Introduction
The need for cyber security is increasing promptly, as cybercrimes are increasing at high levels every day across the world. Cybersecurity (also known as computer security or information security) is the practice of preventing data from theft, damage, loss, or unauthorized access to computers, networks, and data. Without a doubt, cybersecurity is a lucrative field with many great opportunities. Besides the salary advantage, the cyber-security field will never be boring as hackers will always plan to formulate new tactics to breach the system and the cyber-security professionals will devise new tactics to save the system. Cyber-security professionals should always strive for such advanced skills and tactics which will give them career growth and devising new plans. There are many cybersecurity certifications that you can acquire and cement your career in the cybersecurity field by learning advanced skills. In this article, you will have a complete go-through of the top cyber-security certifications.
Why choose cyber-security as a career path- Worth & Benefits?
As long as the tech world exists, there will always be a need for cyber security. As we know, cybercrimes have increased rapidly. This increase has fueled the demand for cybersecurity professionals. Individuals, businesses, colleges, and governments are all targets of cybercriminals. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, cybercrime reached an all-time high in 2020, resulting in nearly 800,000 complaints and more than $4 billion in losses in the United States. From January to July 31, 2021, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 2,084 ransomware complaints. This represents a 62% increase year on year. Ransomware attacks on businesses occur every 14 seconds, according to cybercrime statistics. These are just statistics of the U.S. Imagine; how many complaints would be encountered worldwide. So, for this, the world desperately needs more cybersecurity experts. Cybersecurity professionals earn high salaries, and there is plenty of room for growth and advancement.
Is having a cyber-security certification worthwhile?
Only having a cybersecurity degree is not enough to advance in the cybersecurity niche. You need to have advanced skills. According to the (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study, nearly two-thirds of cybersecurity professionals (63%) are actively pursuing or plan to pursue security-related certifications. Certifications provide numerous advantages, including increased earning potential and better career opportunities. Currently, 70% of cybersecurity professionals in the United States said that their jobs require them to have certifications, and the statistic is even higher (78% globally). Also, security certifications increase salaries by $18,000 on average, from $67,000 to $85,000, according to (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Workforce Study. The overall salary for cybersecurity may range from $70,000 (entry-level) to $160,000 (professional-level) depending upon the job role and level of certification.
Here are the top cybersecurity certifications that will help you to expand your career as a cybersecurity professional:
The 11 Best Cyber-Security Certifications Are:
- Certified in Cybersecurity Certification
- Certified Informational Systems Security Professionals- CISSP
- Certified Information Systems Auditor-CISA
- Certified Information Security Manager -CISM
- CompTIA Security+
- Certified Ethical Hacker- CEH
- GIAC Security Essentials Certification -GSEC
- System Security Certified Practitioner -SSCP
- CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner- CASP+
- Certified Incident Handler-GIAC
- Offensive Security Certified Professional -OSCP
I. Certified in Cybersecurity Certification
(ISC)2 Certified in Cybersecurity is a fundamental cybersecurity certification that will assist recipients in setting the foundation for a rewarding career in cybersecurity. This entry-level certification will demonstrate to employers that you possess the fundamental knowledge, skills, and abilities required for an entry- or junior-level cybersecurity position. It demonstrates your eagerness and ability to learn and grow on the job.
Exam information:
- The certification cost is $50- may vary in your country
- Date of Retirement/ Validity Period: To keep their certification, certified in Cybersecurity credential holders must earn 45 CPE credits over three years.
- Test Format & Duration: The exam consists of 100 Mcqs questions, and you will have 2 hours to complete it.
- Passing Criteria: To pass the certification exam, candidates must obtain a minimum passing score of 700 out of 1000.
Exam Domains:
- Principles of Security
- Concepts of Business Continuity (BC), Disaster Recovery (DR), and Incident Response
- Concepts of Access Control
- Network Safety
- Operations of Security
Roles you will get after certification
- Cyber Security Engineer
- Information Security Analyst
- Information Security Manager
The estimated salary starts from $60k for the above job posts.
II. Certified Informational Systems Security Professionals- CISSP
The CISSP validates your ability to design, implement, and manage a world-class cybersecurity program. The CISSP is ideal for experienced security practitioners, managers, and executives who want to demonstrate their knowledge of a broad range of security practices and principles.
