Top 10 Globally Recognized Certifications for Cyber Security

Introduction 

Cybersecurity or computer security and information security is the act of preventing theft, damage, loss, or unauthorized access to computers, networks, and data. As our interconnections grow, so do the chances for evil hackers to steal, destroy, or disrupt our lives. The increase in cybercrime has increased the demand for cybersecurity expertise. Between 2020 and 2030, the job market is predicted to rise by 33%. 

Cybersecurity certifications authenticate your skills and reflect that you have mastered the subject presented in training. Certifications for cyber security are hence the gateway towards pursuing this booming and unique professional space. 

Careers In Cybersecurity 

According to Accenture Business research, the volume of cyberattacks across industries and geographies has increased by 125% year on year, becoming a major source of concern. As a result, 77% of organizations intend to boost their cybersecurity budgets to tackle the challenges of increased cyberattacks, according to a Verizon survey. Last year, ransomware attacks increased by 105%. Cybercrime is estimated to cost the globe $10.5 trillion per year by 2025, with the cybersecurity market reaching $478.68 billion by 2030. The field of cybersecurity offers a wide range of career opportunities that, if taken, will help you kickstart your career in the huge field of work in top cybersecurity companies.

Following are some of the professional roles that candidates can opt for after getting cybersecurity certifications: 

• Cybersecurity Expert 
• Vulnerability or Information Security Analyst 
• Penetration Examiner 
• Cryptographer 
• Director of Information Security 
• Assessor of Vulnerabilities 
• Incident Responder 
• Expert in Forensics 
• Auditor of Source Code and SecurityManager 
• Architect for Cybersecurity 
• Engineer in Security or Cybersecurity 
• The administrator of Security or Cybersecurity 
• Administrator of Security 
• Security Director 
• Security Auditor 
• Consultant in Security 

10 Popular Certifications in Cybersecurity 

While the majority of cybersecurity professionals have a bachelor’s degree in computer science in terms of certification in cyber security, many employers prefer individuals who additionally have certification for cyber security best practices. Hundreds of cyber security certification courses are available, ranging from generic to vendor-specific, entry-level to advanced. Before you spend your money and effort on a certification, ensure it will give you a competitive advantage in your field, and opt for some of the best certifications for cyber security. The following are the amount of US job advertisements on three different job sites that require various cybersecurity certifications. 

While seeking a cyber security certification, the following can prove to be the best available choices for candidates as they have industry-recognized credentials and reputations. The cyber security certification courses that are the best for pursuing a career in cyber security are as follows- 

1. Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) 

The cybersecurity professional organization ISC-2’s CISSP certification is one of the most sought-after cybersecurity certifications in the field. Earning your CISSP shows that you have experience in IT security and can plan, implement, and manage a cybersecurity program.

This advanced certification is designed for experienced security professionals who want to develop their careers in positions such as: 

• CEO of Information Security: $202,390 
• Security Administrator: $70,512 
• IT Security Engineer: $94,971 
• Senior Security Consultant: $143,410  
• Information Assurance Analyst: $110,061

Requirements: To take the CISSP exam, you must have five or more years of total work experience in at least two of the eight cybersecurity domains. Security and Risk Management, Asset Security, Security Architecture and Engineering, Communication and Network Security, Identity and Access Management, Security Assessment and Testing, Security Operations, and Software Development Security are some of the topics covered in the mentioned cyber security certification program. One year of labor is satisfied by a four-year degree in computer science. Part-time work and paid internships are also acceptable. The course costs around $750 and is one of the best cybersecurity certification courses. If you are unclear about the cyber security certification path for attaining the CISSP, the following instruction will greatly help. You can still take the exam to become an Associate of (ISC)2 if you are new to cybersecurity and lack the qualifying expertise. After passing the exam, you’ll have six years to gain the necessary experience for full CISSP certification.  

2. Information Systems Auditor Certification (CISA) 

This ISACA cyber security certification demonstrates your competence in identifying security vulnerabilities, devising and implementing controls, and reporting on compliance. It is one of the most well-recognized certificates for cybersecurity auditing careers. 

The CISA cyber security certification is intended for mid-level IT workers seeking to develop into positions such as:

• IT Audit Manager: $142,459 
• Auditor of Cybersecurity: $94,454 
• Information Security Analyst: $104,567  
• IT Security Engineer: $114,128 
• IT Project Manager: $110,612  
• Compliance Program Manager: $110,452 

Requirements: At least five years of expertise in IT or IS audit, control, security, or assurance is required to attain the CISA cyber security certification course. A two-year or four-year degree can be substituted for one or two years of experience. 

3. Information Security Manager Certification (CISM) 

The ISACA CISM certification validates your knowledge of information security management issues like governance, program creation, and program incident and risk management. Earning your CISM may be smart if you want to transition from the technical to the managerial side of cybersecurity. The CISM is used in the following jobs:

• IT Manager: $117,510 
• Officer of Information Systems Security: $96,854 
• Consultant in Information Risk: $96,953 
• Director of Information Security: $177,911 
• Manager of Data Governance: $121,208 

Requirements: You must have at least five years of experience in information security management to take the CISM exam. This cyber security certification can be met with general information security experience for up to two years. You can also waive one or two years if you have another valid certification or a graduate degree in an information security-related profession. 

4. CompTIA Security+ certification 

CompTIA Security+ is an entry-level cybersecurity certification that verifies the fundamental skills required for any cybersecurity position. The CompTIA Security+ certification is an excellent cybersecurity accreditation for IT professionals who are just starting out in the area. Cyber attacks, incident response, architecture and design, governance and compliance, risk management, and cryptography are all covered in the exam. With this cyber security certification, you can demonstrate your competence to assess an organization’s security, monitor and secure cloud, mobile, and internet of things (IoT) environments, comprehend risk and compliance rules and regulations, and identify and respond to security incidents.

