15 Best Cyber Security Certifications

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Emmanuel Nwosu
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Cyber Security Certifications
Cyber Security Certifications

It’s no secret that the world of cyber security is growing rapidly. In fact, according to a recent report by Fortune, there are 715,000 unfilled cybersecurity jobs in the U.S. in 2022. That’s why we chose to treat the cyber security certifications out there that would help you get a job.

You will be right too if you assumed that this number will quadruple when you add the number of unfilled positions globally.

Albeit, irrespective of the fact that cyber security is a growing field looking for a lot of qualified candidates, you must stand out from your competition to make any difference.

This is why you must read this article to find out the best cyber security certificates that most jobs are looking for today.

With these certifications, you will stand a greater chance of employment and stay clear of the competition.

Overview of the Cyber Security Profession

The Information Security field is booming. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment opportunities for information security analysts will grow by 35 percent from 2021 to 2031 (that’s much faster than the average). During this time, at least 56,500 jobs will be available. 

If you want to make sure that your career is on track and your skills are up-to-date to compete for these roles in the near future, cyber security certifications can help.

But which one? We’ve compiled a list of the best available credentials to help you navigate the complicated world of certification.

In this article we’ll cover:

  • What is information security?
  • The job market and salaries for cyber security professionals
  • How to become a cyber security professional

Joining the Workforce: How to Become a Cyber Security Professional

For those who want to learn on their own and have some cash to spare, there are plenty of online courses available. These courses also offer certifications for those who’ve completed their coursework.

But if you’re looking for something more structured with a framework that’s backed by an institution, then going back to school is probably your best bet.

There are several universities that offer cybersecurity programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels; some even offer their programs entirely online. 

Many schools also offer certificates or degrees that focus specifically on cyber security rather than broader IT fields such as programming or networking, which can be helpful if you already know what field you want to work in but aren’t sure how much time it’ll take to start.

Career Prospects for Cyber Security Specialists

It’s no question that cyber security is a growing field. The demand for qualified professionals will remain high for years to come.

Though those who pursue a degree in cyber security may have to start at the bottom of the ladder at their first job, they can look forward to more responsibility as they gain experience and learn more about this complex field.

Salary: According to BLS, Security Analysts make $102,600 per year.

Entry-level Degree: Generally, cyber security positions are filled with candidates who have a bachelor’s degree. If you also have a certificate from a recognized institution, that’ll do, too. In this case, relevant certificates will help increase your qualification.

Careers in Cyber Security

Cyber Security jobs are available in both the public and private sectors, with a variety of skills required across each sector.

There are different types of employers of security analysts, including:

  • Government agencies like DHS or NSA
  • Multi-national corporations like IBM and Microsoft
  • Small businesses like small software development shops or law firms

Cyber Security Specialists can work in various positions such as:

  • Security Software Developer
  • Security Architect
  • Security Consultant
  • Information Security Analysts
  • Ethical Hackers
  • Computer Forensics Analysts
  • Chief Information Security Officer
  • Penetration Testers
  • Security Systems Consultants
  • IT Security Consultants

15 Must-Have Cyber Security Certifications

Here are 15 cyber security certificates that will go a long way toward helping you accomplish your goals:

15 Best Cyber Security Certifications

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is a globally recognized standard for security professionals. The certification is vendor-neutral and validates that you have the experience to manage enterprise information security programs.

You will be required to take three exams: one on risk management, one on architecture and design, and one on implementation and supervision. Courses include data security, cryptography, organizational security, software development security, telecommunications, and network security.

Exam Price: $749

Duration: 6 hours

Who Should Obtain the CISSP Certification?

  • Experienced security practitioners, managers, and executives.

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) is a professional certification for information systems auditors. It’s an international certification that has been around since 2002, and it’s one of the oldest security certifications in existence. 

The CISA is also globally recognized, vendor-neutral, and well-established—so it’s a good choice for anyone looking to enter the cyber security field or advance their career as an IT auditor.

If you have experience as an IT auditor but aren’t sure if you’re ready for certification yet, take some time to review the CISA exam requirements and prepare yourself before applying.

Exam Price: $465 – $595

Duration: 240 minutes

Who Should Obtain the CISA Certification?

  • Audit managers
  • IT auditors
  • Consultants
  • Security professionals

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification is a globally recognized credential that shows you can apply information security management principles to the real-world situations of an organization.

You must pass one exam, which tests your knowledge of risk assessment, compliance, governance, and management within the context of an enterprise.

You need at least five years of experience in information security management; this can be gained through education or professional experience as long as it involves implementing security policies in practice. This certification helps you stand out for job applications and raises your earning potential by about 17 percent.

Exam Price: $760

Duration: Four hours

Who Should Obtain the CISM Certification?

  • Infosec managers
  • Aspiring managers and IT consultants who support infosec program management.

CompTIA Security+

CompTIA Security+ is an international, vendor-neutral certification that proves knowledge of network security and risk management. 

