The World Health Organization (WHO) observed a five-fold rise in cyber assaults since the pandemic started. It said that about 450 active email accounts and passwords belonging to its employees and those working on the COVID-19 response were leaked. As more firms adopted the remote work model during the COVID-19 pandemic, employees' IP addresses shifted from business to personal or community Wi-Fi networks, exposing them to cyber threats. Since the threat of cyber-attacks has increased dramatically, it has created a higher demand for security researchers.

What if a cybercriminal gets access to your financial or personal data? Are you aware of online threats? Those with little cybersecurity awareness training are at risk as cyberattacks are growing powerful. Therefore, employees must begin taking action to improve their protection mechanisms, which is possible only through proper training and certification.

Cybersecurity certifications' relevance and importance

The advantages of professional certifications are numerous, especially in cybersecurity, where there is a high demand for skills and capabilities that can be verified. And where these capabilities require more than just work experience to ensure that you are fully educated and prepared to handle the most recent technologies, threats, and challenges.

In addition to your documented and compensated job experience in the sector, possessing a certification first and foremost displays your depth of cybersecurity knowledge and competence — or your specializations within cybersecurity, depending on the certificate you hold. It also provides validation of your expertise.

Cybersecurity certifications give the holder an edge by raising their status within the industry and, consequently, their employability. This is because a certification verifies your knowledge and experience.

This implies that a company looking to hire a cybersecurity professional may do so with complete assurance that the candidate is knowledgeable, experienced, and committed to carrying out their duties morally. Additionally, rather than being country-specific, your skill set may be confirmed and acknowledged globally.

In addition, as a certified professional, you must sustain a high bar for competence and a code of ethics, and a current credential holder must attest to your moral integrity as part of the certification process.

Top 5 Jobs To Take After Cybersecurity Certification

If you are looking for a career path or want to boost your cybersecurity knowledge, start by learning about some of the most profitable cybersecurity roles.

1. Bug bounty specialist: Vulnerabilities in software code have spawned a thriving bug-bounty business, with large payments to top freelancing hackers. Bug bounty programs let ethical hackers detect and fix security vulnerabilities to avoid widespread attacks on an organization's systems.

Average salary Depends on experience and seniority.

2. Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): CISO is the executive in charge of a firm's data and information protection. CISOs are responsible for developing and implementing a security program, highlighting policies and procedures to protect an organization from internal and external threats.

Average salary: US$ 167,295

3. Cybersecurity architect: A data security or cybersecurity architect oversees empowerment strategies, creating and managing policies, responding to and analyzing security events, and conducting risk evaluation.

Average salary: US$ 125,149 to US$ 153,277

4. Information security analyst: Information security analyst: This person is responsible for a company's computer systems and networks. They employ analytics to find holes in a firm's data security system and protect sensitive and private data.

Given their extensive range—detecting, analyzing, and dealing with data theft and cyberattacks—data security analysts are the gatekeepers or security officers of information management.

Average salary: US$ 93,693

5. Computer hacking forensic investigator (CHFI): Analysts specializing in computer fraud identify hacking attacks and conduct audits to stop new ones. Forensic accounting uses computer inquiry and analysis tools to determine probable legal evidence.

Information may be sought concerning various misuses or computer crimes, including but not limited to business secret theft, the theft or destruction of intellectual property, and fraud. CHFIs use multiple techniques to find and recover lost, encrypted or corrupted file information.

Average salary: US$ 69,519 and US$ 86,871

The income of cybersecurity professionals is expected to expand by 33% between 2020 and 2030. 16,300 job opportunities are estimated each year for data security specialists within the next decade.

Best Cybersecurity Certifications In 2022

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

The CISSP certification is offered by (ISC)2. This certification, according to (ISC)2, aids professionals in demonstrating their proficiency in developing, implementing, and managing cybersecurity initiatives.

The best candidates for the CISSP are skilled cybersecurity experts in the C-suite, including chief information officers and architects and analysts. If the CISSP is not for you, (ISC)2 also offers the CCSP for Cloud Security and the HCISPP for Healthcare Security & Privacy. CCSP for Cloud Security and HCISPP for Healthcare Security & Privacy are a couple of the certifications that (ISC)2 provides if the CISSP isn't for you.

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

The CISM certification, also provided by ISACA, allows you to prove your expertise on the management side of information security, covering governance, program building, and program, incident, and risk management. You must have 5 years of experience in information security management to sit for the CISM exam. As part of this criterion, you must have up to two years of general information security experience.

Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)

By earning this (ISC)2 intermediate security credential, you may demonstrate to employers that you have the skills necessary to plan, create, and maintain a secure IT infrastructure. The test evaluates candidates' understanding of risk identification, access controls and analysis, incident response, security administration, cryptography, communications, systems, network, and application security.

The SSCP is created for IT specialists interacting directly with a company's security assets or systems.

CompTIA Security+

For professionals in the tech sector, CompTIA is a pioneer in certification. Many organizations look for candidates with the CompTIA Security+ certification, and more businesses choose this certification than any other one.

The CompTIA Security+ certification includes forensics, cloud operations, and risk management coursework. In contrast to many others, this certification calls for professionals to demonstrate their practical troubleshooting abilities.

CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)

This CompTIA certification may be the best option for security professionals looking for a more challenging certificate. The CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) certification was designed for security "advanced practitioners," not those in management positions. For security engineers or architects that often work in solid networks, the CASP+ is ideally suited. CASP+ provides instructions on how to construct a security architecture and how to implement the optimal security measures. Practitioners will thoroughly understand governance, risk, and compliance in addition to other fields like cryptography.

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The EC-Council's Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Certification is the top-ranked ethical hacking certification. With the help of this certification, security professionals will know how to hack and use hacking tools ethically.

Professionals will have access to practical hacking activities, live demos, and more within this certification. Cloud computing and hacking-related online applications are both discussed.

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) was created for security auditors who work professionally and want to demonstrate their knowledge. This certification covers various topics, including information system creation, asset protection, auditing procedures, and governance. Entry-level to mid-level workers with a foundational understanding of information systems are best suited for the CISA. Many exam preparation resources are available for those interested in this certification, including manuals and online refresher courses.

GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)

The Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) certification offers entry-level security accreditation for people with some information systems and networking knowledge. By acquiring this certification, you may demonstrate your expertise in security-related tasks like network security, active defence, incident response, cryptography, and cloud security.

If you have IT sector experience and want to transition into cybersecurity, consider taking the GSEC exam.

GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF)

The GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF) certification is the best option for beginning cybersecurity professionals, including non-IT security managers and people who have recently changed careers.

This certification covers cybersecurity principles, including language, the basics of computer networks, incident response, password usage, risk management, network communication, cryptography, and wireless security.

Professionals in cybersecurity can also get other certifications from GIAC, such as the GIAC Security Operations Certified (GSOC) and the GIAC Public Cloud Security (GPCS) credentials.

GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)

The GCIH certifies your understanding of offensive operations, including common attack channels and methodologies, as well as your ability to spot, thwart, and resist attacks. The certification exam covers these topics, including investigating computer crimes, hacker tools, and exploits.

Conclusion

Due to the continued rise in cyberattacks and the amount of new connected devices, there is an increasing demand for experienced cybersecurity specialists. The cybersecurity certification offers the way to a lucrative cybersecurity career and is in line with current trends and practices. So, start your prep for cybersecurity certifications with Microtek Learning.