In the cybersecurity industry, certifications are king. Cybersecurity certifications are one of the first things that employers look at when reviewing a resume. They offer a credible statement that you know what you say you know. In the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, it’s a must. If you want to get that dream job or advance up the corporate ladder in the cybersecurity field getting certifications is the way to go. Throughout this blog, our team showcases our top five picks of cybersecurity certifications available. These five are some of the certifications our staff looks for when reviewing resumes. As the cybersecurity field grows so do the certifications. We recommend finding ones that suit your needs in the industry.
Springboard Cyber Security Career Track
First on our list is the Springboard Cyber Security Career Track. This is a fantastic certification to get any individual started in the cybersecurity world. This certification is aimed at students who are interested in working towards eventually getting the CompTIA Security+ certificate. Preparing for this certification will teach you a ton of basics, so you don’t need any prior experience before starting this course.
This course is 360 hours and covers a wide range of cybersecurity information. This includes cybersecurity fundamentals, systems and network security, vulnerability assessment, and security operations. To end the course students are also required to do a capstone project. This capstone requires students to work on a hypothetical pen test and develop a corrective action plan. We believe this is a perfect start for someone entering the field.
CompTIA Security+
Once you have decided to commit to working in the cybersecurity field, the CompTIA Security+ is a perfect starting certification. Security+ is a great base certificate that will get your foot in the door. This will help you get jobs like security administrator, security analyst, or network/cloud engineer.
As stated from their website: “CompTIA Security+ is a global certification that validates the baseline skills necessary to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career”. This course offers great insight into real-world problems facing the cybersecurity world. CompTIA also partnered with brands like Target and Netflix allowing you to get the knowledge companies are looking for. Unlike the above certification, the CompTIA Security+ doesn’t require classes and can be finished by taking their 90 question test.
CompTIA PenTest+
Once you have the Security+ certificate and a few years of experience under your belt, PenTest+ could be a good choice for your next certificate. As the name states, this certificate focuses on up-to-date pen testing and vulnerability assessments. The test covers everything from pre-planning to executing the pen test, to the legal compliance side of assessing. Penetration tests are a very popular service for many businesses, so having this certificate would make you a great candidate when applying for new positions.
As stated from their website: “CompTIA PenTest+ is for cybersecurity professionals tasked with penetration testing and vulnerability management”. Like the Security+ certification, CompTIA has worked with top companies including target and Asics to provide the information companies are looking for. This certification is 85 questions and includes both multiple-choice and performance-based questions.
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
CEH stands for ‘certified ethical hacker,’ and this certification is exactly what it sounds like. These individuals know how to look for vulnerabilities and weaknesses in a network, website, or other systems. However, instead of using this to harm companies, they use this knowledge to help companies get stronger. You need at least a couple of years of work experience before taking the exam that gives this certification.
The Certified Ethical Hacker exam is a 125-question multiple-choice exam. Candidates have four hours to complete the CEH exam. Since all questions are multiple-choice, test-takers rarely run out of time during the exam.
before taking this exam the EC-Council has a set of requirements. These are that the test taker must:
- Hold a CEH certification of version 1 to 7.
- Or Have a minimum of 2 years work experience in InfoSec domain.
- Or Have attended an official EC-Council training.
To learn more about the EC-Council check out their website below:
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
The Certified Information Systems Security Professional certification is meant for people who have been in the industry a bit longer. You need at least 5 years of paid work experience to take the exam associated with this certification. This is a common certification for high-ranking cybersecurity professionals to have. This is because it is seen as almost mandatory for career advancement.
To become certified as a CISSP, you will need at least five years of full-time, paid work as a security analyst in two or more of the eight domains covered in the CISSP, such as cryptography and software development security. There are experience wavers available for those with college degrees and additional credentials if these are approved by the (ISC). You also can become an Associate of the (ISC) and earn the CISSP when you meet your experience requirement. The next step is to prepare for and pass the exam. You will need to have a score of a minimum of 700 out of 1000 points to pass the exam.
Other Certifications
Want to get great cybersecurity certifications from some of the largest organizations in the world? Check out Coursera. Coursera is an online learning website that partners with top universities and businesses to offer affordable/free certifications, therefore, saving you thousands. These certifications are hosted by companies like Google, IBM, and Harvard offering a cheap way to stand out in a pile of resumes. Want to learn more? Check out the link below to get their list of cybersecurity-related courses.
Coursera Cybersecurity Certifications
These courses can take as little as 1 month to complete and offer real-life examples of what the largest tech companies are looking for. The best part? You can take as many courses as you’d like for as little as $400 a year! Additionally, they offer a wide range of other disciplines including business, finance, and more.
Who is Aspis Consulting?
Aspis is a cybersecurity and administrative service firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. Starting in 2019 with a goal of democratizing cybersecurity, Aspis believes that all businesses deserve to feel safe from cyber threats. Because of that we took our government-level services and offer them to small businesses for a price they can afford. With additional branches in Duluth, Minnesota, and Washington DC Aspis has grown to become a national brand and has helped countless businesses with their cybersecurity needs. Our team offers a full suite of services including Darkweb Monitoring Solutions, Cybersecurity Management Consulting, and Cybersecurity Consulting to both our commercial and government clients. Our organization has been featured in countless publications including Forbes, IBM, and the US Chamber of Commerce.
To learn more on how Aspis can help you with your cybersecurity needs check out our website. Also, follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to stay up to do on cybersecurity news, company updates, and need to know tips.
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