Cybersecurity certifications not only help students and professionals validate their skills and expertise in the field of cybersecurity but also help employers gauge the candidate’s knowledge and employability.
There are a lot of certification programs available in the market that sometimes can be overwhelming to decide. This article discusses the best cybersecurity certifications that you can enroll in to start or advance further in your cybersecurity career.
The cybersecurity market is growing at a huge CAGR of 12.3% from 2023 to 2030 and is expected to reach a market value of $424.97 billion within the forecasted period.
This huge growth will also give rise to several job opportunities in this domain. Cybersecurity Ventures in its report stated there are around 3.5 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally accounting for 770,000 vacant cybersecurity positions in the US alone. With top cybersecurity courses and certifications, you can give yourself an edge over other candidates.
Best Cybersecurity certification programs in 2024
Here are some of the best certifications that you can enroll in to take your cybersecurity career further:
1. CompTIA Security+
This is one of the best cybersecurity certification programs for beginners looking to master the fundamental concepts of cybersecurity. Having this certification under your belt demonstrates to your employers that you can easily handle the organization’s security measures. Also, you can understand the laws and regulations related to risk and compliance, identify and promptly respond to various kinds of cyber-attacks as well as monitor and secure IoT and mobile devices.
Priced at $392, the exam requires a prerequisite of at least 2 years of work experience in IT administration or security systems roles.
2. Certified Cybersecurity Consultant (CCC)
This certification program is offered by the United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI®), a well-reputed and established name in the field of cybersecurity training industry. USCSI® provides different types of cybersecurity certifications and the CCC is particularly designed for cybersecurity professionals having a minimum of 5+ years of work experience in the field of IT or security.
The program aims to equip these cybersecurity specialists with the right skills and knowledge to take care of cybersecurity projects within their organization efficiently and design effective security systems.
The program fee is $699 which includes the cost of HQ study materials, exam fees, and a sharable digital badge. Students and professionals are also eligible for up to a 10% discount on the program fee through the Speedster program if their institute or organization is registered with USCSI® for the same.
The certificates are valid for 3 years and you can opt to recertify or upgrade your credentials by paying a nominal upgradation fee.
3. Certified Ethical Hacker
This certification program is offered by the EC-Council and validates students’ and professional’s expertise in attack detection, vectors, penetration testing, and prevention. After enrolling in this program you will learn about the latest hacking techniques, tools, and technologies and know how to hack an organization legally in a controlled manner to identify and detect vulnerabilities for correction measures.
Priced between $950 and $1119, depending upon how and where you take this exam, it is a great resource to enhance your cybersecurity skills in hacking and penetration testing.
4. Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity Management – Carnegie Mellon University
This is a 12-credit program specially designed for cybersecurity professionals who want to advance their careers in cybersecurity management. It covers topics such as risk assessment, security architecture, incident response, cybersecurity leadership, etc. So, it acts as a bridge for professionals who want to switch to management roles in the field of cybersecurity.
This certification course costs $31,710 and the applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from accredited institutes and at least 2+ years of work experience in the field of IT. After completion of this cybersecurity certification program, they can open doors to job roles like cybersecurity manager, security architect, incident response manager, CISO, etc.
5. Graduate Cybersecurity Certificate Program – Stanford University
The graduate certificate course from Stanford University is a 4-course program designed for mid-level professionals looking to enhance their cybersecurity careers. It covers a range of topics in the cybersecurity domain including network security, cryptography, system security, risk management, etc.
Taught by world-renowned faculty from Stanford, students can master the skills and knowledge to succeed in a variety of cybersecurity roles. The cost of this certificate program is $18,000, however, students can take benefit of various scholarships, grants, and loans.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity specialists are highly in demand now because of their skills and expertise to protect organizations from innovative and sophisticated cyber-crimes happening every day. So, these professionals must be able to demonstrate their mettle in this domain and should be efficient enough to minimize losses to the organization and their stakeholders. These certifications empower the professionals to handle any type of cyber-threats promptly and not to mention its other advantages in getting hired and with higher salaries. So, enroll now and take your cybersecurity career ahead.
