Top Cyber Security Certifications List in 2020 – IT Security & Networking
What is a cybersecurity certification?
In this age of advanced information technology and with newer and more improved solutions, cybersecurity has become a major concern for organizations and their technologies.
As per analysis and reports, the first half of 2019 has seen about a 54% increase in security breaches and a 52% increase in comprised records when compared with the same time frame in 2018. Upon investigation and research, it is found that 60% of the total security breaches were due to human error which clearly indicates that there is a need for high-quality cybersecurity certificate programs and education for making skillful and trained information security professionals and certified cybersecurity experts.
Such analysis has led to a major increase in the demand for certified cybersecurity professionals and cybersecurity certifications. Good data security analyst certifications can provide you with many opportunities throughout your career.
Organizations and recruiters are more focused on the certification section of your resume before anything else. If you are someone willing to make or enhance your career in the cybersecurity field and have questions like -
Which IT security certification should I get? How to get certified in cybersecurity?
The answers to all your questions will be found in this article.
This article will provide you with substantial and useful information on the top cybersecurity certifications along with the cybersecurity certification path and how they have evolved from the top cybersecurity certifications list of 2019.
For a better understanding of individual certifications in cybersecurity such as CompTIA, CISSP, and others, they have been divided into two groups, one of them is IT security certification and the other is IT networking certification.
Best Cyber Security Certifications For IT security:
- CISSP Certification
- CISA Certification
- COBIT 5 Foundation
Best IT Networking Certifications in 2020:
- CompTIA A+ Certification
- CompTIA Security+ Certification
- CompTIA CASP+ Certification
- CCNA Certification
- CCNP Certification
- CCENT Certification
- CCIE Security Certification
Each of the above certifications to get in the cybersecurity path has different specializations in information technology depending on your interest and level of experience.
Here is a guide showing which of these from some of the best information security certifications may be suitable for you to expand your set of skills, attract prospective employers, and set high standards.
Top IT Security Certifications List in 2020
IT security is a term relating to all aspects of cyberspace and computer security certifications.
It mainly deals with protecting the confidentiality of devices, networks, programs, etc. from unauthorized access, damage or attack by establishing different security controls and measures in place.
The IT professional who is a cybersecurity certificate holder will keep track of two-way traffic to minimize the percentage of cyber-attacks and protect the company from unauthorized system exploitation. Some of the best cybersecurity certifications online from the lengthy information security certification list have been given and explained below.
- CISSP: Certified information system Security Professional
CISSP stands for Certified Information System Security Professional and is one of the best security certifications offered by the (ISC)2 which stands for the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium.
The CISSP certification signifies a candidate’s competency and ability in various sectors of information security. Professionals certified by CISSP are hired to develop the design, controls, architecture, and management of highly secure business firms.
CISSP also develops policies that control the organization and perform risk management and security of software development. It is one of the highest paying cyber security certifications. It is the most demanded cyber security certification due to a significant shortage of skillful information security professionals.
Thousands of jobs are available globally that requires a Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP). The need for skilled information system security certifications holder individual particularly CISSP is great news for aspiring candidates and makes CISSP one of the best certifications to have.
Since it is one of the most valuable IT certifications; there are some professional prerequisites that you must have in order to be eligible for taking the test.
You must either have a minimum five years of full-time work experience in at least couple of domains of the (ISC)2 Common Book of Knowledge or you can have four years of experience if you have a four-year college degree or another approved certification from the many other cyber security certification courses. Second is that you have to follow the (ISC)2 code of ethics mention things like felony convictions and identification with hackers if any in your application. After that, you will have to pass the exam.
After successful completion of the CISSP exam, you are required to indulge with the (ISC)2 Code of Ethics and complete a CISSP endorsement process to become a CISSP. The (ISC)2 endorsement form has to be verified and signed by another (ISC)2 certified information systems security professional after checking your professional work experience.
To be fully certified, the Complete (ISC)2 endorsement form must be submitted within nine months after passing your exam since only passing the CISSP exam will not by default grant you a CISSP certification status. CISSP’s are also required to submit 120 CPE (Continuing Professional Education) credits in a three year period which accounts for 40 CPE’s each year.
