery life can easily support up to 11 hours on average use.

For Cyber security, speed and ease of data transfer is the key. The Apple MacBook comes equipped with a 2.3 GHz i9 Core processor or a 2.67 GHz i7 Core Processor. Both are more than enough for students studying cyber security. Inbuilt with 16 GB of DDR4 Ram that can be upgraded to 64 GB, this laptop can multitask and run thanks to its efficient cooling system and AMD Radeon GPU smoothly.

The only drawback with the new MacBook Pro is the lack of connectivity. It comes equipped with 4 USB-C ports, so you will have to get adapters or Hubs to attach any peripherals that are not USB-C equipped.

The sound system inbuilt in the MacBook is brilliant. It consists of 6 speakers with dual force canceling subwoofers and a studio-quality three mic array with an extremely high signal to noise ratio. 

The Apple MacBook Pro is a serious contender for anyone who requires a high powered system and can afford it. The laptop covers all the bases as far as quality, performance, battery life and speed are concerned.

Pros

• Powerfully balanced
• Sleek design
• T2 security chip built-in
• Highly responsive, comfortable backlit keyboard

Cons

• Pricy
• Limited connectivity
• It cannot be upgraded once bought

3. ACER NITRO 5 AN515 15.6″ – BEST LAPTOP FOR CYBER SECURITY PROFESSIONALS

For those looking for a budgeted model that supports cyber security software and a laptop that can work fast and comfortable enough to keep up with the demands of today’s cyber security world. The Acer Nitro 5 AN515 Laptop is the ideal laptop that is reasonably priced and can compete with the other laptops on this list. Students studying Cyber security will benefit from starting with the Acer Nitro as it comes with an 8th Generation i5 processor and 8 GB DDR4 Ram, which is more than enough to support most heavy-duty software out there for cyber security.

There is a 256GB Solid State hard drive inbuilt which may not have too much space but is fast enough for data transfer. 

The Acer Nitro, in my opinion, is more of a laptop that requires recharging as its battery life is average at best when running high graphical software. The ergo dynamic keyboard makes up for the shortcomings, though, as the keys and trackpad glow with a dull red intensity that significantly improves night use and looks cool.

The one feature that impressed me about this reasonably priced laptop was that it comes with a 4GB Nvidia Graphics card with dedicated memory. This means the graphic card supports itself instead of pulling Ram speed from your laptop. Many lower-priced laptops have shared memory for graphics that undermine the gaming experience and slow down your laptop. The Acer Nitro, however, boasts of an AMD Radeon RX 560X with 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 VRAM, enabling the user to run multiple software simultaneously. Something that anyone looking to work in cyber security should be aware of.

The Acer Nitro laptop is a reliable piece of machinery that ticks all the boxes required for cyber security. Its basicity keeps the cost low, making it ideal for anyone looking at their wallets, like students. For information on more budgeted laptops, check our guide on best 2 in 1 laptop under $700.

Pros

• Reasonable price
• Fast hard drive
• Full HD IPS display

Cons

• Heavy
• No thunderbolt 3 connection
• Speakers are not great

4. RAZER BLADE STEALTH 13 ULTRABOOK 13.3″ – BEST LAPTOPS FOR CYBER SECURITY MAJORS

Why aren’t more customers talking about Razer laptops? New to the laptop market, Razer has an amazing, high-end performance.

Razer first started with high-end gaming gear for dedicated professionals. Their superb quality and durable hardware quickly made Razer a “must-have” for gaming enthusiasts. Keeping this in mind, Razer decided to take out laptops that are top of the line and Apple comparable.

The Razer Blade Stealth has a 13” Bezel full HD display. Its stunning matte finish screen uses 100 percent sRGB color saturation for complete viewing satisfaction, be it work and entertainment.

For anyone interested in a laptop for cyber security, power and speed are the ultimate needs. Keeping this in view, the Razer Blade has a Quad-core 8th Gen Intel Core i7 8565U Processor at 1.8 GHz / up to 4.6 GHz (Base/Turbo) and 8GB DDR4 dual-channel memory. 

If you are continually commuting and like to work while doing so, then the Razer is definitely for you. It has been designed for mobility with up to 13 hours of extended battery life. The Razer Blade is ultra-thin, light and incredibly durable with a CNC unibody aluminum frame.

From all the laptops I checked out, what grabbed my attention with the Razer Blade is the keyboard. Powered by Chroma, the keyboard has 100% RGB lighting with 16.8 million color options. This means that you can program the colors to light up according to your whim, making it your personalized high-performance laptop. Another stand out feature is the large clickable glass touchpad with Microsoft Precision offering smooth and precise control.

The connectivity options are brilliant, which includes Thunderbolt 3, USB C, USB A, Wireless AC, Windows Hello infrared camera, and dual array mics.

