Despite the more than 300,000 cybersecurity jobs vacant in the United States, they can be tough to land if you don’t have the right experience and credentials. Job candidates need solid cybersecurity skills, and the quickest way to prove to employers you have what it takes is by earning the right cybersecurity certifications.
Search the internet for “cybersecurity certifications,” and you’ll get 110 million results in 0.70 seconds. Talk about confusing! When you’re searching for the right certification to help you get into cybersecurity or further your cybersecurity career, what you need are credible industry sources to help steer you toward the certifications that will benefit you most.
In the past year, some of these sources have listed CompTIA among the best cybersecurity certifications on the market. Read on to find out which certifications they think will add value to your resume.
CompTIA Security+
HackRead calls CompTIA Security+ “the main security certification for IT experts to procure.” It cites the following skills as highlights of the foundational cybersecurity certification:
- Threat management
- Cryptography
- Network access control
HackRead adds that CompTIA Security+ is especially valuable to the following IT jobs:
HackRead lists CompTIA Security+ in its five best cybersecurity certifications, along with Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).
CompTIA PenTest+
CompTIA PenTest+ launched on July 31, 2018, making it the newest CompTIA certification. Despite the fact that it’s only a year old, the offensive, or red team, cybersecurity certification has already been recognized by IT industry leader INFOSEC.
INFOSEC notes that while CompTIA is new to pen testing certifications, “it’s well known in the industry for a host of other IT and security credentials.”
INFOSEC outlines five areas that are covered by CompTIA PenTest+:
- Planning and scoping
- Pen testing tools
- Info-gathering and vulnerabilities identification
- Attacks and exploits
- Reporting and communication
The mastery of each of these areas will help IT professionals get into cybersecurity or strengthen their current cybersecurity career. Information Assurance Certification Review Board (IACRB) Certified Penetration Tester (CPT), EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and EC-Council Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT) are a few other pen testing IT certifications INFOSEC considers great investments.
CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+)
Business News Daily suggests CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) as a solution to the growing demand for highly skilled security analysts. It notes that CompTIA CySA+ prepares individuals to effectively detect system threats and use data and behavioral analytics to secure applications and systems from risks, threats and other vulnerabilities.
In addition to monitoring network behavior, CompTIA CySA+ certification holders can expertly analyze results and brainstorm solutions that protect against APTs, intrusions and malware. Many other CompTIA certifications are mentioned besides CySA+ as being some of the best cybersecurity certifications to earn, including CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+, CompTIA Cloud+ and CompTIA PenTest+, just to name a few.
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
phoenixNAP says CompTIA certifications are “some of the industry’s most sought-after certifications because the Department of Defense (DoD) requires several for nearly any IT related position.”
It calls CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) one of the best cybersecurity certifications to grow your IT career and help you get into cybersecurity in the government sector, as government employers will accept the certification for any level of security professional.
At the time of publication, CompTIA did not offer training products for CASP+, but you can now purchase the Official CASP+ Study Guide, in eBook or hardcover, and CompTIA CertMaster Labs for CASP+, which helps you practice the hands-on skills tested through performance-based questions.
phoenixNAP lists CompTIA CASP+ along with Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), GIAC Certified Incident Handler (CIH), Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) as a highly recommended IT certification for growing your cybersecurity career.
Cybersecurity Certifications to Advance Your IT Career
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the expected growth rate for information security analysts is 28% by 2026 – the quickest-growing rate for all professions. This indicates IT professionals are going to have some incredible cybersecurity career opportunities in the near future. To take advantage of these opportunities, you’ll need the right IT certifications for the job. Which certification will you start with?
Do you want to get into cybersecurity? Check out the CompTIA Cybersecurity Career Pathway.
