The realm surrounding the cybersecurity landscape is fast becoming one of the most sought-after areas in the IT and information security field. A cybersecurity expert will have to keep learning throughout his career while developing applications that will solve real-world problems.
This makes certification in the field a very important milestone in showing the skills, knowledge, and experience one has gotten throughout his learning career. Certification is a way to show employers that you are certified to carry out the task as specified in the resume.
It will not only boost the resume but also your expertise in the given field. Cybersecurity is a goldmine and anyone who intends to pursue a career should strive to take one of the certifications. One can also start by taking a course with a certificate if they feel like starting from somewhere considering various other deciding factors.
This article talks about the Top Certifications in cybersecurity that will improve your resume and get you a high-quality job with high-earning potential. Remember there's a wealth of security and risk management certifications for aspiring beginners and professionals to choose from, which can be overwhelming in most cases.
Upon getting certified, jobs are waiting in the ever-evolving cybersecurity world. Some of them include a certified ethical hacker, information systems auditor, information security manager, and offensive security certified professional.
So are you ready to know the certification that is right for you? Then keep reading on. This article has listed 5 Cybersecurity Certifications for both beginners and professionals that will help further improve their knowledge in the field and land them a dream-worthy job with high-paying potential.
What is a Cybersecurity Certification?
Just like any other career path, cybersecurity requires aspiring individuals to have a lot of specialized knowledge and skills to be fully equipped for the role. A certification in cybersecurity is the process of testing the individual on industry standards, and if they are fully equipped with the necessary skills, the individual can land a job in the security and risk management fields.
Hiring managers and employers will see you as the right person for the job once the certification is spotted in your resume. What's more? You will be trusted as the ideal person for that role.
All cybersecurity certifications require the person to embark on testing and exams, and some also come with training courses to work with students until they are fully certified.
Differences between Certificate, Course, and Certification
In the Tech and IT industry, the three Cs can be found almost everywhere, but knowing their differences and how they work is important to anyone intending to pursue a career.
Certificate
A certificate is simply a document showing that a student has completed a course or training. It doesn't guarantee that you have the necessary skills required to operate properly in that field. A certificate can be offered by institutions, government agencies, private sector whether they are recognized or not.
Course
A course is simply a curriculum designed to train students about a specific specialization. It is not final and doesn't guarantee a certificate to students upon completion of the course.
Certification
Lastly, certification means an official statement or recognition that validates the student's expertise in a particular field. Certifications are awarded by professionals and accredited organizations that have the support or backing of companies that are looking for qualified hands to join their ranks.
So cybersecurity companies are no exception. Some of them have collaborated with professionals who offer cybersecurity exams with certification to teach, train, and certify students with industry standards needed in a particular field.
Top Cybersecurity Certifications
Let's now find out the certifications that will help sharpen your resume and get you employed by world-class IT companies.
This list was presented starting with certifications with entry-level to advanced ones.
1: CompTIA Security+
This is not your first time hearing about CompTIA Security+ as a cybersecurity certification. Even if you are new to the field, you must have become familiar with this. Beginners and professionals can take advantage of this certification, it should be the first to consider when aspiring to become an IT expert because having it will validate your qualifications for an entry-level cybersecurity position. The training you will undergo includes:
- Attacks, threats, and vulnerabilities
- Security architecture and design
- Implementation
- Operations and incident response
- Governance, risk, and compliance
Who is CompTIA Security+ for?
It is best for those who have at least 2 years of relevant experience in IT administration. It is also recommended for those who have passed the CompTIA Network+. In addition, you can also study for the exam using online courses or cybersecurity boot camps, our Top 5 Cybersecurity Courses will set any aspiring professional up and be fully equipped for the CompTIA Security+ or any other certifications.
How to Get it
You can sit for the exam at a recognized IT test center or simply apply to take the exam online. You should expect both multiple-choice and performance-based questions during the exam - which can be set in either English or any language.
