10 Top Security Certifications for IT Professionals

Becoming a certified IT professional comes with benefits in terms of career progression and
personal satisfaction. With so many certificate programs available today, there is no limit to how
much you can learn and how far your career can progress. Learning about the different
certifications available can help you decide which one to prioritize for the benefit of your career.
In this article, we discuss the main reasons for earning security certifications and analyze the top
10 certifications for IT professionals in cybersecurity.

Why earning a security certification is good for your career

Earning security certifications is good for your career, as it offers you a chance to expand your
knowledge and skills. It also gives you a competitive advantage when searching for a new job or
when seeking a promotion. Here are other benefits of pursuing various certifications related to
cybersecurity:
demonstrates competence and proficiency
boosts productivity and efficiency
increases earning potential
opens more job opportunities
establishes job security
provides opportunities for career advancement

Top 10 security certifications in cybersecurity

Information security is an ever-evolving field with a wide range of security certification courses
tailored to your career goals and ambitions. If you are uncertain about which course to choose to
start your career progression, here are the top 10 most popular suggestions you can consider:
1. IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate
The Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate is an entry-level program designed for
anyone who wants to enter the industry or switch careers to cybersecurity. Enrolling in this
course requires no prior experience, making it one of the most popular security certifications for
prospective cybersecurity professionals. The certificate has eight different courses, and learners
may gain foundational technical skills that can enable them to solve real-world problems that
affect the cybersecurity industry. At the end of the program, you might know about:
basic principles of cybersecurity tools and cyber attacks
cybersecurity roles within the organization
cybersecurity compliance framework
network security and database vulnerabilities
penetration testing, incident response, and digital forensics
cyber threat intelligence
cybersecurity capstone
IBM cybersecurity analyst assessment
With your newly gained skills, you can pursue a career as a junior IT security analyst or a
cybersecurity analyst.
Related: What Does an IT Manager Do? (And How to Become One)
2. CompTIA Security+
CompTIA Security+ is one of the most recommended entry-level certificates for IT professionals
who want to pursue a career in cybersecurity. The program certifies the essential skills you
require to perform core security functions. Joining the CompTIA Security+ course is easy since
you only need two years of experience in IT administration with a focus on security. With this
certification, you can seek a career as a cloud engineer, systems administrator, security
administrator or help desk manager.
This certificate on your resume demonstrates to potential employers that you're competent and
have the necessary skills to secure information systems and counter cybersecurity threats in an
organization. Other skills related to this certification include:
ability to evaluate the security of a company
ability to monitor and secure cloud and mobile environments
identify cybersecurity incidents
respond to cybersecurity threats
understand regulations related to compliance
3. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is an advanced certification
recommended for security policymakers and decision-makers. Possessing this credential
demonstrates you have high experience in information security with advanced technical skills
required to manage security standards, procedures and policies. A CISSP designation offers you
the chance to pursue a career as a chief information security officer, an IT security engineer, an
information assurance analyst or a senior security consultant. At the end of the course, you can:
design cybersecurity programs
implement and maintain cybersecurity programs
design and implement security and risk management policies
enforce network security standards
monitor security testing and related operations
Since CISSP is for experienced security professionals, the prerequisites for pursuing this
certification are higher. It requires at least five years of experience in two of the following:
security and risk management, asset security, security operations, software development security,
security assessment and testing, identity and access management, communications and network
security, security architecture or engineering.
Related: 1 Year Certificate Programs That Pay Well in Canada (With Salaries)
4. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
An information security manager's role is to safeguard an organization's information safety
needs. They monitor all high-level IT security operations and supervise cybersecurity personnel
who implement the company's security policies. Undertaking a CISM certificate can set you on
the path to becoming a qualified IT security manager. A CISM certification program covers the
following areas:
security risk management
incident management and response
data governance
program development and management
To qualify for CISM certification, you require at least five years of work experience in
information security, with another three years in information security management. CISM
certification is for top security managers, so one can expect to pursue a career as an IT manager,
data governance manager, information risk consultant, or director of information security.
Related: 15 Exciting Jobs in Computers to Explore for the Future
5. Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
CCSP is a global certification that targets intermediate to advanced-level professionals in the IT
and cybersecurity industry. The certificate program focuses on the following areas:
cloud design and service orchestration
cloud security architecture
architectural concepts and design requirements
To qualify for a CCSP exam, you may need at least five years of experience in IT with three
years in information security and one year of experience in any of the CCSP domains, including
cloud concepts, cloud data security, cloud platform and infrastructure, cloud application security
and legal, or risk and compliance management. With CCSP certification, you can pursue a career
as a senior information security specialist, security engineer, cloud specialist or information
security engineer.
6. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
When businesses require assessing the security vulnerabilities of their most critical assets, they
enlist certified information systems auditors. A CISA designation demonstrates that you can
evaluate the security vulnerabilities of a company and subsequently design and implement
controls that address these cybersecurity loopholes. Skills associated with this certification
include:
security vulnerability assessment
API security testing
network security
cloud security
penetration testing
A CISA certification requires at least five years of experience in IT auditing, control and security.
With this certificate, you can pursue a career as an IT audit manager, project manager,
cybersecurity auditor, security engineer or compliance program manager.
Related: How To List Your Certifications On A Resume
7. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Certified Ethical Hackers, also known as white hats, can assess the security of a company's
information systems to prevent malicious persons from gaining unauthorized access. The
certified ethical hacker assesses any damage caused by hackers and implements various security
measures to prevent future hacking attempts.
To obtain this certification, you need to know about various coding languages and database
engines. Your critical thinking and problem-solving skills may also come into play to qualify for
a CEH certification.
Related: A Guide to Types of Programming Languages (With Examples)
8. Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)
A System Security Certified Practitioner designation is ideal for network security professionals,
IT administrators and managers responsible for an organization's operational security. The
certification demonstrates that you have the necessary skills and ability to implement and
monitor your company's IT infrastructure using best security practices.
To qualify for a Systems Security Certified Practitioner exam, you require at least one year of
work experience in any SSCP domains. These include access controls, security operations and
administration, risk identification, monitoring and analysis, incident response and recovery,
cryptography, network and communication security and systems and application security. Expect
to pursue a career as a network security engineer, database administrator, security analyst, or
systems engineer.
Related: What Is an SSCP Certification? (And How Do You Earn One?)
9. CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
The CASP+ certification is an advanced-level program designed for professionals who want to
remain in the hands-on technological side of cybersecurity instead of working in management.
The certification is highly prestigious and recommended for cybersecurity technicians with
advanced technical skills. The skills covered by this certificate program include:
advanced security engineering
security architecture
cybersecurity readiness assessment
risk and compliance management
research analysis
Given that CASP+ is a highly prestigious designation, the requirements are equally stringent. It
requires at least 10 years of work experience in IT administration and security. Career
opportunities associated with this designation include security engineer, application security
engineer, security architect, and technical lead analyst.
Related: Best Business Certifications to Advance Your Career
10. Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
OSCP certifications are for IT professionals who detect vulnerabilities in an organization's
information security systems. This certification seeks to impart the following skills:
analytical thinking
proficiency in problem-solving
knowledge of penetration testing methods
To undertake an OSCP certificate, knowing about networking, operating systems like Linux, and
familiarity with programs like Perl and Python is essential. After earning an OSCP certification,
you can pursue a career as a penetration tester, threat researcher, application security analyst, or
ethical hacker.
Please note that none of the companies, institutions, or organizations mentioned in this article are
affiliated with Indeed.