The Security+ exam covers the essential principles of information security, the most critical aspects of network security, and how to implement secure network architecture.

The Security+ test covers these topics:

  • An overview of information security
  • Threats and vulnerabilities to computer systems
  • Risk management practices in IT environments
  • Technologies used in cryptography such as hashing algorithms (SHA-1) and symmetric key encryption with both block ciphers (AES) and stream ciphers (RC4). 

You’ll also get introduced to public key infrastructure (PKI), digital signatures, and certificates along with access control mechanisms for remote access authentication.

Exam Price: $370

Duration: 90 minutes

Who Should Obtain the CompTIA Security+ Certification?

  • IT professionals with two years of experience in IT administration with a security focus, or equivalent training, looking to start or advance their career in security.

EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is a certification that tests the knowledge of a candidate’s ability to conduct ethical hacking using the latest tools, techniques, and procedures. 

The purpose of this exam is to validate that you have the skills required to uncover security holes in computer systems, networks, and web applications through hands-on practical exercises.

Exam Price: $1,199

Duration: Four hours

Who Should Obtain the CEH Certification?

  • Individuals in the specific network security discipline of Ethical Hacking from a vendor-neutral perspective.

GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)

The GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC) is a vendor-neutral certification that’s designed to help IT professionals demonstrate their knowledge of security fundamentals. The GSEC exam is also a requirement for the GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) certification, which recognizes the following skills:

  • Understanding the importance of security
  • Understanding information assurance and risk management concepts
  • Identifying common exploits and how they can be prevented or mitigated

Exam Price: $1,699; $849 for retakes; $469 for certificate renewal.

Duration: 300 minutes.

Who Should Obtain GSEC Certification?

  • Security professionals 
  • Security managers
  • Security administrators
  • Forensic analysts
  • Penetration Testers
  • Operations personnel
  • Auditors
  • IT Engineers and supervisors
  • Anyone new to information security who has some background in information systems & networking.

Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)

The Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) certification is a vendor-neutral certification that focuses on the basics of information security. It’s a good starting point for professionals who have little or no experience in information security.

The SSCP is earned by passing one exam: SY0-401, Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP). The exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions and takes about two hours to complete. The passing score is 700 out of 1,000 points, with a total number of 125 questions.

Exam Price: $249.

Duration: 180 minutes.

Who Should Obtain the SSCP Certification?

The SSCP certification is suitable for professionals who work in operational security roles, like:

  • Network analysts
  • Systems administrators
  • Security analysts
  • Threat Intelligence analysts
  • Systems engineers
  • DevOps engineers
  • Security engineers

CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)

CompTIA’s Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) certification is a vendor-neutral credential that validates the knowledge and skills necessary to protect the network infrastructure from internal and external threats. 

It is designed for security operations center analysts, security engineers, and information security specialists who are experienced in advanced areas of risk management. The exam tests your ability to plan, implement, monitor, and troubleshoot complex enterprise-level networks.

Exam Price: $466

Duration: 165 minutes

Who Should Obtain the CASP+ Certification?

  • IT cyber security professionals who have a minimum of 10 years of experience in IT administration, including at least 5 years of hands-on technical security experience.

CompTIA Cyber Security Analyst+ (CySA+)

This Cyber Security Analyst+ certification is for IT professionals who are seeking to develop a better understanding of analytical skills and technical knowledge related to cybersecurity. It’s also a great way for those who already have their foot in the door in this field to build on their education. 

This certification requires two years of work experience, with an emphasis on information security analysis and risk management. The test covers topics like penetration testing methods and tools; attack methodologies; incident response; cryptography basics; information security policy development; ethical hacking techniques; vulnerability assessments of operating systems, networks, servers, and applications; secure coding principles including secure development lifecycles (SDLCs); and social engineering attacks/scams prevention tactics like phishing awareness training programs.

Exam Price: $370

Duration: 165 minutes

Who Should Obtain the Cybersecurity Analyst+ Certification?

  • Security analysts
  • Threat intelligence analysts
  • Security engineers
  • Incident handlers
  • Threat hunters
  • Application security analysts
  • Compliance analysts

GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)

GCIH certification is for individuals who are responsible for responding to security incidents and performing root cause analysis. The GCIH certification is vendor-neutral, meaning it does not require the candidate to choose a preferred product brand or solution when taking the exam.

Exam Price: $1,999

Duration: 4 hours

Who Should Obtain the GCIH Certification?

  • Incident handlers

Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) is a follow-up course to the popular OSCP certification, which focuses on penetration testing and red teaming. OSCP has been developed as an intense training program that includes practice in both offensive and defensive security skills. 

The course provides students with practical experience working with real-world tools and techniques while completing practical exercises in a simulated environment.

Students will prove how they can analyze their own systems’ vulnerabilities by using both manual and automated techniques, then exploiting them using various methods, including common physical attacks such as shoulder surfing or dumpster diving, network scanning and enumeration, and social engineering attacks such as phishing emails or phone calls.

