One of the fastest-growing and the latest threat over the internet is cyberattacks. As per one cybercrime report published in the U.S., this trend will continue to grow in the coming years both in terms of size and sophistication. It is not a new incident that we come across that scary news of customer information stealing or bank account hacking. This is not only a threat for customers but also for business. Because customers also don’t like to interact with a business that has officially faced such a hacking incident in the past.
Companies often scramble to hire top cybersecurity talent or train the existing IT team with the required cybersecurity certification to resolve this issue. And there comes the demand for certifications for cybersecurity. This ongoing demand is also a huge opportunity for any IT professional to boost their cybersecurity certification career. This helps them to stand out in the crowd, as well as increases the earning potential. It is seen that IT professionals with cybersecurity certification earn 15% more than others.
Related post – Most useful certifications for IT professionals
Why should take certifications for cybersecurity
· As a team member with cybersecurity certifications, you can add value to the organization.
· Cybersecurity certifications help to close organizational skills gaps.
· As a team member with cybersecurity certifications, you can boost productivity.
· If, as a team member, you are earned with cybersecurity certification, then it is helpful for sales and support engagements of the organization.
Interestingly, every IT position is also a cybersecurity position now. Whatever IT position you are in, you need to protect data, apps, infrastructure, devices, and people.
There are many certifications for cybersecurity are in the market, so which cybersecurity certifications are the most valuable? Answering this question is a little tricky because it depends on how you look at it. However, they all are valuable. Here we have listed down the 10 most popular certifications for cybersecurity with features.
Top 10 Certifications for cybersecurity
1. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
2. CompTIA Security+
3. Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
4. Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
5. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
6. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
7. Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
8. Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI)
9. CISCO CCNP Security Certification
10. GSEC: GIAC Security Essentials
1. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Hacking is a technical skill blended with psychological processing. So, if you want to stop hackers understand the psychological patterns behind the cybercriminal’s malicious thoughts. Certified Ethical Hacker course focuses on this aspect. It teaches you to think and act like a hacker. Regulated by the E C Council, the latest version of this certification is CEH V11, which is amalgamated with the latest technologies like cloud, IoT, and many more. You will learn commercial-grade hacking tools, methodologies, and techniques through this certification learning path. Additionally, they teach you lawfully hacking an organization, which is a real-life application. The below image depicts what all things the certification cover:
Source: https://www.eccouncil.org/programs/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh/
After completing the course, an IT professional can choose many positions in the testing and cybersecurity field. A detailed pictorial view is shown in the following image:
Source: https://www.eccouncil.org/programs/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh/
About the Exam
- Number of Questions: 125
- Test Duration: 4 Hours
- Test Format: Multiple Choice
- Test Delivery: ECC EXAM, VUE
- Exam Prefix: 312-50 (ECC EXAM), 312-50 (VUE)
For pricing and other details, please refer to this site https://www.eccouncil.org/programs/certified-ethical-hacker-ceh/.
2. CompTIA Security+
If you are new to cybersecurity, then CompTIA Security+ is the best option for you. This is a base level certification that needs two years to complete. CompTIA does not focus on any specific vendor, and it’s a generic certification.
In this course, you learn about broader cybersecurity concepts, including:
- Different attacks, threats, and vulnerabilities
- Architecture and design of enterprise environments, including cloud-based ones.
- Different implementations like administering identity, PKI, access management, basic cryptography, end-to-end security, and wireless.
- Operations and incident response
- Supporting organizational risk management and compliance with different regulations.
This is a solid foundation course for anyone looking to build a cybersecurity career and mandatory for the U.S. Department of Defense.