I would consider investing in this laptop. It’s surprisingly portable and looks good, too (though that may not be a factor for some of you). 

Pros

• One of the best 13” laptops
• Long battery life
• Customizable options for the backlit keyboard

Cons

• A bit on the high price
• No card reader

5. ASUS ROG STRIX SCAR II 15.6″

In the last couple of years, Asus has been coveting its market share by introducing high-spec laptops at a moderate price. The Asus ROG Strix Scar II is no exception. For a laptop used for cyber security, power is key, and the ASUS ROG comes with an Intel Core i7 8750H Hexa-core processor. It only uses one slot for its 16GB DDR4 Ram, which means you can always add more easily later on. 

For software that requires high graphics, the Asus ROG comes with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 8GB GDDR6 graphical processing unit dedicated. The screen 15.6″ IPS, Full HD, and Anti-Glare technology. 

In my opinion, any laptop with the speed and power capabilities included in the Asus ROG would be equipped with more significant storage. Still, it has a 512 GB solid-state drive, which is excellent, in my opinion, because there is a 2.5″ slot to add a hard disk later on if needed.

I liked the Asus ROG because it has a unique cooling system that allows the CPU and GPU to be used to the maximum potential without overheating the system. The ROG Hyper Cool Pro thermal system can be configured pretty easily to suit your requirements.

The Asus ROG Strix has a lot of connectivity options for you. The GL504 carries an impressive VR-Ready array of ports, including USB Type-A, USB Type-C, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, RJ45 Ethernet, and an SD card reader. 

Though some people find the design a bit off, and the weight an issue, this laptop has been selling at record numbers, making it one of the best laptop for cyber security.

Pros

• Impressive battery life
• Cooling options
• Speakers are impressive

Cons

• Noisy fan
• No thunderbolt port

6. MSI GL62M 7REX-1896 15.6″ – BEST LAPTOP FOR CYBER SECURITY UNDER 1500

MSI has been in the PC Gaming industry for over 30 years. They are the motherboard and graphic card leaders who design high-end laptops that can withstand rigorous software applications. Keeping this mind, the MSI GL62M is a perfect fit for anyone involved in cyber security.

Let’s start with the display. It has an NTSC 15.6″ Full HD eDP 1920×1080 display powered by GeForce GTX 1050Ti GPU, delivering 15% better performance over the previous 965M GPU. With the innovative Cooler Boost 4 and MSI’s exclusive gaming features, you’ll be able to harness the full performance of NVIDIA’s latest GeForce capabilities.

At its heart, it has a Core i7 processor and 1 stick of 8 GB RAM that can be upgraded later on. 

What I especially appreciated in the MSI laptop is the dual hard disks. It has a 128 GB SATA disk for fast loading and startup and then comes equipped with a secondary 1 TB Hard disk to take care of speed and storage options.

Its unique features include: Thin and Light Chassis, Steel Series Red Backlight keyboard with Anti-Ghost key and Nahimic 2 Surround Sound System, making for easy listening and portability.

When running cyber security software, most laptops tend to overheat because of the demanding power required. MSI’s Cooler Boost technology, along with up to 6-7 heat pipes within a single laptop, helps prevent throttle and maintains high system performance while preventing your laptop from overheating. For its price, the MSI can simultaneously run multiple applications, making it perfect for cyber security multitasking. I would personally upgrade the RAM and keep it continuously charged while using heavier software.

Pros

• Two hard disks included
• The best cooling system I have come across so far
• Numeric keyboard
• Black matte texture body

Cons

• The body gets dirty easily
• Low battery life
• Loud fans (Required to keep the system cool)

7. DELL G5587-7866BLK-PUS G5 15.6″ – BEST LAPTOP FOR CYBER SECURITY UNDER $2000

If you’re looking for a no-fuss, easy on the pocket, simple solution for cyber security, then the Dell G5587 is for you. An ideal laptop for small business owners and students, the Dell G5587 comes equipped with an 8th Generation Intel Core i7-8750H and 16GB DDR4 RAM. Extra additional memory can be purchased separately, but I don’t think you’ll require more than 16 GB unless you’re running some pretty heavy software.

Like the MSI above, the Dell laptop had two hard drives. A 128 GB solid-state hard drive for booting and 1 TB SATA hard drive for storage. It’s always nice to have two options included, in my opinion.

For viewing purposes, the Dell G5587 has a full IPS HD 15.6″ screen powered by an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB GDDR5 Graphics memory. It has a superior quality of richness in its viewing experience, and the two tuned, front-firing speakers powered by Waves MaxxAudio allows for a pretty decent theatre-like experience.

As a throwback to retro laptops, the Dell also provides a 2-In-1 SD / Micro media card for the old-fashioned users out there.