Exam Price: $1,499

Duration: 23 hours and 45 minutes

Who Should Obtain the OSCP Certification?

  • Information Security professionals who want to enter the penetration testing field.

Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate (ISACA)

The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISACA) offers a vendor-neutral, entry-level certification that can help you build a career in cybersecurity. The Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate focuses on the core competencies of the cybersecurity profession and provides a foundation in areas such as risk management and business continuity.

This certificate is designed for IT administration, security, or consulting professionals seeking to build their knowledge of basic cybersecurity concepts while developing skills they can apply immediately to their jobs.

Exam Price: $150 – $199

Duration: 120 minutes

Who Should Obtain this Certification?

  • Rising IT professionals.

CCNA Security

CCNA Security certification is a good credential for network security professionals who want to validate their knowledge of enterprise networks and security. The CCNA Security validates that you have the knowledge and skills required to secure Cisco networks.

This credential requires a single test covering network security technologies, including how to protect against threats and respond when an attack occurs. 

It also requires two years of experience in IT administration or networking at a professional level or completing multiple Cisco certifications (including at least one associate-level exam).

Exam Price: $300

Duration: 120 minutes

Who Should Obtain the CCNA Security Certification?

  • Entry-level IT, computer networking, and cybersecurity professionals.

Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT)

Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT) is a certification that was launched by the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) and the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC2). 

CEPT requires you to pass a test on penetration testing, which is the practice of exploiting software vulnerabilities with the aim of identifying security vulnerabilities. The goal is to help organizations understand how hackers might access their data and fix any problems before they occur.

CEPT has become popular among information security professionals because it’s easy to obtain and takes less than two years to complete. According to EC-Council, over 15,000 people have received this certification worldwide since 2011.

Exam Price: $499

Duration: 120 minutes

Who Should Obtain the CEPT Certification?

  • Penetration Testers.

Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

If you’re looking to gain a better understanding of the security of your organization’s information systems and networks, the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) certification is a solid place to start. The CISA certificate is globally recognized as an industry-standard designation for IT auditors and control professionals. It’s also one of the most sought-after certifications in the field of information security because it gives you:

  • An understanding of how to assess risk management practices throughout an organization
  • Expertise in evaluating information system operations for efficiency and effectiveness
  • A deep knowledge base about how audits should be conducted

Exam Price: Four hours

Duration: Unknown

Who Should Obtain the CRISC Certification?

  • Mid-level IT/Information security auditors.
  • Risk and security professionals.

Benefits of Getting Certified as a Cyber Security Professional

The benefits of obtaining a certification as a cyber security professional include:

  • You can demonstrate your skill level and expertise in the field through cyber security certificates.Some of these examinations are for many professionals with years of working experience.
  • Good for job seekers. When you’re looking for your next career opportunity, having an industry-recognized certification on your resume proves that you have the skills and knowledge required to succeed in that role.Employers will be more likely to hire you because they know they can trust your abilities, and won’t need to teach you anything new once you’re hired!
  • Good for employers who want to ensure their employees are up-to-date with current information and technology within their organization’s IT infrastructure.Requiring certifications ensures that all employees are knowledgeable about best practices as well as current trends (such as cloud computing) within cybersecurity—a critical component of running any business successfully in today’s global economy

FAQs and Answers

What is the difference between a cyber security certificate and a degree?

Certificates can be completed in as little as six months while online degrees take longer. A certificate provides a more targeted approach to learning and can be used to build up your resume.

What are the benefits of getting certified in cyber security?

When you get certified, it shows that you have knowledge about specific areas within cyber security or have demonstrated expertise across several fields. Employers see this as an indication of your commitment to continuing education and understanding what’s going on in today's world of information technology (IT). It also helps demonstrate that you have experience using specific tools or processes for working with data security issues like compliance risks, identity theft prevention strategies, or mobile device management best practices—all skills needed to keep organizations safe from hackers who want access at all costs. So, ensure that you start preparing for a professional examination as soon as possible; there are numerous options available to you, but these 15 certifications listed will do you a world of good due to their relevance.

How best can I prepare for a cyber security professional examination?

If you’re reading this, and you are already due to sit for one of these examinations, congratulations! Now, we know that preparing for professional exams like these can be really scary. But here are some extra tips that can help ease this fear and get you ready for your attempt. First, try to get the questions to previous examinations and study them; study the question pattern, the technicality, and the complexity to get yourself ready. Secondly, enroll in lessons that will help prepare you. And finally, ask for advice from your senior colleagues who already have this experience.

Is a cyber security career worth it?

Yes, it is; depending on whether you want to pursue it. Cyber security is still a growing field with potential benefits like increased pay. Albeit, as it is, it is already a high-paying job with maximum job satisfaction.

Wrapping It Up

If you’re a cyber security professional with any level of experience, then you should start thinking of getting certified. You can start off by getting some basic training and experience in IT before moving on to more advanced certifications.

The best way to do this is by taking courses at your local community college or online schools. 

We wish you luck.