Exam Details:
- The certification cost is $749- which may vary in your country
- Date of Retirement/ Validity Period: 3 years and candidates must earn 120 CPEs.
- Test Format & Duration: The exam consists of 125-175 MCQs or advanced innovative questions, and you will have 4 hours to complete the CISSP CAT exam. The CISSP linear exam consists of 250 items and you have 6 hours to complete it
- Passing Criteria: To pass the certification exam, candidates must obtain a minimum passing score of 700 out of 1000.
Exam Domains:
Security and Risk management 15%
Asset Security 10%
Security Engineering and Architecture 13%
Network and communication security 13%
IAM (Identity and Access Management) 13%
Security Evaluation and Testing 12%
Security Operations 13%
Software Development Security 11%
Recommend Prep Material: CISSP EXAM DUMP
Job roles you will get after certification
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Chief Information Officer
- Security Director/Manager
- Director of Security
- IT Director/Manager
- Security Systems Engineer
- Security Analyst
- Security Manager
- Security Auditor
- Security Architect
- Security Consultant
- Network Architect
The Salary ranges from $95,000 to $202,400.
III. CISA- Certified Information Systems Auditor
CISA is internationally recognized as the gold standard for those who audit, control, monitor, and assess an organization’s information technology and business systems. This is the best certification for beginners as an information system auditor. The salary range started from approximately $95,000 to $143,000.
Exam Details:
- The certification cost is $575- $750
- Date of Retirement/ Validity Period: 3 years and candidates must earn 120 CPEs.
- Test Format & Duration: The exam consists of 150 questions, and you will have 4 hours and minutes to complete it.
- Passing Criteria: To pass the certification exam, candidates must obtain a minimum passing score of 450 on a scale range of 200 to 800.
Exam Domains:
- Information systems auditing process – (21%)
- Governance and management of IT- (17%)
- Information systems acquisition, development, and implementation – (12%)
- Information systems operations and business resilience – (23%)
- Protection of information assets – (27%)
Recommended Prep Material: CISA EXAM DUMP
Roles you will get after certification
- IT audit Manager
- Cybersecurity auditor
- Analyst in Information Security
- Security Engineer
- Project manager IT
- Manager of the Compliance Program
IV. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification from SACA signifies knowledge of information security governance program development and management, incident management, and risk management. This certification is best for technical and managerial positions. The approximate salary for the CISM job roles ranges from $97k to $180k.
Exam Details:
- The certification cost is $575- $750
- Date of Retirement/ Validity Period: 3 years and candidates must earn 120 CPEs.
- Test Format & Duration: The exam consists of 150 questions, and you will have 4 hours to complete it.
- Passing Criteria: To pass the certification exam, candidates must obtain a minimum passing score of 450 on a scale range of 200 to 800.
Exam Domains:
- Go through the exam domains and sub-domains
Recommend Prep Material: CISM EXAM DUMP
Job Roles after certification
- Information systems security officer
- Director of information security
- Risk management consultant
- Manager of data governance
V. CompTIA Security+
The certifications establish the fundamental knowledge required for any cybersecurity role and serve as a stepping stone to intermediate-level cybersecurity positions. Security+ includes best practices in hands-on troubleshooting and ensuring that candidates have basic practical security problem-solving skills. Candidates or beginners who find their passion in cybersecurity should do this certification.
Exam Details:
- The certification cost is $392- which may vary in your country
- Date of Retirement: Usually 3 years after launch
- Test Format & Duration: The exam consists of 90 questions, and you will have 90 minutes to complete it. The exam questions will be multiple-choice and performance-based.
- Passing Criteria: To pass the certification exam, candidates must obtain a minimum passing score of 750 on a scale of (100- 900).
Exam Domains:
- Attacks, threats, and Vulnerabilities
- Design and Architect
- Implementation
- Operations and Incident Response
- Governance, Risk & Compliance
Recommend Prep Material: Certspilot
Security+ Job roles
- System Administrator
- Manager of the Help Desk
- Cloud Engineer
- Security Engineer
- Security Administrator
- IT Auditor
- Software Developer
The salary ranges for these job roles start from $70k to 112k approximately.
A Certified Ethical Hacking Certification is a certification program designed by EC-Council that enables individuals to become skilled with the tools used by a malicious hacker and understand how to investigate bugs and unauthorized access in the computer system. This certification is best for beginners who want to peruse their careers as ethical hackers.