Earning a Security+ cyber security certification can benefit you in a variety of positions, including:

• System Administrator: $93,197 
• Helpdesk Manager: $91,768 
• Security Engineer: $113,661 
• Cloud Engineer: $117,167 
• Security Administrator: $70,512 
• IT auditor: $97,138 
• Software Developer: $111,751 

Requirements: While there are no mandatory prerequisites for taking the Security+ test, it is recommended that you first obtain your Network+ certification and achieve at least two years of IT experience with a security focus. The cyber security certification course can be opted for less than $400 and will provide a solid foundation for a career in top cyber security companies. 

5. Ethical Hacker Certification (CEH) 

Ethical hacking, often known as white hat hacking, penetration testing, or red teaming, is the practice of legitimately hacking businesses in order to discover weaknesses before harmful players do. The CEH Certified Ethical Hacker certification is available through the EC-Council. Earning it allows you to demonstrate your knowledge of penetration testing, attack detection, vectors, and prevention. The CEH cyber security certification allows you to think like a hacker and approach cybersecurity a lot more proactively. Consider this certification for positions such as:

• Penetration Tester: $108,520 
• Cyber Incident Analyst: $83,276 
• Threat Intelligence Analyst: $102,523 
• Cloud Security Architect: $150,509  
• Cybersecurity Engineer: $111,025 

Requirements: CEH certification in cyber security costs under $1200. If described precisely, depending on the testing site, prices range from $950 to $1,199. 

6. Certification for GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) 

This Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) certification is an entry-level security cyber security certification for persons with some information systems and networking knowledge. Earning this certification confirms your knowledge of security activities such as active defense, network security, cryptography, incident response, and cloud security.

If you have some experience in IT and want to go into cybersecurity, consider taking the GSEC exam. Job roles that make use of the GSEC abilities include:

• IT Security Manager: $137,487  
• Computer Forensic Analyst: $81,534 
• Penetration Tester: $108,520  
• Security Administrator: $70,512 
• IT Auditor: $97,138 
• Software Development Engineer: $133,864

Requirements: The cyber security certification course costs $2499 and includes two practice tests in the same bracket. There are no prerequisites for taking the GSEC exam. Set yourself up for success by first acquiring some expertise in information systems or computer networking, as that is the most important cyber security certification path while pursuing GSEC. 

7. Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) 

With this ISC-2 intermediate cyber security certification course, you can demonstrate to employers that you have the knowledge and abilities to design, develop, and manage a secure IT infrastructure. The SSCP is intended for IT workers who work directly with a company’s security systems or assets. This certificate is ideal for jobs such as:  

• Network Security Engineer: $118,565 
• System Administrator: $72,647 
• Systems Engineer: $102,175 
• Security Analyst: $96,018  
• Database Administrator: $97,781  
• Security Consultant: $87,135

Requirements: The SSCP requires candidates to have at least one year of paid job experience in one or more of the testing categories. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in a cybersecurity-related program can also satisfy this requirement, and the course costs $249. 

8. CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) certification 

The CASP+ is intended for cybersecurity professionals who have demonstrated advanced abilities but wish to remain in technology. Advanced topics covered in the exam include enterprise security domain, risk analysis, software vulnerability, safeguarding cloud and virtualization technologies, and cryptographic approaches.

Requirements: There is no formal requirement for taking the CASP+ exam. Only experienced cybersecurity experts with at least 10 years of IT administration experience, including five years of wide hands-on expertise with security, are recommended by CompTIA. 

9. GIAC Incident Handler Certification (GCIH) 

Earning the GCIH cyber security certification confirms your knowledge of offensive operations, including common attack strategies and vectors, as well as your ability to identify, respond to, and defend against attacks. The certification test includes topics such as incident response, computer crime investigation, hacker exploits, and hacker tools.

This qualification is intended for anyone involved in incident response. Typical job titles include:

• Security Incident Handler: $62,758 
• Security Architect: $157,713 
• System Administrator: $72,647

Requirements: There are no official prerequisites for taking the GCIH exam, though knowledge of security principles, networking protocols, and the Windows Command Line is recommended. The cost of the cyber security certification course is $2,499, which includes two practice examinations. 

10. Certified Professional in Offensive Security (OSCP) 

Offensive Security’s OSCP has quickly become one of the most sought-after credentials for penetration testers. The exam assesses your ability to compromise a number of target machines through a variety of exploitation procedures and provides detailed penetration test reports for each attack. 

The OSCP is a suitable choice for jobs such as:

• PenetrationTester $108,520  
• Ethical Hacker $116,243 
• Threat Researcher: $83,882 
• Application Security Analyst: $110,714

Requirements: There are no specific prerequisites for taking the cyber security certification exam. Offensive Security advises that you are comfortable with networking, Linux, Bash scripting, Perl, or Python and have completed the Penetration Testing with Kali course. 

Conclusion 

At the end of the day, it’s a candidate’s individual choice to go for a particular cyber security certification that accommodates one’s needs. Though, do keep all the above-mentioned parameters in mind when selecting a degree to pursue.  

Given how companies tend to expand their cybersecurity teams, it is a fact that betting on a great cyber security expert certification will definitely be promising for your career. The above-mentioned cyber security certification courses will act as the stepping stone for the candidates to pursue a successful career. Follow UNext to know more.