Cybersecurity professionals remain among the most sought-after candidates in the IT industry.

With the increasing need to prevent security breaches, building a team of security experts has become a necessity for organizations.

Considering a Career in Cybersecurity?

According to a prediction by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be an 18% surge in cybersecurity jobs between 2014 and 2024.

However, there is still a huge gap in the talent pool required to fill vacant positions.

With global talent shortages giving IT security experts more to leverage, now might be the right time to start building a career in cybersecurity.

If you are thinking of starting a career in the cybersecurity field, you have probably asked yourself certain questions like “which cybersecurity certifications should I get first?” or “which are the easiest and cheapest cybersecurity certifications to get?”

The fact is that there are lots of certifications in the cybersecurity field.

However, as a beginner, it is important to know which ones will help you get your foot in the door and what certifications align with your career goals.

The following certifications will help you stand out in job applications and attract high-paying employers.

1 – CompTIA – Security+

Security+ is CompTIA’s entry-level cybersecurity certification.

This certification is a good start to get your foot in the door in a cyber-security role.

As a beginner in the cybersecurity field, opting for Security+ would provide you with a solid foundation in your career.

This certification is best for beginners because there are no prerequisites. However, if you are new to IT, you should consider taking the CompTIA Network+ as well, to get the foundational knowledge in networking which is an important part of cybersecurity.

CompTIA Security+ consists of the following objectives:

• Compliance and Operational Security
• Network Security
• Cryptography
• Threats and Vulnerabilities
• Access Control and Identity Management, and
• App, Data, and Host Security

CompTIA Security+ is often listed among the prerequisites for entry-level roles in the cybersecurity field.

According to Payscale, a CompTIA Security+ certification could earn an IT professional a salary anywhere between $63,000 to $65,000 annually.

The CompTIA Security+ certification qualifies you for the following roles:

• System Administrator
• Network Administrator
• Security Engineer, and
• Application Support Analyst

This certification costs about $350. However, you can get up to a 40% discount if you are a student currently in a degree program.

This is quite affordable when you consider the tons of opportunities you become qualified for once you gain this introductory certification. You should also know CompTIA updates the Security+ syllabus every three years. This is to ensure the course content is up to date with the latest industry trends.

2 – (ISC)² -Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP)

SSCP is offered by (ISC)² and it is one of the leading certifications from this body.

SSCP is a good starting point for you if you wish to advance your career as an IT security professional.

This certification is targeted towards IT security professionals with at least one year of experience and students currently undertaking a bachelor’s or master’s program in cybersecurity.

Being SSCP certified proves you are well-equipped to manage an IT infrastructure and you have the technical skills needed to secure an organization’s critical assets.

SSCP covers the following objectives:

• Access Controls
• Incident Response and Recovery
• Communication and Network Security
• Security Administration and Operations
• Systems and Application Security
• Cryptography, and
• Risk Identification, Monitoring, and Analysis

According to Payscale.com, the average salary for this certification is $75,000.

Here are some roles you can land with an SSCP certification:

• Network Administrator
• System Administrator
• Information Security Engineer, and
• Network Security Administrator

The SSCP certification costs about $250.

To become a SSCP certified professional, (ISC)² requires that you have a minimum of one year work experience in at least one of the ISCP SSCP Common Body Knowledge seven domains.

However, if you’re short on the required experience, you can still become an Associate (ISC)²  by passing the exam. To gain the full SSCP certification after taking the exam, you will need to gain two years’ work experience.

3 – EC-COUNCIL – Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) certification administered by EC-Council is one of the qualifications you should get if you want to upgrade your career in cybersecurity.

With over 300 attack technologies and 2000 plus hacking tools, CEH exposes you to the concepts of penetration testing and ethical hacking.

By understanding risks and vulnerabilities in applications, networks, and other systems, you can safeguard your organization against malicious hackers and threats.

Some of the topics you will learn during your CEH training includes:

• Footprint and Reconnaissance
• Scanning Networks
• Web and IoT Hacking
• Network Security
• IDS Evasion, and
• Cryptography

Although there are people who believe this certification is not worth the hassle, CEH still ranks high among the most in-demand qualifications by employers.

This certification will definitely boost your resume and make you a good candidate for a large number of cybersecurity roles.

The CEH certification is also approved by the U.S. Department of Defense. This certification costs about $850 if you chose to skip the training route.

With a CEH certification, you are qualified for roles like:

• Network Security
• Junior Penetration Tester
• Information Security Analyst, and
• Cyber Security Analyst or Engineer

4 – CISCO – Certified CyberOps Associate 

The CCNA CyberOps certification is a great path to beginner and associate-level cybersecurity roles within the SOC in an organization.

This program provides you with the skills required to detect, monitor, and respond to threats and other cybersecurity problems that your organization could face.

CCNA CyberOps is the perfect certification for entry-level roles since it provides in-depth knowledge about most cybersecurity principles and technologies.

Some of the topics you will learn during your CCNA CyberOps training include:

• Security Concepts
• Host-based Security Analysis
• Attack Methods
• Network Intrusion Analysis
• Incident Handling, and
• Cryptography

One of the core benefits of CCNA CyberOps is that it provides you with in-depth information about cyber espionage, cybercrime, insider threats and various other cybersecurity threats that organizations encounter in the real world.

Aside from the skills you acquire from this certification, CCNA CyberOps validates your expertise to potential employers around the world.

Here are some roles you can get with a CCNA CyberOps qualification:

• Cybersecurity Engineer
• Security Engineer
• Information Security Analyst, and
• Network Security Engineer

The CCNA CyberOps certification is DOD (U.S Department of Defense) approved.

This certification costs about $800 and there are no prerequisites. However, CISCO CCNA recommends that candidates have basic knowledge of computer operating systems such as Linux and Windows.

If you are seeking a role within an organization’s Security Operations Center, this is the best certification for you.

5 – GIAC Information Security Fundamentals (GISF)

GISF is one of the best certifications you can use to kick-start your career in cybersecurity.

This certification is issued by Global Information Assurance Certification, which is one of the most reputable certification providers.

GISF is aimed at those who want to develop a career in the cyber defense domain.

This certification validates your understanding of computer functions, networking, and security foundation.

GISF also proves your knowledge of the key concepts in information security such as identifying threats and risks to information and knowing the best way to safeguard critical information.

GISF course content includes the following:

• Access Controls
• Incident Response
• Security Policies
• Cryptography, and
• Systems Security

The median salary you can earn with a GISF certification is about $85,000.

Here are some of the jobs you can fill by getting GISF certified:

• Security Analyst
• Infotech Specialist, and
• Cyber Security Analyst

I must mention that this certification is quite expensive as it costs about $2000.

While practical work experience can provide you with the necessary skills needed for this certification, there are no actual prerequisites for taking the GISF exam.

To prepare for the GISF certification, you can opt-in for relevant courses from training providers or explore the self-study route.

Benefits of Earning Certifications in the Cyber Security Domain

In the cybersecurity space, there is high demand for verified skills and certified individuals.

Aside from the work experience required, employers need to be sure that you have the skills to identify and manage threats and challenges.

Cybersecurity certifications provide proof that you are equipped with the required skills, thus improving your employability within the industry.

Also, if you are considering switching careers or aiming for a higher paying role in the cybersecurity field, acquiring certifications in addition to getting the required experience is your best bet.

These certifications will not only make your resume get noticed, but they will also help you get higher-paying jobs.

Gaining certifications is a good investment of your money and time if you want to upscale your market value in the Cybersecurity industry.