2: GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)
Some of the certifications offered by GIAC include those that start with the Security Essential Exam. It makes use of testing styles that involve CyberLive, a dedicated and specialized training program that test students through actual programs, programming, algorithm, and virtual machine. Students are tested to ensure that they are fully equipped with practical skills before being validated to work. The training includes:
- Access control
- Password management
- Cryptography
- AWS and Microsoft Cloud
- Defensible network architecture
- Incident handling
- Linux fundamentals
- SIEM
- Web communication security
Who is this For?
It is best suited for advanced learners, security professionals, managers, IT engineers, administrators, auditors, and penetration testers. The GIAC makes it easy for them by providing practical tests and links to various IT training centers dedicated specially for the certification.
How to Get It
Candidates should expect 106-180 test questions - which will be delivered through web-based testing software, with four to five-hour time limits, and they can choose to take the exam either in person or apply online. Interested candidates can start by creating a GIAC account.
3: CyberSecurity Fundamentals Certificate (ISACA)
This certification is both for online study and a study guide written by leading instructors from different approved organizations. It is also available to equip students with an online virtual training atmosphere and relevant labs to get trained and compete. The exam includes:
- Securing assets
- Information security fundamentals
- Security operations and response
- Threat landscape
Aspirants can register for the exam at any time providing that they have completed some basic courses elsewhere.
Who is the Certification for?
Students, recent IT graduates, IT professionals, teams, and anyone who wants to increase their career opportunities in a massive field like cybersecurity can apply for the exam. Holders should be able to demonstrate competence and understanding of the principles of cybersecurity upon completion of training.
For those who don't know, ISACA is a professional IT company that also provides in-person team training sessions as an enterprise solution. Their training and course will get you started in any chosen field.
How to Get it
Passionate aspirants can register at ISACA.org to begin their 12-month period of eligibility before the exam starts. What this means is that if you register before starting your education, there are 12 months to learn and master everything you need to pass the exam.
The exam costs $120 for members and $150 for non-members.
4: Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) by (ISC)²
This is an intermediate certification that requires that an individual must have at least one year of paid work experience in an IT-related field before they can qualify for the exam. However, graduates with a cybersecurity degree (bachelor’s or master’s) can skip this requirement. Students doing part-time work or internships can also apply for the exam.
Supporting the ISC² Code of Ethics is also a prerequisite for students - which also requires them to pay an annual maintenance fee after they have completed and received their certification. The training covered in the exam include:
- Security operations and administration
- Access controls
- Risk identification, monitoring, and analysis
- Incident response and recovery
- Cryptography
- Network and communications security
- Systems and application security
Who is This For?
As mentioned earlier, only those who have paid work experience examples of part-time or internship in the field of cybersecurity, and are willing to pay a maintenance fee of $125 are to apply for the exam. So the certification is best for individuals who are already in the field of cybersecurity and they have started a career path.
How to Get it
The first thing is to become a member of ISC² and see if you fit into their eligibility requirements. It is not meant for those who are starting new or don't have work experience or a degree.
5: GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
This cybersecurity certification by GIAC is meant to validate the skills of individuals as first responders in IT-related fields. It ensures that they have the skills and knowledge needed to defend against and respond to cyber attacks or threats whenever they might be. The training includes:
- Computer and network hacker exploits
- Incident handling and computer crime investigation
- Hacker tools
Similar to GSEC, the exam makes use of CyberLive to train, test, and validate students in a realistic virtual machine environment that requires the solving of real-world problems and tasks.
Who is the Certification For?
It is best suited for professionals who are good at incident response handling, system maintenance, security practitioners, and security architecture. Security personnel that is good at responding to threats or breach at any point can also take the exam.
How to Get it
It only takes four hours to complete with 106 questions. It has been designed for on-site and online and students can take the practice test to prepare them for the final exam. It covers various training syllabi and programs available to assist students in their preparation.
Disclaimer: This post is for general information only and the writer or blog is not affiliated with these companies and their certifications. Individual research is required to validate the authenticity of this information.
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