About the Exam
- Number of Questions: 90
- Test Duration: 1.5 hours
- Test Format: Multiple Choice
- Test Delivery: Pearson VUE
- Passing score: 750 (on a scale of 100-900)
3. Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
CRISC demands that their certification prepares and enables one for the unique challenges of risk management in IT and enterprise. The certification is ideal for mid-career level professional. By certifying CRISC, you gain the credibility for interacting with internal and external stakeholders and regulators. Additionally, CRISC covers the following areas:
- IT RISK IDENTIFICATION
- IT RISK ASSESSMENT
- RISK RESPONSE AND MITIGATION
- RISK AND CONTROL MONITORING AND REPORTING
Organized by the ISACA organization, you will get relevant training on the certification. For more details, refer to this link – https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/crisc/prepare-for-the-crisc-exam.
4. Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
This is one of the premier certifications globally for cybersecurity organized by (ISC)². This is not vendor-specific, and you can apply the knowledge to a variety of setups. By earning this certification, one can efficiently design, implement, and manage best in a class cybersecurity program. However, CISSP is not for everyone. It is ideal for experienced security professionals. Here is a snapshot of roles that are best fit for this certification:
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Chief Information Officer
- Director of Security
- IT Director/Manager
- Security Systems Engineer
- Security Analyst
- Security Manager
- Security Auditor
- Security Architect
- Security Consultant
- Network Architect
Eligibility
To take this exam, a candidate must have five years of professional experience. However, based on certain circumstances, it may be up to four years. To check the condition, please follow the link below: https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/CISSP/Prerequisite-Pathway
About the Exam
- Number of Questions: 125
- Test Duration: 3 hours
- Test Format: Multiple choice
- Passing score: 700 (out of 1000)
(Ref: https://www.isc2.org/Exams/Before-Your-Exam)
Passing the certification exam for CISSP can lead to some incredibly lucrative positions. As per the Payscale report, a security architect with this certification can make $114,527 annually.
5. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) is one of the best certifications for cybersecurity, which needs at least 5 years of experience in the field to apply. Controlled by ISACA, the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification is for those with technical expertise and experience in IS/IT security and control for at least 5 years and looking for a managerial role in the same field. CISM can add credibility and confidence to your interactions with internal and external stakeholders, peers, and regulators.
Throughout this management-focused certification, you will learn about four sections of cybersecurity:
- Information security program development and management
- Information security incident management
- Information security management
- Information risk management and compliance
The exam is incredibly rigorous, and at the same time, it demands a lot of time and knowledge. But definitely, the end result is worth it. Though there is no clear information about the exam details on the ISACA’s site, here is an overview of the same:
About the Exam
- Number of Questions: 150
- Test Duration: 4 hours
- Test Format: Performance-based
- Passing score: 450 (out of 800)
(Ref: https://certify.cybervista.net/faq/cism/)
For more official details, please visit the link – https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/cism.
6. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
This is another boon in the list of certifications for cybersecurity, which has an entirely new dimension. CISA certification focuses on information or IT auditing. It is acclaimed that a CISA certified professional has rigorous audit experience and manages vulnerabilities at an enterprise level.
What all domains CISA cover?
- Information Systems Auditing Process
- Governance and Management of IT
- Information systems acquisition, development, and implementation
- Information systems operations and Business resilience
- Protection of Information assets
Like other ISACA certifications, to appear in CISA, an individual should have at least 5 years of relevant experience.
About the Exam
- Number of Questions: 150
- Test Duration: 4 hours
- Test Format: Performance-based
- Passing score: 450 (out of 800)
For more official information, please visit – https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/cisa/prepare-for-the-cisa-exam.
7. Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
This is a specialized and premium certification in the industry. As traditional IT security does not hold good for the cloud, this specialized certification has gained immense importance in the industry. Organized by (ISC)², CCSP shows you have the advanced technical skills and knowledge to design, manage and secure data, applications, and infrastructure in the cloud using best practices, policies, and procedures.
What all areas CCSP cover?
- Cloud architecture and design concepts
2. Cloud data security
3. Platform and infrastructure security
4. Cloud operations
5. Legal and compliance
Who can all take CCSP certification?