Exam Details:
- The certification cost is $950- $1,199- may vary in your country
- Date of Retirement: Usually 3 years after launch
- Test Format & Duration: The exam consists of 125 Mcqs questions, and you will have 4 hours to complete it. The practical exam questions will be 20 and the time limit will be 6 hours.
- Passing Criteria: To pass the certification exam, candidates must obtain a minimum passing score of 70%
Exam Domains:
- The CEH v12 Certification has 9 domains and 20 modules that cover a range of technologies, strategies, and practices, giving aspiring ethical hackers the fundamental knowledge they need to succeed in the cybersecurity industry. For more go through the CEH website.
Recommended Prep Material: CEH-V12 EXAM DUMP
Job Roles after CEH certification
- Penetration Tester
- Analyst for cyber incidents
- Analyst for threat intelligence
- Architect of cloud security Cybersecurity engineer
The salary ranges for these job roles start from $83k- 150k.
VII. GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)
The GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) certification demonstrates an information security practitioner’s knowledge beyond simple concepts and terminology. Holders of the GSEC certification demonstrate that they are qualified for hands-on IT system roles involving security tasks.
Exam Details:
- The certification cost is $2,499- Including two practice test
- Date of Retirement: 4 years
- Test Format & Duration: The exam consists of 106- 180 questions and 4-5 hours to complete it.
- Passing Criteria: To pass the certification exam, candidates must obtain a minimum passing score of 73%
Exam Domains:
Refer to the exam domain and outline.
Recommended Exam Material: Certspilot
Job Roles after GSEC certification
- Manager of IT security
- Analyst in computer forensics
- Penetration tester
- Security Administrator
- Software development engineer IT auditor
The salary ranges for these job roles start from $70k- 138k.
VIII. System Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
This certification validates that you have advanced technical skills and knowledge for implementing, monitoring, and administering IT infrastructure using security best practices, policies, and procedures established by (ISC) cybersecurity experts.
Exam Details:
- The certification cost is $749- which may vary in your country
- Date of Retirement/ Validity Period: 3 years and candidates must earn 60 CPEs.
- Test Format & Duration: The exam consists of 125 MCQs and you will have 3 hours to complete it
- Passing Criteria: To pass the certification exam, candidates must obtain a minimum passing score of 700 out of 1000.
Exam Domains:
- Administration and Security Operations
- Access Controls
- Identification, monitoring, and analysis of risks
- Response and Recovery to Incidents
- Network and Communications Security
- System & Application Security
- Cryptography
Recommended Exam Material: SSCP EXAM DUMP
The following are the job roles for SSCP:
- Security Analyst
- Network Security Engineer
- Systems Administrator
- Security Analyst
- Systems Engineer
- Security Consultant/Specialist
- Security Administrator
- Systems/Network Analyst
- Database Administrator
The salary ranges for these job roles start from $70k- 120k.
IX. CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
CompTIA CASP+ is an advanced-level cybersecurity certification that focuses on technical skills in security architecture and senior security engineering. The main objective of this certification is for overseeing and improving an organization’s cybersecurity promptness in the cloud, on-site, and hybrid settings. This is an advanced-level certification and required a minimum of 10 years of IT experience.
Exam Details:
- The certification cost is $494- which may vary in your country
- Date of Retirement/ Validity Period: 3 years and candidates must earn 60 CPEs.
- Test Format & Duration: The exam consists of 90 MCQs and Performance-based questions and you will have 165 minutes to complete it
- Passing Criteria: No specified criteria. Only pass/fail status
Exam Domains:
- Security Architecture 29%
- Security Operations 30%
- Governance, Risk & Compliance 15%
- Cryptography & Security engineering 26%
Recommended Exam Material: CAS-004 EXAM DUMP
The following jobs can be offered by having CASP+ certification:
- Security Engineer
- Senior Security Engineer
- Lead Technical Analyst
- Application Security Engineer
- SOC Manager
The estimated salary ranges for these job posts are 117k- 160k.
X. GIAC Certified Incident Handler
This certification provides the ability to detect, respond to, and resolve computer security incidents by employing a broad set of essential security skills. Holders of the GCIH certification have the knowledge required to manage security incidents by understanding common attack techniques, vectors, and tools, as well as defend against and respond to such attacks when they occur.
