Cyber Security Certifications

Cyber security certifications are among the top sight-out and required things to land a job or assume higher information security positions. These cyber security certification programs exist in many formats and by various organizations around the world, some for profit and others for non-profit causes. Meaning, some cyber security certifications are provided by specific vendors while many other certifications are offered by vendor-neutral or sometimes called vendor-agnostic organizations.

Depending on aspirants and professionals interests and requirements, it is fine to choose certificates that suites them and meets their career path and job requirements. Besides, organizations may select cyber security certifications that addresses their cyber security requirements both from the vendor-specific and/or from the vendor-agnostic categories based on the security requirements of their information and information systems. A company that relies on CISCO devices and services may inclined more towards CISCO cyber security certifications. While other organizations may prefer vendor-neutral cyber security certifications. Either way, there is nothing wrong with choosing cyber security certifications from the plethora of vendor-specific and vendor-neutral certifications in the industry. What is important is that organizations and individuals alike should invest on capacity building programs in cyber security to protect their assets and stay competitive.

Investing in cyber security certifications and training programs is never a liability rather an asset that organizations should treasure to safeguards their information and information systems from the recurring and threatening cyber security threats. Yes, there is no direct link between profit and return on security investment (ROSI). Because, cyberattacks strike mostly depending on the security posture and maturity level of organizations and their employees. And even so they strike once in a while and they strike big and threaten the very existence of hard built organization. This implies that organizations should invest in their personnel and security controls regardless of whether they have been attacked or not, the earlier the better.

According to some statistics and research-based studies, organizations wake up and invest only when they sustain nefarious cyberattacks and face disastrous situations. However, this strategy is not only dead wrong position but also it is extremely costly and foolish choice. If organizations do not change this approach and course of action, they will keep empowering the cybercriminals and wait to be attacked in the second, third and so forth rounds. Had organizations were clear on security investment, they would invest earlier and faster to stay ahead of the cybercriminals before it is too late. And they would protect their assets and earn reputation and trust from their customers.

The most common and reputable vendor-agnostic cyber security certifications that professionals and aspirants could earn include one or more the following:

(ISC)2 offers the following famous cyber security certifications

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
• Certified Authorization Professional (CAP)
• Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP)
• HealthCare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner (HCISPP)
• Certified in Cybersecurity

ISACA

• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
• Certified Information Security Auditor (CISA)
• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)
• Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT)
• Cybersecurity Practitioner Certification (CSX-P)
• Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE)
• Information Technology Certified Associate (ITCA)
• Certified in Emerging Technology Certification (CET)

GIAC – Global Information Assurance Certification

• GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)
• GIAC Certified Intrusion Analyst (GCIA)
• GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)
• GIAC Certified Forensic Analyst (GCFA)
• GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner (GCFE)
• GIAC Network Forensic Analyst (GNFA)
• GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT)
• GIAC Information Security Professional (GISP)
• GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN)
• Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP)

CompTIA

• CompTIA Security+
• CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
• CompTIA CySA+
• CompTIA PenTest+

EC-Council

• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
• Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO)
• Certified Cloud Security Engineer (C|CSE)
• Certified Penetration Testing Professional (CPENT)
• EC-Council’s Certified Incident Handler (E|CIH)
• EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (E|CSA)

IAPP

• Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT)
• Certified Information Privacy Manager (CIPM)
• Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US)