The cybersecurity industry is booming, and there are a variety of positions for new professionals looking to advance their careers and move up in their companies. One of the best ways to make yourself the go-to choice for a promotion or to qualify yourself for a job at a new company is to get a desirable certification.
But what cybersecurity certifications should you target? Let’s take a deeper look at the five best certifications for all cybersecurity professionals to pursue in 2021.
CompTIA Security +
One of the best certifications to get by far is the CompTIA Security+ certification.
This is a perfect choice for those looking to enter the security field or prove themselves to be security management material. This security certificate will prepare any professional who takes it to participate in risk mitigation activities and work with other security professionals in larger companies and on more complex systems. Note that this certificate’s exam focuses a lot on performance-based questions and you need a score of at least 750 out of 900 to pass.
ISC Certified Information Systems Security Professional
The CISSP certificate is another great choice for cybersecurity professionals who already have some hands-on experience. It’s often considered mandatory if you want to progress your career and eventually become an upper-level executive.
You’ll need a lot of work experience in 2 out of 10 domains from the (ISC)2 CBK or Common Body of Knowledge, and be sure to study using some of the best online courses for CISSP certification if you want to pass. The exam has 1000 questions and you’ll need to get at least 700 correct in order to be certified.
EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker
Looking to make a mark on the world by working as an ethical hacker? Obtain CEH certification and you can work as a penetration tester and help IT companies understand the weaknesses and vulnerabilities in their systems.
Ethical hackers are some of the best professionals for mitigating modern digital threats and are in extremely high demand. Pick this certification up if you want excellent career opportunities in the future.
ISACA Certified Information Security Manager
Or you can look into certification to become a certified information security manager. It’s an ideal choice for cybersecurity professionals who want to be more than just team members – they want to be management material.
CISM certification will test your experience and expertise in a variety of IT domains, including information security program development, incident management, information security governance, server security, and more. Note that you’ll need at least five years of professional experience before applying for this certification test. But it may ultimately be necessary if you want to progress your cybersecurity career.
Offensive Security Certified Professional
Lastly, you can look into offensive security certification. It’s a great idea if you like identifying existing vulnerabilities in target systems, then executing controlled attacks for later analysis. Pair this certification with the above ethical hacker certification and you’ll become an in-demand professional for enterprises that need to reinvent and bolster their digital security strategies.
