The Best Cybersecurity Certifications to Pursue in 2024
Certifying in 2024
Cybersecurity is a dynamic and fast-growing field that offers many opportunities for professionals who want to protect organizations and individuals from cyber threats. However, to succeed in this field, you need to have the right skills and credentials that demonstrate your competence and credibility. Cybersecurity certifications are one of the best ways to showcase your knowledge and abilities, as well as to stand out from the crowd in the job market or advance your career.
However, not all cybersecurity certifications are created equal. Some are more popular, respected, and relevant than others, depending on your level of experience, area of specialization, and career goals. Therefore, it is important to choose the certifications that best suit your needs and aspirations.
In this article, we will review some of the best cybersecurity certifications to pursue in 2024. We will cover the following aspects of each certification:
What it is and what it covers
Who it is for and what are the prerequisites
How much it costs and how long it takes to obtain
What are the benefits and opportunities it offers
We will also provide some tips and resources to help you prepare for the exams and earn your certifications. Let’s get started!
1. CompTIA Security+
The CompTIA Security+ certification is one of the most popular and widely recognized cybersecurity certifications in the industry. It validates that you have the foundational skills and knowledge to perform core security functions and pursue a career in cybersecurity. It covers topics such as:
Threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities
Technologies and tools
Architecture and design
Identity and access management
Risk management
Cryptography and public key infrastructure
The CompTIA Security+ certification is ideal for beginners or aspiring cybersecurity professionals who want to enter the field or advance their careers. It is also a prerequisite for many other advanced certifications, such as the CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+), the CompTIA Penetration Tester (PenTest+), and the CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+).
The recommended experience for the CompTIA Security+ exam is having the CompTIA Network+ certification and two years of experience in IT administration with a focus on security. However, these are not mandatory requirements, and you can take the exam without them if you have sufficient self-study or training.
The cost of the CompTIA Security+ exam is $392, and the exam consists of 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions that you have to complete in 90 minutes. The passing score is 750 out of 900. The certification is valid for three years, and you can renew it by earning continuing education units (CEUs) or taking a higher-level CompTIA exam.
The benefits and opportunities of the CompTIA Security+ certification are numerous. According to CompTIA, more than 600,000 IT professionals have earned this certification, and it is approved by the US Department of Defense and compliant with the ISO 17024 standard. Moreover, it can help you land jobs such as:
Security administrator
Security analyst
Security engineer
Security consultant
Network administrator
Systems administrator
The average salary for these jobs ranges from $50,000 to $100,000, depending on your location, experience, and employer.
To prepare for the CompTIA Security+ exam, you can use various resources, such as:
The official CompTIA Security+ study guide and practice tests
The CompTIA Security+ online training course
The CompTIA Security+ certification path on Coursera
The CompTIA Security+ All-in-One Exam Guide by Wm. Arthur Conklin, Greg White, Dwayne Williams, Chuck Cothren, and Roger Davis
2. ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals
The ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals certification is another excellent option for beginners or aspiring cybersecurity professionals who want to gain a solid understanding of the principles and practices of cybersecurity. It covers topics such as:
The concepts and scope of cybersecurity
The role and responsibilities of cybersecurity professionals
The components and functions of a cybersecurity system
The types and sources of cyber threats and attacks
The methods and tools for cybersecurity operations and response
The ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals certification is suitable for students, recent graduates, IT professionals, teams, and others who want to learn the basics of cybersecurity or enhance their existing knowledge. It is also a stepping stone for more advanced ISACA certifications, such as the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), and the Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT).
There are no prerequisites for the ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals exam, which consists of 75 multiple-choice questions that you have to complete in two hours. The passing score is 65%. The cost of the exam is $160 for ISACA members and $220 for non-members. The certification does not expire, but you are encouraged to keep your knowledge and skills up to date.
The benefits and opportunities of the ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals certification are manifold. According to ISACA, this certification can help you demonstrate your commitment and potential to employers, peers, and clients, as well as to gain a competitive edge in the job market. Moreover, it can help you pursue jobs such as:
Cybersecurity analyst
Cybersecurity specialist
Cybersecurity coordinator
Cybersecurity consultant
IT auditor
IT manager
The average salary for these jobs ranges from $60,000 to $120,000, depending on your location, experience, and employer.
To prepare for the ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals exam, you can use various resources, such as:
The official ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals study guide and practice questions
The ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals online course and exam bundle
The ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals certification path on Coursera
The ISACA Cybersecurity Nexus (CSX) training platform and resources
3. GIAC Security Essentials
The GIAC Security Essentials certification is another great choice for beginners or aspiring cybersecurity professionals who want to prove their proficiency and practicality in cybersecurity. It covers topics such as:
Identification and prevention of common and advanced attacks
Understanding of key security principles and best practices
Implementation and configuration of network infrastructure and devices
Application of security policies and compliance standards
Analysis and monitoring of network and system activity
The GIAC Security Essentials certification is designed for security professionals who want to demonstrate their hands-on skills and technical knowledge in cybersecurity. It is also a prerequisite for more advanced GIAC certifications, such as the GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH), the GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA), and the GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN).
The recommended experience for the GIAC Security Essentials exam is having a basic understanding of networking and security concepts, as well as some practical experience in administering and securing systems and networks. However, these are not mandatory requirements, and you can take the exam without them if you have sufficient self-study or training.
The cost of the GIAC Security Essentials exam is $2,199, and the exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions that you have to complete in five hours. The passing score is 74%. The certification is valid for four years, and you can renew it by earning continuing professional education (CPE) credits or taking a higher-level GIAC exam.
The benefits and opportunities of the GIAC Security Essentials certification are significant. According to GIAC, this certification is recognized and respected by employers and peers worldwide, and it is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and compliant with the ISO/IEC 17024 standard. Moreover, it can help you land jobs such as:
Security engineer
Security analyst
Security administrator
Security consultant
Network engineer
Network administrator
The average salary for these jobs ranges from $70,000 to $130,000, depending on your location, experience, and employer.
To prepare for the GIAC Security Essentials exam, you can use various resources, such as:
The official GIAC Security Essentials exam outline and practice tests
The SANS SEC401: Security Essentials Bootcamp Style course and exam bundle
The GIAC Security Essentials certification path on Coursera
The GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC) Exam Preparation course by Ric Messier
4. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is one of the most prestigious and respected cybersecurity certifications in the industry. It validates that you have the advanced skills and experience to design, implement, and manage a comprehensive cybersecurity program. It covers topics such as:
Security and risk management
Asset security
Security architecture and engineering
Communication and network security
Identity and access management
Security assessment and testing
Security operations
Software development security
The CISSP certification is ideal for experienced security professionals who want to advance their careers in roles such as:
Chief information security officer
Security director
Security manager
Security architect
Security auditor
Security consultant
The average salary for these jobs ranges from $100,000 to $200,000, depending on your location, experience, and employer.
The prerequisites for the CISSP exam are having at least five years of cumulative paid work experience in two or more of the eight domains of the CISSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK), or four years of experience plus a four-year college degree or an approved credential.
5. Microsoft Security Exams
Microsoft’s own security platform continues to expand and grow and any organization that utilizes Microsoft solutions should foster their employees toward certifying on the products they use every day. Some of the recommended Microsoft-specific exams include:
Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals: This certification is ideal for beginners or aspiring cybersecurity professionals who want to demonstrate their knowledge of Microsoft security, compliance, and identity solutions. It covers topics such as threats, attacks, vulnerabilities, technologies, tools, architecture, design, identity, access, risk, cryptography, and more. It requires passing one exam (SC-900). The certification is valid for three years and can be renewed by earning continuing education units or taking a higher-level exam.
Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert: This certification is designed for experienced security professionals who want to prove their advanced skills and experience in designing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive cybersecurity program. It covers topics such as security best practices, security operations, identity, compliance, infrastructure, applications, data, governance, risk, compliance, and more. It requires passing one exam (SC-100) and one prerequisite certification from the following options: Azure Security Engineer Associate, Identity and Access Administrator Associate, or Security Operations Analyst Associate. The certification is valid for four years and can be renewed by earning continuing professional education credits or taking a higher-level exam.
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert: This certification is suitable for security professionals who want to specialize in cloud security and architecture. It validates that you have the skills and expertise to design solutions that run on Microsoft Azure. It covers topics such as compute, network, storage, security, identity, governance, data, AI, DevOps, migration, and more. It requires passing two exams (AZ-303 and AZ-304). The certification does not expire, but you are encouraged to keep your skills and knowledge up to date.