- Enterprise Architect
- Security Administrator
- Systems Engineer
- Security Architect
- Security Consultant
- Security Engineer
- Security Manager
- Systems Architect
Candidates must have a minimum of five years’ experience of security-related work in a cloud-computing environment.
About the Exam
- Number of Questions: 125
- Test Duration: 3 hours
- Test Format: Multiple choice
- Passing score: 700 (out of 1000)
(Ref: https://www.isc2.org/Exams/Before-Your-Exam)
8. Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI)
As per a report published by FDI, more than 4000 ransomware attacks happen every day. To prevent this, a hacking forensic investigator’s role is crucial, who can analyze and extricate attacks and generate report hacking crimes, and audit to prevent future attacks.
The CHFI certification validates the candidate’s skills to identify an intruder’s footprints and properly gather the necessary evidence to prosecute in the court of law.
The certification covers topics including:
- Incident response and forensics
- Recovering deleted, encrypted, or damaged file information
- Technical examination, analysis, and reporting of computer-based evidence
About the Exam
- Number of Questions: 150
- Test Duration: 4 Hours
- Test Format: Multiple Choice
- Test Delivery: ECC EXAM
- Exam Prefix: 312-49 (ECC EXAM)
9. CISCO CCNP Security Certification
This is vendor-specific certification, and achieving CCNP Security certification proves your skills with security solutions in the CISCO network. To earn CCNP Security certification, you pass two exams: one that covers core security technologies and one security concentration exam of your choice, so you can customize your certification to your technical area of focus. To earn CCNP Security, you pass two exams:
· a core exam
· a security concentration exam of your choice.
And now, every exam in the CCNP Security program earns an individual Specialist certification, so you get recognized for your accomplishments along the way.
· The core exam focuses on your knowledge of security infrastructure. The core exam is also the qualifying exam for CCIE Security certification. Passing the core exam will qualify candidates to schedule and take the CCIE lab within their core exam’s validity.
· Concentration exams focus on emerging and industry-specific topics. You can prepare for concentration exams by taking their corresponding Cisco training courses.
For details on the core exam and concentration exams, please visit this link – https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/professional/ccnp-security-v2.html#~exams.
Who should enroll?
- Security engineer
- Network engineer
- Network designer
- Network administrator
- Systems engineer
- Consulting systems engineer
- Technical solutions architect
- Network manager
- Cisco integrators and partners
10.GSEC: GIAC Security Essentials
The GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) certification validates a practitioner’s knowledge of information security beyond simple terminology and concepts. GSEC certification holders demonstrate that they are qualified for hands-on IT systems roles concerning security tasks. The certification exam is operated unsupervised and allows the test takers to apply their knowledge to solve external resource problems. This exam has a significant difference from other exams like CISSP, where test takers have a scope to memorize or mastered the course. This is a vendor-neutral certification.
Areas Covered
- Active defense, defense in depth, access control & password management
- Cryptography: basic concepts, algorithms and deployment, and application
- Defensible network architecture, networking & protocols, and network security
- Incident handling & response, vulnerability scanning and penetration testing
- Linux security: structure, permissions, & access; hardening & securing; monitoring & attack detection; & security utilities
- Security policy, contingency plans, critical controls and IT risk management
- Web communication security, virtualization, and cloud security, and endpoint security
- Windows: access controls, automation, auditing, forensics, security infrastructure, & securing network services
Who is GSEC for?
- Anyone new to information security who has some background in information systems & networking
- Security professionals
- Security managers
- Operations personnel
- IT engineers and supervisors
- Security administrators
- Forensic analysts
- Penetration testers
- Auditors
About the exam
- 1 proctored exam
- 180 questions
- Time limit of 5 hours
- Minimum Passing Score of 73%
[Ref – https://www.giac.org/certification/security-essentials-gsec ]
Final word
The top certifications for cybersecurity help an organization’s staff to keep up to date and follow security best practices. This is directly related to business outcome and marketability. Why only IT professionals, security awareness is a common area for all the staffs of an organization.