Cybersecurity is a reputed and exciting career field. We have heard of innumerable threats, data breaches, and cyberattacks over the years, and though many countermeasures have been taken, the number of such incidents continues to escalate. In light of this trend, the demand for cybersecurity talent has increased, and companies are ready to pay lucrative salaries even to entry-level professionals.
Heard of the Apple Security Bounty program? The company pays as high as $250,000 if you can point out any major security issue in their range of products and services. This can give you an idea of how serious companies are regarding cybersecurity.
Those who are looking to break into the field of cybersecurity or who want to advance their career in this domain can achieve cybersecurity certifications and land their dream job. Now when you start researching for the certifications, you will be overwhelmed with the number of options available.
Many cybersecurity certifications are recognized globally, and professionals who pursue them can reap a lot of career benefits. The best part – you will also find reliable Cyber Security Expert online Courses to help prepare for such certification exams.
Ready to know what are the most important cybersecurity certifications in present times? Read on to find out!
Top Cybersecurity Certifications
The following certifications are some of the best in the cybersecurity space, and you should definitely consider adding them to your portfolio.
CompTIA Security+
Administered by – CompTIA. If you are a beginner in IT security, then this is the best certification you can pursue. It is a globally recognized credential that demonstrates your baseline skills related to performing core security functions. As it fulfills the DoD 8570 compliance, Security+ is trusted by a large number of corporations and defense organizations.
By preparing for this certification, you will have a firm grasp of concepts like incident response, enterprise networks, risk assessment and management, security controls, and cloud operations.
CISSP Certification
Administered by – The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium or (ISC)2. CISSP is the shorthand for Certified Information Systems Security Professional. What’s unique about this certification is that it meets the US Department of Defense Directive 8570.1.
Through the certification exam, you will be tested on eight domains ranging from asset security, identity, and access management, to security operations and software development security. On adding CISSP to your achievements, you will become an (ISC)2 member, a part of the global community of certified cybersecurity professionals who inspire a safe and secure cyber world.
CEH Certification
Administered by – the EC-Council. Want to beat malicious hackers in their own game? The Certified Ethical Hacker or CEH certification will help you do just that. You will learn about the latest commercial-grade hacking tools, methodologies, and techniques used by hackers to ethically hack an organization.
The new CEH v11 includes emerging topics like container technology, side-channel attacks, malware reverse engineering, and emerging attack vectors. The certification is ideal for professionals seeking any security job role like network security engineer, information security manager, cybersecurity consultant, information security analyst, cyber defense analyst, and more.
CISM Certification
Administered by – Information Systems Audit and Control Association or ISACA. The Certified Information Security Manager or CISM is a valuable certification for all those professionals who have technical expertise in Information Security but are willing to move into a managerial role.
CISM focuses on imparting knowledge in information security governance, program development and management, risk management, and incident management. There are over 46000 CISM certification holders across the world and command an average salary of $118K in the US. This credential by ISACA is accredited under ISO/IEC 17024:2012.
CCNA Certification
Administered by – Cisco. The Cisco Certified Network Associate Security or CCNA demonstrates your knowledge and skills in network fundamentals, IP connectivity, network access, security fundamentals, IP services, and automation. It gives you the foundation required to start your career in any direction.
The associated exam includes a broad range of fundamentals for IT careers that are based on the latest software development skills, networking technologies, and job roles. It is recommended to have experience in administering Cisco solutions, knowledge of IP addressing basics, and network fundamentals before applying for this credential.
Which Certification Should You Choose?
Each certification mentioned above is targeted towards a different set of professionals and has varying eligibility requirements. If you are a beginner, then you should go for Security+ or a CCNA certification. The other certifications require you to have at least five years of experience in IT security. If you love hacking and want to solve security challenges, then CEH is the best option. Whatever decision you make finally, you can be sure that you are achieving a globally recognized credential that will make you more employable and increase your credibility.
One thing that may be of your concern is the preparation regarding these certifications. The exams are undoubtedly tough, and you may need some external guidance to pass them in a single try. This is where online courses can help. A number of reliable eLearning platforms like Simplilearn, Coursera, edX, and Udacity offer in-depth cybersecurity courses on many of these certifications and help you learn all the concepts from scratch. Enroll in any of them and start your cybersecurity journey today.