Exam Details:
- The certification cost is $2,499- Including two practice test
- Date of Retirement: 4 years
- Test Format & Duration: The exam consists of 106 questions and 4 hours to complete it.
- Passing Criteria: To pass the certification exam, candidates must obtain a minimum passing score of 70%
Exam Domains:
- Refer to the exam domain and outline.
This certification is intended for anyone involved in incident response. Typical job titles include:
- System administrator
- Security architect
- Security incident handler
The salary for these job roles is approximately 60k to 150k.
XI. Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
This certification has quickly become one of the most desirable certifications for penetration testers. The exam assesses your ability to compromise a series of target machines through a series of exploitation steps and generate detailed penetration test reports for each attack.
Exam Details:
- The certification cost starts from $999- For more go through the certification cost details
- Date of Retirement: 4 years
- Test Format & Duration: Refer to exam OSCP exam guide
- Passing Criteria: To pass the certification exam, candidates must obtain a minimum passing score of 70 points out of 100.
Exam Domains:
Job roles for OSCP certified
- Penetration tester
- Ethical hacker
- Threat researcher
- Application security analyst
The salary ranges for these job roles are 83k- 116k.
Reality of working in Cyber Security | Pros and Cons
Conclusion
The increase in cybercrimes has advanced the demand for cybersecurity professionals. Cybersecurity is progressing rapidly as a career because it’s the need of every digital company. As the need is increasing so is the job competition. Companies are hiring professionals with advanced skills and certifications. The top cybersecurity certifications discussed above that will give a boost to cybersecurity field. Having such certification will not only build a good resume but also act as a career ladder and give you a step forward in the cybersecurity domain. Moreover, people who have such certifications have more salaries and benefits than people who don’t. So build and progress your career in the cybersecurity field with these popular certifications.
FAQ'S
CompTIA Security+ is the most fundamental credential in the field of cyber security. Many of the basics of cybersecurity are covered in this certificate, including risk management, technologies and tools, cryptography and PKI, identity and access management, and threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities.
These cybersecurity certifications can help you earn starting salaries of $150,000 or more.
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) – $162,347 on average salary
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)- $158,191 on average salary
The National Security Agency (NSA) defines that for cybersecurity positions you must have a bachelor’s degree plus three years of relevant experience or a master’s degree plus one year of relevant experience.
According to the Certification Magazine 2022 Salary Survey, the average salary of a Security+ certified professional in the United States is $115,170, with a global salary of 106,910 depending upon the job post and experience.
The answer is No! Most entry-level cybersecurity positions do not require any prior coding experience.
Yes, to answer briefly. These certifications will advance your knowledge in cybersecurity fields and also boost your career. Also, such certification advanced your knowledge and technical expertise in the cybersecurity field. The certification will be very demanding in the coming years.
A help desk technician, network administrator, or software developer are a few entry-level IT positions that you might consider if you’re new to cybersecurity. After gaining some IT experience, many cybersecurity professionals enter the field as junior information security analysts.
No, cybersecurity is not difficult. Despite a few difficult concepts, such as cryptography, and domains that necessitate more technical knowledge. Otherwise, cybersecurity is not as difficult as other tech fields.
Both certifications will boost your career and will give you exposure to the cybersecurity field. Technical jobs are filled by CASP+ certification, and managerial responsibilities are filled by CISSP certification. You can choose the certifications according to your current job position. Since more job postings specifically list the CISSP as a necessary cybersecurity certification, it remains to be more recognized. On the other hand, CASP+ will be very demanding in the coming years as the worlds need advanced cybersecurity strategies.
Students will learn more about the techniques needed to maintain systems secure with CASP. CASP provides advanced cybersecurity knowledge and skills which cannot be get by other certifications like Security+.
The CompTIA Security+ certification will assist you in entering into the industry, but it will only be the first step for most people. This certification will get you into companies, but higher-paying jobs will only become available as you build your resume.
Since its beginnings, CompTIA has certified over 45,000 people in Security+. Many organizations, including the United States military, Dell, and Apple, use and recognize this certification.
- CompTIA Security+
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
- GSEC (GIAC Security Essentials)
- Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
- Information Security Manager Certification (CISM)
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