The CISSP exam fee would cost $699. CISSP Exam outline from the ISC2 CISSP webpage can be acquired. In case you need more studying materials, CISSP classes and Online CISSP Certification training which is also the best security training for working professionals, is offered by a lot of institutes along with (ISC)2
The CISSP training costs differ largely, but the online self paced course costs $2795 which is through (ISC)2. The Classroom based CISSP training course will cost more adequately.
After getting certified, you will have to complete the CISSP recertification once every three years to maintain your credentials and will also be required t pay maintenance fee of $85 every year during the three year period ($255 total).
CISSP is amongst the best information security certification; therefore it is not easy to pass the exam and requires a lot of efforts and dedication to get through it. The rate of passing the CISSP exam is about 20%.
The CISSP exam is of 6 hours duration which consists of 250 questions from 8 domain goliath and the minimum requirement is 70% which means the exam has a CISSP passing score of 700 out of 1000. The exam contains a mixed set of advanced innovative multiple-choice questions.
A certified cyber security professional who earns a CISSP certified salary normally gets paid in the range of $78,000 to $120,000 which can go up to a maximum of averaging more than $140,000. It is placed among the 15 highest paying IT certifications according to training company Global Knowledge. Also as per a survey by the Tech Republic, it stands at number four in the IT security certification list of top 15 paying security certification jobs.
It is one of the six system security certifications in which the maximum average salary is more than $140,000. A survey from payscale.com shows that the CISSP average salary ranges from $55,000 to $152,000 and varies as per the candidate's experience, job title, and job location. A finding from a study shows that CISSP certified professionals who are women get significantly lesser pay than a male professional. A female CISSP jobs salary is in the range of $73,000 to $111,000, while a male CISSP pay scale is in the range of $78,000 to $119,000.
Get CISSP certification training – online, live online and classroom classes
- CISA: Certified Information System Auditor
According to ISACA, the CISA or Certified Information system Auditor is one of the best among the many information security courses and a very valuable standard for candidates looking for a profession in information security, assurance, and audit controls.
CISA certified professionals have acquired the best cyber security training and skills along with knowledge and skill of the CISA job requirement areas such as auditing, development and implementation, asset protection, governance and management, maintenance & service management, and acquisition.
CISA certified candidates are able to judge and find out threats and vulnerabilities of the organization and provide controls and organizational security guidance after assessing compliance. Due to the above reasons, CISA is considered as one of the top IT security certifications in the present world.
To get the CISA certification for cyber security professionals in your name, you will have to pass the CISA exam. Thereafter, submit an application and agree to the code of professional ethics, to continue professional educational requirements, and to the organization's systems auditing standards. Furthermore, a candidate must have a minimum of one year of experience working with information systems. A few substitutions on the above are allowed.
After gaining the CISA certification, a candidate is required to maintain the certification by earning 120 CPE (Continuing Professional Education) credits in a 3 year period which includes a minimum of 20 CPE’s to be earned by the candidate annually.
How much does the security exam cost will depend upon whether you are a member of ISACA or not. The CISA exam cost currently is $575. If you are an ISACA member, the cost is $135. Without the membership, the CISA exam fee is $760.
If registered early for the exam you will get a $50 discount on the exam fee. In case you are an ISACA member, you will be charged with local ISACA, chapter dues which cost about $20.
Considering you are an ISACA member and get the early registration for the exam done, your CISA application fees would be around (525+135+20) that is $690. In addition, an application processing fee of $50 will be charged.
After obtaining the CISA certification, candidates are required to pay an annual fee towards maintenance which is $85 for non-ISACA members and $45 for ISACA members.
The CISA exam has a set of 150 questions that are extracted from all five domains of CISA.
The exam is normally graded between the scales of 200-800 and to pass the exam you will need a score of more than 450. The exam is of 4-hour duration which is normally sufficient for those who attempt the complete exam.
CISA salary ranges from $50,000 at entry-level to $150,000 at top positions.
With additional security certs such as ethical hacking certification or CISSP, you can increase your professional skillset and gain larger salaries.
The CISA data security certification is highly in demand as organizations are looking for skills and knowledge that CISA provides. It is the most ideal certification for cyber security analyst. Since, in order to complete the CISA certification, one requires a lot of experience and substantial education, the long term career benefits are definitely worth the overall cost.
CISA certification training to clear CISA exam – Get CISA certified
- COBIT 5 Foundation: Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies
