Skip to content
Contact us

What Certifications Do You Need for Cybersecurity?

Why do you need Cybersecurity Certifications?

By 2027, the worldwide cyber security sector is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 10%, which implies more employment — and severe competition for those high-paying professions as more individuals try to get into the field, including having a Cybersecurity Certifications.

Certifications in the cyber security business demonstrate your cyber security expertise and may be extremely beneficial to your cyber security career path.

So, think about where you want to be in three years. Do you want to work on the back end of a company’s security system or the front lines? Perhaps you’d want to work as an auditor or a pen tester, checking that existing systems function properly. For CEOs, sometimes all you need is a formal grasp of the processes that enable your business.

Keep in mind that some qualifications are more crucial at the beginning of your career than others. There are frequently many certifications available for a single career path. There is a certification that matches your journey depending on your interests. So, let’s see what qualifications you’ll need to get started on your cyber security career path.

What are the different types of Cybersecurity Certifications programs?

Professional (technical field), professional (industry-specific), and academic certificates are the three types of cyber security certifications.

Professional (technology field)

The majority of professional cyber security certificates are for individuals who work in a technological capacity, whether it’s in cyber security or a related industry like information technology or networking.

These certificates assist to broaden people’s knowledge, educate them about new technology and industrial processes, and acquire domain competence. This category includes the majority of key cyber security certifications.

Professional (other industry)

Many sectors are beginning to provide cyber security programs that are tailored to their unique difficulties and issues. While these aren’t covered in this article, they may be a wonderful way to stand out if you’ve worked in a field that demands a lot of domain knowledge. The following are a few instances of this sort of certification:

  • SANS offers a variety of cyber security courses for oil and gas professionals, including the Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional program (GICSP)
  • Healthcare Cybersecurity Program at Touro College in Illinois

Make use of your professional network to get suggestions for the proper qualifications for your sector.

Academic in Cybersecurity certifications

These certificates offer significant benefits since they indicate to companies that you have a practical grasp of cyber security concerns. There are a variety of excellent academic opportunities available, including:

  • Harvard University is a great school in the United (multiple programs)
  • The University of Maryland is located in College Park, Maryland (multiple programs)

If you prefer an in-person experience to the different online alternatives available, feel free to look for programs in your region.

Want to know more about Cybersecurity? Visit our course now.

What are the requirements for obtaining a Cybersecurity Certifications?

Cyber security certifications are crucial, but the requirements for obtaining them might vary greatly.

When selecting a program, the most important factor to consider is if the certification will benefit you in your chosen professional path, but there are a few other factors to consider as well. That is, you must consider your qualifications, schedule, and certification cost.

  • Eligibility. Do you need a bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline to apply? Do they demand a specific amount of job experience? Do you have any preliminary assessments or courses to complete?
  • Time. Do you need a bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline to apply? Do they demand a specific amount of job experience? Do you have any preliminary assessments or courses to complete?
  • Cost. What is the cost of completing the course or taking the exam? Do you have any study materials?

Who should get the top 6 professional Cybersecurity Certifications?

1. Certified Ethic Hacker (CEH)

For professionals pursuing a career as an ethical hacker/penetration tester, is regarded as the industry standard. It focuses on equipping IT workers for enterprise-level security duties, such as system testing and vulnerability detection.

  • Understanding Trojans, worms, and viruses
  • Denial-of-service attacks
  • Jijacking web servers and applications
  • Cryptography
  • SQL/code injection

The CEH test is $950 and is based on a self-study paradigm, with courses available from a variety of providers. Participants must either pass an EC-Council-sponsored course or have two years of work experience in an information security-related profession to be eligible.

2. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

The CEH test is $950 and is based on a self-study paradigm, with courses available from a variety of providers. Participants must either pass an EC-Council-sponsored course or have two years of work experience in an information security-related profession to be eligible.

It relies on prior knowledge to help students improve their information security management abilities.

  • Governance
  • Management of risks
  • Management and development of programs
  • Management of incidents

More than just passing the exam is required for CISM certification. Security managers must have full-time work experience in specific employment practice areas, as well as pay an application and exam costs.

3. CompTIA Security+

The CompTIA Security+ certification is a worldwide test that assesses an applicant’s foundational knowledge in important information security domains.

You’ll need the following skills for Sec+:
Vulnerabilities, threats, and attacks

  • Response to an incident
  • Risk, compliance, and governance
  • The architecture and design of an enterprise environment.
  • The CompTIA Sec+ test is $370, and there are study materials available.

Many experts consider this to be a superb core test to demonstrate their capabilities in the information security arena because of its comprehensive nature and global acceptability.

4. Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) title, billed as “the world’s leading cybersecurity certification,” shows your ability to plan, implement, and maintain an ongoing cybersecurity program.

The International Systems Security Certification Consortium offers the CISSP certification (ISC2).

It not only satisfies the US, but it also satisfies the rest of the world. It is a key resource for government personnel, security consultants, and contractors that work in the security field, according to DoD Directive 8570.1.

Holders of the CISSP certification can additionally specialize in one of three areas:

These specialties help you stand out in your specific job role and connect you with a small group of experts who share your expertise.

5. Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA)

ISACA’s Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA) certification is for professionals who want to audit, supervise, and monitor an organization’s information technology systems.

The average pay for certified CISA holders is $110,000+, according to ISACA. Performing an information systems audit is a fast-growing sector.

CISA holders must pay a fee and have appropriate work experience in key practice areas. Professionals currently working in the audit and/or risk management fields may find that this certification is an excellent method to expand their enterprise skills.

6. GIAC Security Essential (GSEC)

Don’t know where to begin? The GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) certification may be worth investigating. The GSEC may be a solid confirmation of your overall talents, whether you are an entry-level professional trying to strengthen your credentials or an established industry professional.

User information and device access control and password management are only a few of the topics covered, as are risk management and cryptography.

It fulfills the qualifications for some US Department of Defense (DoD) directives, as do several of the other certificates on our list, and is thus a go-to for many government personnel and contractors.

Choosing the appropriate Cybersecurity Certifications

The listed organizations usually support some certificates aimed at certain sectors and/or niches.

Examining job descriptions for occupations and firms that interest you to see if there are any similarities in terms of education, work experience, and certifications is a simple method to figure out which certification test is best for you. Examine the testimonials on certification pages to see whether their professional choices are similar to your own.

You should also use online message boards, forums, and industry networking to your advantage. On sites like Reddit and Quora, active conversations debate the benefits and drawbacks of credentials for certain vocations and businesses. Additionally, a short LinkedIn search will reveal certification holders in your network, providing you with reputable connections with whom you can share your problems and queries.

Also, don’t forget to join communities dedicated to cybersecurity in general, as well as the certification organizations listed below. The more you know about a target firm’s or industry’s current requirements, the higher your chances of getting the most out of your study time and money invested in your career.

Although the outcomes may vary, here are a few career paths to consider:

Penetration Tester (Pen Tester) in Cybersecurity Certifications

ZipRecruiter Average Salary: $100k

Certifications required to work as a pen tester include:
Consider the EC-Licensed Council’s Penetration Tester (Master) or Certified Penetration Testing Professional (CPENT) designations in addition to the Certified Ethical Hacker certification.

This arduous exam billed as “the world’s most advanced penetration testing program,” is conducted in a live, monitored 24-hour session with real-life, timed tasks. Candidates who score 70% or higher will receive the CPENT designation, while those who score 90% or above will receive the Licensed Penetration Tester designation. A high score on this test indicates that you have a good awareness of network security challenges.

Cybersecurity Analyst

The CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) certification, which combines an exam setting with hands-on questions, is a go-to in the area. It is DoD-approved and covers essential intelligence and threat detection methodologies, effective responses, and critical preventative actions.

Working as a cyber security analyst is a great way to get a foot in the door for more advanced positions in the field.

Cybersecurity First Responder

ZipRecruiter Average Salary: Not Available

A ‘first responder’ must be familiar with an organization’s systems from top to bottom to assist lead real-time responses to network threats and guarantee that future threats have a shorter lag time between infiltration, discovery, and removal.

The DoD-8570-compliant Cybersecurity First Responder (CFR) credential is a solid confirmation of your competence to assist in the critical position of security incident response.

This may be the appropriate career option for experts who wish to compete in real-time with unknown hackers, assisting corporations in minimizing the impact of attacks as they arise.

Cloud Security Professional

The Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) credential from ISC2 focuses on cloud architecture, design, and service orchestration. Enterprise architects, security architects and consultants, and system architects are among the professions that should consider the CCSP.

“Cyber security professionals with cloud security expertise may achieve a $15,025 wage premium by capitalizing on high market demand for their talents in 2021,” according to a Forbes article from 2020, therefore the CCSP might be valuable for anybody already working in cyber security.

IT/Enterprise Risk Manager in Cybersecurity Certifications

ZipRecruiter Average Salary: $105k

Understanding a company’s enterprise IT risk – and putting controls in place to eliminate, minimize, and manage that risk – takes a unique set of skills.

Certifications required to work as an IT/enterprise risk manager include:
To get Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control, many risk managers turn to the ISACA certification (CRISC).

Given their comprehensive view of the company, CRISC holders are well-suited to be part of the continued expansion of the information security and risk management areas and may build skills that will make them high-value targets for future management possibilities.

IT Governance in Cybersecurity certifications

ZipRecruiter Average Salary: Not Available

ISACA’s Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT) certification, which is advertised as “framework-agnostic” and “the sole IT governance certification for the person,” is another choice for professionals interested in management and governance.

CGEIT holders earn an average of $141,000 per year thanks to their knowledge of comprehensive corporate IT architecture and resources, as well as their ability to implement cross-enterprise efficiencies.

SOC Analyst

ZipRecruiter Average Salary: $97k

A security operations center (SOC) analyst monitors and protects an organization’s IT infrastructure from both actual and imagined threats. Analysts keep an eye on network traffic, identify organizational weaknesses, and look for unusual behavior in logs and alerts.

SOC analysts frequently operate in groups, and their understanding of a company’s technical infrastructures makes them important members of the wider enterprise security apparatus. SOC Analyst might be a wonderful first step toward a bigger governance or management post.

Certifications required to work as a SOC analyst include:
There are other rival credentials in the sector, including the well-known CompTIA CySA+, the EC-Certified Council’s SOC Analyst program, and the CISCO Certified CyberOps Associate.

Conclusion

The wide range of cyber security certificates demonstrates how important the field has grown. Professionals with the correct designations will stand out from the crowd and be more confident in pursuing their career ambitions.

Everyone should evaluate their career objectives to determine if a cybersecurity certification can assist prepare and positioning them for their next step, with training choices ranging from entry-level to seasoned experts.

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com
,