Top Certifications Needed to be a Cyber Security Expert

The cybersecurity market, with projected growth of 30% between 2020-2030, is growing at a tremendous rate. Considering the market growth of other industries at a mere 8% during the same period - the numbers are quite significant. The exponential growth prospect, coupled with 0% unemployment rate and skyrocketing salary hikes, ensures a promising career for a cyber security expert. However, organisations are majorly looking for certified cybersecurity professionals as the certificates demonstrate industry-leading proficiency. Likewise, the Cyber Security Expert Salary in India and around the globe is always higher for certified professionals.
In this blog, we will take a look at some of the best cybersecurity certifications that can help you in building a career in this domain. Plus, we will talk about the attributes to look for when picking up cyber security certifications.

Why the growing demand?

Before getting into the certifications, let’s have a quick look into the reasons behind the increasing demand for cybersecurity professionals.
One of the primary reasons for the rising market share of the cybersecurity domain is increase in cyber attacks. Companies, private individuals, as well as the government are fighting a constant battle against hackers to protect their data. They are actively looking for cyber security experts like information security analysts, data security consultants, penetration testers, and so on.
These professionals hold expertise in testing the overall security policies of an institution to detect and fix existing security gaps. You might consider exploring the best cyber security certifications to land these roles!

What do cyber security experts do?

Cybersecurity experts play a crucial role in protecting the network and systems from data breaches, and other malicious activities. These professionals possess a deep understanding of computer systems, network architecture, and potential vulnerabilities, allowing them to identify and address security risks effectively.

Cybersecurity professionals utilise specialised tools and techniques to assess potential risks for an organisation, including penetration testing, vulnerability scanning, and threat analysis. Based on their assessment, they implement all-rounded security measures, such as firewalls, encryption protocols, and intrusion detection systems.
They also stay updated on emerging threats and industry best practices, continuously monitoring and enhancing security systems to defend against evolving cyber threats. To sum up, cybersecurity experts play a pivotal role in safeguarding the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of digital resources.

Cyber security Job Roles

Cybersecurity professionals are assigned to protect digital data, locate the existing vulnerabilities within the network and system, and fix the security loopholes. However, the specifics of the job responsibilities and the job title can change based on the field you are working in.
The best certifications for cyber security can help you land the following jobs:

• Cybersecurity Specialist
• Penetration Tester
• Source Code Auditor
• Vulnerability Analyst
• Chief Information Security Officer
• Security Consultant
• Source Code Auditor
• Security Manager

Top Cyber Security Certifications

Cybersecurity certifications are immensely helpful for skill-building and validation. Here is a list of top cyber security certifications trusted by IT pros.

1. Foundational Courses

• Certified Ethical Hacker v12
Ethical hacking is the process of running an authorised simulated attack on the network to find out existing vulnerabilities before hackers exploit them. The EC-Council-accredited CEH Certification validates the candidate’s skills in penetration testing, attack detection, and prevention.

• Certification In Ethical Hacking
Dataspace Academy’s Certification in Ethical Hacking is a foundational course for anyone starting with cyber security. This 3-month course teaches the learners essential skills required to outsmart hackers in their own game. The program covers vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, network security and essential ethical hacking tools like Metasploit, Nikito, and BurpSuite.

• CompTIA Security+ Certification
It is another popular entry-level security certification that validates the core skills needed in any cybersecurity role. This certification helps you demonstrate skills in assessing the security policies of the organisation and tracking and securing cloud environments. The CompTIA Security+ Certification also educates learners about laws and regulations related to risk and compliance. Although anyone is eligible to partake in this examination, a background in networking and IT would make the course more conducive.

• Cybersecurity Essentials Program
This is a comprehensive cybersecurity training program by DataSpace Academy. It is designed to cover topics like data protection, network security, risk management, and incident response. Along with classroom education, the program also extends hands-on experience with various tools, practice sessions on the free Dataspace Academy Lab. DSA learners receive placement assistance as well.

2. Mid-Level Proficiency

• Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
This certification by ISACA demonstrates your skills in vulnerability assessment, control implementation, and compliance reporting. But this certification is limited to candidates with experience in information systems auditing, protection of information assets, and IT management and governance.

• Penetration Testing For Security Engineer
The certification program introduces the key aspects of pentesting including Network Penetration Testing, Cloud Penetration Testing, etc. Learners will receive training on how to deploy popular cybersecurity tools like Nikto, NMap, and Metasploit.

• Certification In Cyber Forensics
Certification in cyber Forensics is one among the top IT certifications today. This course helps you learn the essential skills required to build a career in Computer Forensics. Today, everyone from private firms to government agencies is hiring cyber forensic experts to help investigate and restore stolen data.

3. Expert Level

• Advance Pentesting Course
This certification program by Dataspace Academy is a highly specialised training module for learners with mid-level proficiency in cybersecurity and pentesting. This course provides extensive hands-on training on various tools and technologies required to handle highly advanced pentesting projects.

With so many certifications around, how do you pick the best one for your career? Choosing the Best IT Certifications from the lot can be overwhelming. Check out the paragraph below for an easy guide.

Choosing the most compatible Cybersecurity Certification

Before choosing a course or certification in cybersecurity, contemplate on the job role you would want to pursue in this domain. Does your interest lie more towards penetration testing or incident response? Or do you find your calling in security architecture? To make things easier, narrow down the courses that align with your area of interest.
The first thing to do here is to conduct a thorough market research. Study the various cybersecurity job opportunities and respevctive cyber security expert salary in India. Look for specific certifications for those job roles that will help you land your dream jobs easily. For example, if you want to build a career in Information Systems Auditing, you will have to sign up for the CISA certification. In case, you aspire to be an ethical hacker, enroll into the CEHv12 certification.
Cybersecurity is a rapidly growing domain, and the industry is brimming with opportunities for beginners and professionals who want to switch careers. Cybersecurity certifications will help to leverage your competitive edge in this highly competitive job market.

Q1: Is a Cybersecurity Certification Worth It?

Yes, a cybersecurity certification is worth it. Cybersecurity job applications generally ask for certified professionals.

Q2: How Do You Get Certified in Cybersecurity?

First, you will need to check the eligibility criteria for your preferred cyber security certification. If you match the criteria, enroll into a course that will help you to prepare for the certification. After completing the course, you will appear for the exam. If you cannot pass in the first turn, you will usually receive opportunities to take the exam again.

Q3: Which Cybersecurity Certification Should I Get First?

We recommend starting with entry-level certifications if you have under two years of experience in the cybersecurity field. The Cybersecurity Essentials Program is a great place to start.

Q4: How Long would it take to receive cybersecurity certification?

If we consider the prep time, it takes couple of years to get certified in cybersecurity. However, those with prior job experience in cybersecurity do not need to invest a prolonged time in preparation.

Q5: Does Cybersecurity Require Coding?

Beginner cybersecurity roles won’t often require a lot of coding, but you should have basic coding skills just in case. As you move up the cybersecurity career ladder, more coding skills will be required.

Q6: Is Cybersecurity a Good Career?

Yes. Cybersecurity professionals can anticipate a 33% market growth from 2020 to 2030, which promises strong job security. Salaries are also quite high, ranging between 5.0 LPA INR- 11.0 LPA INR, with executive roles fetching even higher salaries.