Today’s digital world comes with extreme possibilities. Over the past few decades, we have already started shopping and dining online, and as we progress toward the future, we don’t even need to drive our cars. Everything we want, we get with just a simple voice command. All these tools and advanced technologies powered by AI and other technologies, provide great convenience. However, these are also the best entry points for different kinds of cyberattacks.
As we rely more and more on technology, the demand for cybersecurity professionals is also growing simultaneously to protect our confidential information and the organization’s critical digital infrastructure. As per Cybersecurity Ventures, global cybercrime costs are expected to reach a whopping $10.5 trillion by 2025. So, we can confer the serious demand for cybersecurity experts.
In this article, let us explore top cybersecurity certification programs to help you grow in your cybersecurity career.
Best Cybersecurity Certification Programs
Beginner-Level Certifications
· CompTIA Security+
This is by far the most popular and widely recognized entry-level cybersecurity certification program. It covers the basic knowledge related to network security, systems security, cryptography, etc. With this certification under your belt, you can start your cybersecurity career confidently with an average salary increase of up to 13% for certified cybersecurity professionals (as per Comptia research).
· Certified Cybersecurity General Practitioner (CCGP™)
It is an online self-paced learning cybersecurity certification program offered by the renowned United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI®. This program has been designed for beginners who want to master the fundamental concepts of cybersecurity and covers topics like protection of devices, fundamentals of security, authentication, security terms, etc.
Here are some unique features that USCSI® offers for its certification programs:
– All courses are online self-paced programs that can be covered within 4-25 weeks
– Students and professionals get access to a resource center with high-quality lecture videos, ebooks, and practice codes to prepare for the exam.
– Get a sharable digital badge upon completing the certification
If you are a graduate student or professional with less than 2 years of experience, this can be a better choice.
Intermediate-Level Certifications
· Certified Cybersecurity Consultant (CCC™)
CCC™ is another certification program from USCSI® that is designed for mid-level cybersecurity professionals who have 2-5 years of work experience and want to learn the advanced concepts of cybersecurity such as cryptography, risk management, incident response, security architecture, and applications of machine learning in cybersecurity.
Professionals can avail of all the unique features that are offered for all their cybersecurity certification programs as mentioned above.
Apart from that, USCSI® also provides flexible payment terms where applicants can pay in full, in three interest-free installments, or later using Klarna.
USCSI® also offers group discounts of up to 10% through its Speedster programs. So, if you are looking for a certification program without getting heavy on your pocket, then these can be great options.
· Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
This is one of the most popular certification programs in the field of cybersecurity. It empowers cybersecurity professionals with the knowledge and cybersecurity skills needed to perform ethical hacking within their organization in a controlled environment to identify potential vulnerabilities and mitigate them before a real attack happens.
As per Indeed, CEH professionals are in high demand for penetration testing roles, and their average annual salary can go up to $101,518 in the US.
Advanced-Level Certifications
· (ISC)² Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
ISC2 is the most recognized brand in the field of cybersecurity certifications and its CISSP program is designed for cybersecurity experts who want to demonstrate their advanced cybersecurity skills to employers and get into senior or leadership roles in this domain. Having this certificate, you can demonstrate your capabilities in security and risk management, asset security, identity and access management, security operations, etc.
· Certified Senior Cybersecurity Specialist (CSCS®)
This senior-level certification from USCSI® also offers all the features offered in CCC™ and CCGP™. CSCS® particularly focuses on cybersecurity leadership roles and empowers senior-level cybersecurity professionals (with at least 6 years of work experience) with concepts like the application of cryptography, security leadership and regulations, management and business continuity, onboarding leaderships, detecting cybersecurity threats with AI, etc. So, if you want to propel faster in your cybersecurity career, this industry-recognized certification is best for you.
USCSI® also offers a great facility to maintain your certifications. So, you can choose to renew or upgrade your certifications by paying nominal fees. To renew it costs $249 and if you want to upgrade, you can get a discount on the mentioned program fee.
Conclusion
Earning a cybersecurity certification offers tons of benefits including global recognition, learning the latest and most advanced cybersecurity skills, career growth opportunities, higher salaries, networking with other professionals, and helps you highlight your dedication towards professional development. This entry to advanced-level cybersecurity certifications will help you at each level of your cybersecurity career to learn and validate new skills. So, choose a certification program that best matches your career goals, serves your learning style, and fits your time and cost budget. With the right certification, your cybersecurity career will reach new heights.