To enjoy clutter-free connectivity of single-cable docking your video, data, and power needs, the Dell G5587 has a SuperSpeed USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port that supports DisplayPort, Power Delivery and Thunderbolt 3 transfer speeds up to 40 Gbps. It can also support a single 5K display or dual 4K display output. So basically, many options to hook up your laptop too. Dell has always been a significant player in the laptop business, and this laptop fulfills all the requirements for someone involved in cyber security at a pretty reasonable price.

Pros

• Compatible hardware
• Reasonable price
• Solid-body 

Cons

• Thicker screen
• Heavy
• Cooling fans are loud

8. APPLE MACBOOK AIR 13″ – BEST LAPTOP FOR CYBER SECURITY

For those who swear by Apple products but don’t have the budget to purchase a Pro model, the Apple MacBook Air is a pretty decent option to have if you’re a student or just someone who lives by a budget.

Obviously not as powerful as the Pro, the MacBook Air still has a lot of qualities that make it one of the best laptops for cyber security.

Starting with the display, the Air has a stunning 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone technology that combines four million pixels for a pretty immersive viewing experience. Powered by Intel Iris Plus Graphics, the Air looks pretty good when viewed from any angle.

The Backlit Magic Keyboard and Touch ID are a pleasure to use, and its fingerprint sensor works pretty fast to allow security at a higher level than most laptops.

For power and speed, the Apple MacBook Air comes equipped with a tenth-generation Intel Core i3 processor and 8 GB of RAM that should cover all the cyber security software and performance.

You can choose either 256 GB or 512 GB of storage. Both are solid-state drives, so they ensure high data performance regardless of the size you want.

The one flaw I found with the MacBook Air was that there were only two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, which makes for limited connections. I would recommend getting a multi-hub that allows for HDMI and other connectivity options.

Like the Pro, the MacBook Air has a pretty good battery life that can last up to 11 hours. If you are a fan of Apple and would like a lightweight, easy on the pocket product that fulfills your cyber security needs, then this laptop is for you.

Pros

• Sleek and lightweight
• Long battery life
• Reasonable price

Cons

• Limited connectivity
• Cannot upgrade

9. ASUS VIVOBOOK PRO THIN & LIGHT 17.3″ – BEST LAPTOP FOR CYBER SECURITY

What I always have like about Asus is their value for money. Producing mid-priced laptops that have a load of hardware crammed inside it, is the main reason I would suggest an Asus laptop for anyone interested in cyber security.

My first impression when seeing the Asus VivoBook Pro was the screen. It’s huge! Over 17 inches diagonally, the VivoBook has a crystal-clear wide-view display that is full HD. It’s powered by Nvidia GeForce with 4GB dedicated graphics memory for flawless visuals.

Equipped with the latest 8th Generation Intel Core i7 processor and 16 GB DDR4 Ram, this laptop is fully equipped for all your cyber security needs. Also, its dual hard disks are pretty impressive since it comes with a 256 GB solid-state drive and a 1 TB SATA secondary drive. The 16 GB Ram can be upgraded to 32 GB if you need a bit more power.

Considering the size of the screen, the VivoBook is surprisingly slim. Its outlook is pleasing since its pretty compact, and it also has an ergonomic backlit keyboard with a number pad. (Number pads are essential for those involved in cyber security).

There are comprehensive connections with USB-C (Gen1), USB 3.0 Type-A, USB 2.0, HDMI, & headphone/mic ports for every device. Though it doesn’t have a Thunderbolt connection, one can make do with all the rest.

The battery is not great, to be honest, but Asus laptops aren’t really known for their battery life. Besides, from all the Asus laptops I have reviewed, the VivoBook Pro seems the most decent, allowing up to 4 hours of normal usage, which is not bad considering the price.

As far as cyber security is concerned, this laptop more than satisfies all the needs one may have. Decently priced, I would give it a second look based on the gigantic screen size.

Pros

• Slim and lightweight
• Breakneck processing speed
• Dual hard disks

Cons

• Get heated sometimes
• Relatively low battery

10. ALIENWARE M15 15.6″

The Alienware M15 is Dell’s first attempt at a thin gaming laptop, and I have to say, it did not disappoint me at all. Generally known for their more massive models, Dell has used high-end industrial materials like magnesium alloy to produce a lightweight yet very sturdy laptop that can be easily carried however withstand severe deformities.

Like always, for cyber security, power and performance are very important. In this regard, the Alienware m15 comes equipped with an Intel Core i7 processor and surprisingly 16GB of DDR4 RAM that makes for high-performance usage. Its graphic card is by Nvidia, but again pleasantly surprising once more is that the GPU has 6GB of dedicated memory instead of the standard 4GB.

The screen is 15.6″, with an ultra-thin bezel and Anti-glare IPS. allowing visuals to come alive with a crisp range of colors.

