Hardly a week goes by when we don’t hear of a data breach, an exposed AWS bucket owned by a company that has been leaking the records of millions of customers for years, or a serious cybersecurity incident that gives IT teams sleepless nights and prompts government agencies to issue alerts to warn the enterprise of new threats.
Cybersecurity incidents over the past few years — including the Microsoft Exchange Server zero-day vulnerabilities debacle, the ransomware attack against Colonial pipeline, and now the hack-and-forth between Ukraine and Russia — have highlighted the need for cybersecurity experts to protect both enterprise resources, critical services, and infrastructure.
Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that by 2025, there will be 3.5 million open cybersecurity job vacancies.
The industry does not necessarily demand certifications to get started, but they can be a great starting point to give you an idea of your particular interests and what sectors of the field to pursue: whether this is in risk analysis, vulnerability management, penetration testing, offensive/defensive work, or bug bounty hunting, among many other options. Either way, undertaking a course or two can give you a thorough grounding in different concepts and deepen your knowledge.
Below, we have listed the best options to get you started and to stand out when you apply for a role in this lucrative field.
Cybrary courses
Best overall, with both free and paid courses
Cybrary is an excellent online resource for video-based courses in cybersecurity, suiting a range of skill levels and existing qualifications.
You can enroll in courses that explain the fundamentals of particular career paths, whether as a system administrator or as a network engineer — and if you can ignore the cheesy thumbnails used to tout some of the courses, the actual content is valuable. The courses also come with an estimated time to completion and difficulty rating.
You might want to explore some of these courses as introductory prep for other formal qualifications, such as the EC-Council’s Certified Ethical Hacking (CEH) and CISSP. Virtual labs for tools including Wireshark and practice tests for qualifications including CompTIA Security+, CISM, and others are also available. (However, it should be noted that the resources on offer, such as for the CEH, are not official courseware or lab sessions.)
Also of note is that Coursera offers suggested ‘paths’ toward professional qualifications in line with industry standards, such as those managed by NIST. Courses can also be completed at your own pace, and some do result in formal qualifications after you pass.
Some courses are free, while others require an enrollment or test fee.
CompTIA Network+, Security+
Best for networking and basic business security concepts
It might not be as exciting as learning about penetration tools, Cobalt Strike beacons, or password crackers, but a thorough understanding of networks is necessary for today’s cybersecurity defenders.
To get started, you should consider the CompTIA Network+ course, which teaches learners how to build a network from the ground up and how to identify different kinds of network topology and configurations. A solid foundation in networking protocols and standards can help you identify and understand network-based intrusions, propagation, and malware, including ransomware, operating on target networks.
You can take Security+, a baseline qualification in security concepts and roles, risk analysis, hands-on troubleshooting, and more from this entry-level course. The Security+ exam has had a recent refresh to SY0-601.
SANS SEC401: Security Essentials Bootcamp Style
Best for those who want an intense deep dive
The SANS Institute is a respected provider of professional cybersecurity courses, and SEC401 is described as a “bootcamp” for those with some existing knowledge of IT, networking, and security.
While certainly not a cheap undertaking, the in-depth course covers security metrics, audits, risk assessments, network protection, incident detection and response, and more.
SANS says the course “will provide the essential information security skills and techniques you need to protect and secure your critical information and technology assets, whether on-premise or in the cloud.”
As a course for working professionals, SANS offers flexibility through on-demand, online, or in-person — where possible — training. You can complete the course virtually or in-person over six days.
Offensive Security Pen 200 (OSCP)
Best for those who want to focus on offense and hands-on learning
Offensive Security’s Penetration Testing with Kali Linux (PEN-200) is the organization’s foundation course in using the Kali Linux OS for ethical hacking.
The vendor’s focus is on offense and hands-on learning rather than lectures, tickboxes, and completely academic study. Offensive Security encourages critical thinking and problem-solving with its “Try Harder” slogan. After all, if you can learn to think like an attacker, you can better protect systems against them.
You will need a solid understanding of networking principles, and some understanding of Windows, Linux, and Bash/Python will help.
Successfully completing the course will give you the OSCP certification — as long as you can handle the 24-hour exam. The vendor has recently added the course as an option on a subscription basis for busy individuals who need the flexibility to learn at their own pace.
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Best for those who want a globally recognized qualification
CISSP, offered by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, is one of the most well-known professional cybersecurity qualifications worldwide.
The course covers the design and implementation of cybersecurity programs, including engineering, security architectures, risk management, identity and access management, and software security, among other topics.
CISSP can be taken in the classroom and led by instructors in real-time, but you will need years of experience in the field as a prerequisite. Online training is possible, but costs vary.
ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Best for moving into management
ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification is focused on four areas: information security governance, risk management, infosec program creation and management, and security incident management.
Therefore, this qualification isn’t suitable as a foundation course but rather could be valuable to move up the management chain in an enterprise security role. To become certified, you need to both pass the exam and have acceptable work experience. Still, afterwards, ISACA says the average salary of a CISM-certified individual can reach $118,000 (although there is an annual maintenance fee).
If you’re interested in this course, it should be noted that the old syllabus will be retired in June 2022 to make way for an updated exam.
GIAC certifications
Pick your roadmap
Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) is an institution that offers an array of IT and cybersecurity qualifications.
GIAC’s offerings include topics such as security administration, management, legal, auditing, cyberforensics, and software security. Depending on your areas of interest, you can follow roadmaps with suggested courses to broaden your knowledge and skill set.
GIAC is an affiliate of the SANS Institute, and some courses, such as GIAC Security Essentials, correspond to training offered by its partner organization.
Prices vary for different certifications.
What is the best cybersecurity certification?
Cybrary is our top choice for cybersecurity courses, but one size doesn’t fit all
Choosing a course should depend on your knowledge level and current skill set. Rather than jump right in with an advanced qualification, you may need to spend time learning the basics with a CompTIA, or you may already have enough industry experience to tackle one of the more advanced courses on our list.
How did we select these cybersecurity certifications?
While compiling our recommendations, we covered a range starting from entry-level and broad courses designed to give you foundational knowledge in IT — from the hardware to networks and how systems communicate — to more advanced technical certifications sought after by employers.
Should you pay for a course?
If you’re unsure, check out free courses on Cybrary, YouTube tutorial videos, and Hack The Box before you sign up for a qualification. We especially recommend these options for those who are not completely sure they want a career in cybersecurity.
Is it really important to learn about networking and PCs first?
Yes. If you don’t understand the fundamentals, this will lead to a flawed understanding of cybersecurity concepts. You should take the time to build yourself a foundation in IT knowledge first rather than go straight into playing with pen testing software. However, it’s also important to have fun with it, and there are plenty of legal online hubs for learning about cybersecurity — without landing yourself in hot water.
Do you have to be certified?
There is a range of options out there: being self-taught, apprenticeships, degrees, and professional qualifications. If you’re serious about a career in cybersecurity and want to eventually move up the ladder, qualifications can give you a good start, just as in many other fields.
