6 Best Cybersecurity Certifications of 2023

Certified Information Systems Security Professional: Best for experienced professionals

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is offered by (ISC)². According to (ISC)², this certification helps professionals prove their skills in designing, implementing and managing cybersecurity programs. The CISSP is best suited for experienced cybersecurity professionals such as analysts and architects, as well as those in the C-suite such as Chief Information Officers. If the CISSP isn’t for you, (ISC)² also offers certifications such as the CCSP for Cloud Security and the HCISPP for Healthcare Security and Privacy.

Prerequisites

CISSP requires candidates to gain a minimum of five years of relevant experience in two of eight specified security domains. Approved college degrees and other credentials may qualify as a year of experience.

Key skills taught

• Security assessment and testing.
• Network security.
• Security architecture.
• Risk management.

Key differentiators

• Lengthy exam.
• Experience requirement.
• Broad scope.

Duration of training and exam

• Official certification training lasts five days and goes from 8 AM to 5 PM.
• Four-hour exam with 75 to 125 multiple-choice questions.

Cost of training and exam

• Expect to spend over $2,000 for CISSP training.
• $749 for the certification exam.

CompTIA Security+: Best for entry or intermediate level professionals within the tech industry

CompTIA is a leader in certification for professionals within the tech industry. The CompTIA Security+ certification is sought after by many employers. In fact, according to CompTIA, this certification is chosen by more corporations than any other certification on the market.

The CompTIA Security+ certification covers subject matter such as forensics, risk management and cloud operations. Unlike many other certifications, the CompTIA Security+ certification requires professionals to prove their hands-on troubleshooting skills.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for the CompTIA Security+; however, candidates are encouraged to have at least two years of relevant IT administrative experience.

Key skills taught

• Threat assessment.
• Cryptography.
• Risk management.
• Incident response.
• Access management.

Key differentiators

• Real-world applications.
• Comprehensive security knowledge.

Duration of training and exam

• Training lasts for 10 days and takes place Monday through Friday at varying times.
• Exam has a maximum of 90 questions and lasts 90 minutes.
• Passing score of 750 out of 900.

Cost of training and exam

• $392 for the exam.
• $2,499 for live online training.

CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner: Best for advanced CompTIA certification

The CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner certification was designed for “advanced practitioners” in security instead of individuals within management roles. The CASP+ is best for security architects or engineers that get their hands dirty every day inside critical networks.

CASP+ covers how to build security architecture and how to implement the right solutions to protect it. Practitioners will learn the ins and outs of governance, risk and compliance as well as cryptography and other disciplines.

Prerequisites

• No specific requirements; however, CompTIA recommends a minimum of ten years of IT administrative experience.

Key skills taught

• Governance, compliance and risk.
• Security operations.
• Security architecture.
• Security engineering.
• Cryptography.

Key differentiators

• Advanced-level focus.
• Focus on management and leadership skills.
• Practical application.

Duration of training and exam

• Training dates and times vary widely based on instructor and location.
• Exam is 165 minutes.
• No scale. It is a pass-or-fail exam.
• Maximum of 90 questions.

Cost of training and exam

• Exam cost is $494.
• Training costs can vary widely depending on location and training provider.

Certified Ethical Hacker: Best for aspiring cybersecurity professionals

The Certified Ethical Hacker certification by the EC-Council is the top-rated ethical hacking certification. This certification provides security professionals with knowledge about the hacking tools and techniques used to hack ethically.

Inside this certification, professionals will have access to hands-on hacking exercises, live demonstrations and more. Subject matter includes everything from cloud computing to web applications used for hacking.

Prerequisites

There are no set education or experience requirements for the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification.

Key skills taught

• Ethical hacking methodologies.
• Network security.
• Security penetration testing.
• Footprinting.
• Malware analysis.

Key differentiators

• Includes hands-on ethical handling experience.
• Covers a variety of security topics.

Duration of training and exam

• The duration of training depends on the delivery method. Instructor-led classes have five to 10 days of training.
• The duration of the exam is four hours and consists of 125 questions.

Cost of training and exam

• $850 to $3,000 for training. Self-paced training is cheaper, starting at $250.
• The exam cost is $1,199.

Certified Information Systems Auditor: Best for information security professionals in auditing and assurance

The Certified Information Systems Auditor was designed for professional security auditors who wish to prove their expertise. This certification covers auditing processes, governance, information system development, protection of assets and much more.

The CISA is best for entry-level to mid-level professionals with basic knowledge of information systems. Those interested in this certification will find a wide range of exam prep materials such as an online review course and review manuals.

Prerequisites

• Five years of experience in security, control or information systems auditing.

Key skills taught

• Governance and management of IT systems.
• Information system auditing.
• Protection of information assets.
• Development and implementation.

Key differentiators

• Global recognition.
• Focus on IT governance and information system auditing.
• Rigorous examination.

Duration of training and exam

• Training durations and costs cary widely depending on the instructor and location.
• The exam duration is four hours and consists of 150 multiple-choice questions.

Cost of training and exam

• $760 for the exam. ISACA members get a discounted price of $575 for the exam.
• $1,000 to $1,400 in training costs for in-person classes.

GIAC Information Security Fundamentals: Best for introduction to cybersecurity

The GIAC Information Security Fundamentals certification is the perfect option for entry-level cybersecurity professionals, including non-IT security managers and those who have recently switched to a career in cybersecurity.

This certification covers the absolute basics of cybersecurity, including terminology, the basics of computer networks, incident response, password use, network communication, risk management, wireless security and cryptography.

GIAC also offers additional certifications for cybersecurity professionals, including the GIAC Security Operations Certified certification and the GIAC Public Cloud Security certification.

Prerequisites

• No specific prerequisites for the GISF as it is designed for entry-level professionals.

Key skills taught

• Network and application security.
• Cryptography.
• Incident response.
• Security policies.

Key differentiators

• Foundation-level certification.
• Practical skills and application.

Duration of training and exam

• The duration of GISF training ranges from a few days to several weeks.
• The exam lasts fro two hours and consists of 75 questions. Exams are web-based and required to be proctored.

Cost of training and exam

• $949 to $1,299 for the exam.
• The cost of GISF training depends on the training provider and course delivery method.