There is only one hard drive but at least its solid state, ensuring fast data transfer that is very important keeping cyber security in mind. The SSD is 512GB that ensures you have enough space for most applications, but there is an extra slot if you want to upgrade for extra storage.

Although the Alienware M15 incorporates an advanced thermal technology called Alienware Cryo-Tech v2.0, that optimizes component cooling, which maximizes overall performance and keeps your laptop cool to the touch. Having said that, there ae a few times in my opinion that the laptop gets a little too heated at the bottom, making it difficult to keep on your lap as the cooling vents are placed below the laptop.

The keyboard is backlit with RGB colors, so you can customize it to whatever colors you choose. For Dell to take out a lightweight gaming laptop is quite an achievement. As far as the first try’s going, this wasn’t bad at all. Meeting all of cyber security’s requirements, this laptop is lightweight and decently priced for its specifications.

Pros

• Very lightweight
• Powerful display
• High-quality body

Cons

• Speakers are not great
• Gets warm from below

How to Choose the Best Laptop for Cyber Security Students

Have you gone through a comprehensive list of laptops and their specifications? There are many other questions one may have when considering buying the best laptop for cyber security students. Let’s look at a few of them, shall we?

1. Which Laptop Is Most Secure?

Generally speaking, laptop security depends on the user. Most operating systems come with built-in inherent security options that one should use. The Apple MacBook with touch Id is the easiest to implement a stable, secure laptop. However, any of the laptops mentioned above are powerful enough to facilitate security software that you can install and run smoothly.

The worst-case scenario is if you lose your laptop or it gets stolen. We have a detailed guide on how to track a stolen laptop with serial number.

2. What Laptop Do Hackers Use?

For ethical hacking, hackers’ knowledge and skills are more important than the hardware they use. However, having high-speed networking hardware in your laptop helps. Most hackers look for laptops that had fast connectivity and strong, stable, secure connections. Graphics are very important as well as RAM and processor speed. If you can afford it, look at the more expensive models given above and choose one. However, at the risk of repeating myself, any of the laptops mentioned above would be ideal for a hacker. It comes down to knowledge of the user and a decent powerful machine.

3. How Much RAM Do I Need For Cyber Security?

I would say 8GB is the bare minimum one would require, even if they are just starting. Try and go for 16GB or if you can afford it, then ideally 32GB would be perfect.

4. What Are The Best Laptop For Cyber Security Professionals?

Most cybersecurity professionals can afford top of the line laptops and constantly change them for newer models. So, compatibility is very important, and the ease of transferring from one laptop to a newer model is paramount. Therefore, most professionals stick to the same brand, be it Apple or Asus. As cyber security professionals can afford the more expensive models, they choose to overstock rather than understock. Which simply put means they would rather go overboard with extra RAM and GPU’s than being caught with less. Just in case the need arises, though, most of the time, the extra power might not be put to use.

5. What Are The Best Laptop For A Cyber Security Student?

As a cyber security student, you would require a pretty decent laptop to start with. It should meet all the requirements mentioned above and come pretty close to a gaming laptop. The reason I say a gaming laptop is that they are designed to be robust and powerful, which is pretty much close to what a cyber security student actually requires. Keeping in mind, most students cannot afford the extremely high-end models, there a couple of reasonably priced models mentioned above that should fulfill a cyber security students’ need.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Do Hackers Prefer Mac or PC?

It depends on the hacker. Those familiar with multi-platforms prefer the Mac operating system because it is easier to install a cross-platform for Windows on a Mac OS than the other way around. But if you are a good enough hacker, then you can circumvent the issue by using OS on a windows platform.

2.  Is MacBook Good For Cyber Security?

The short answer is yes. If you are starting and don’t know much about cyber security, the Mac OS has a lot of built features that help keep your data safe. However, once you learn enough, you can implement safety measures using any operating system.

3. Is My Old Laptop Sufficient For Cyber Security?

Unfortunately, with the speed that malware and viruses are developing, your old laptop might be suspectable to cyber-attacks. I would suggest updating your laptop as soon as possible for a better experience.

Conclusion

As far as choosing the best laptop for cyber security students is concerned, a high performing laptop is a must. My personal choice would be the Apple Air as its cheaper and has all the functionalities required. Another favorite of mine is the Asus VivoBook Pro for its screen size. For those with unlimited resources where the money is not a concern and looking for the best laptop for cyber security, I would suggest either the Razer Stealth Blade or the Apple MacBook Pro. For those looking for a budgeted yet powerful enough laptop, either of the Acer models, the Predator or Nitro as well as the Dell G5587 are good choices.

No matter whichever model you choose, make sure it fits all the requirements that a good laptop for cyber security should have. Any of the laptops mentioned in this article have been checked for those requirements, and they all fulfill the best laptop for cyber security criteria.