The CompTIA Security+ certification is gaining popularity among early career professionals looking to enter the cybersecurity field. This certification offers a vendor-neutral alternative to the CCNA and covers risk analysis and automation across five domains: security concepts, operations, architecture, program management, and threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. Developed with contributions from major enterprises like Microsoft, Deloitte, and Zoom, the Security+ certification opens up various career opportunities, including network security analyst, penetration tester, and security architect.
The 90-minute exam consists of a maximum of 90 multiple-choice and performance-based questions, with candidates required to score 750 on a scale of 900 to pass. Certificate holders must renew the certification by taking 50 CEU (Continuing Education Units) through CompTIA’s Continuing Education program within three years. It is important to note that CompTIA plans to retire the exam by 2026.
The Security+ certification is a popular choice across similar lists for cybersecurity certifications. It is specifically designed for individuals with early career skills and is the most widely adopted ISO/ANSI-accredited early career certification. CompTIA has documented numerous case studies of professional development enabled through this certification, making it a valuable asset for those looking to kickstart their cybersecurity careers. Additionally, CompTIA is frequently mentioned as a certifying organization on similar lists, and its advanced certifications, like CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP), come with an average pay premium of 10%.
Moving on to the GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) certification, this certification offers foundational cybersecurity knowledge ideal for new InfoSec professionals. Covering topics like cryptography, incident handling, and endpoint security, the GSEC certification is suited for security administrators, forensic analysts, and penetration testers with an IT background looking to validate their knowledge. The exam consists of 106 questions that candidates must score 73% or more to pass. Professionals must also complete 36 continuing professional education credits within four years to renew their GSEC certification. The GSEC certification is part of the lucrative GIAC certification ecosystem, where certifications like GIAC Network Forensic Analyst (GNFA) and GIAC Cloud Security Automation come with an average pay premium of 10%, while GIAC Security Leadership offers a 15% pay premium.
Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals is another certification designed for beginners, including students, new IT pros, and business stakeholders looking to gain basic knowledge in security, compliance, and identity. The vendor-specific certification provides instruction through Microsoft Azure, Entra, Preview, and Purview. The exam is a 45-minute proctored test that may consist of 40 to 60 questions across multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, list building, and other formats. Those who pass the exam can display their certificate on LinkedIn and a custom URL through the certification dashboard. This certification aligns strongly with the governance, risk management, and compliance skills preferred by 24% of hiring managers, according to ISC2.
The Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification is a valuable certification for offensive security professionals. To earn this certification, candidates must complete the affiliated course, PEN-200: Penetration Testing with Kali Linux, and pass the subsequent exam. The course covers various modules, including information gathering, vulnerability scanning, client-side attacks, and fixing exploits. The hands-on exam requires candidates to compromise systems within a lab environment. Though there are no official prerequisites for the OSCP certification, candidates are recommended to be familiar with TCP/IP networking, scripting in Bash and Python, and Linux and Windows.
Lastly, the Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) certification from ISC(2) covers seven domains related to security concepts, access control, incident response, cryptography, network security, systems and application security, and risk identification, monitoring, and analysis. Designed for security analysts, system engineers, network analysts, and other professionals, the SSCP certification requires candidates to have one year of experience or a relevant undergraduate or graduate degree in computer science to qualify. The exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions that candidates must pass with a score of 700 out of 1,000 points. SSCP certification holders must adhere to ISC(2)’s code of ethics and pay an annual maintenance fee to support the organization and its initiatives.
In conclusion, these certifications offer valuable opportunities for individuals looking to advance their careers in the cybersecurity field. Whether you are an early career professional or a seasoned expert, choosing the right certification can help you secure better job prospects and increase your earning potential in the ever-evolving cybersecurity industry.