The Importance of Cybersecurity Certifications to Land a job

There are several factors that determine whether you will secure a job or not. Educational qualification, relevant skills and knowledge, work experience, etc. Certifications are also an important factor in determining whether you will be preferred for a job over your competitors.

This also applies in the field of cybersecurity as well. Apart from educational qualifications and cybersecurity skills, you may also benefit a lot if you have a credible and recognized cybersecurity certification on your resume.

You may find it surprising that over 51% of respondents in a Fortinet Cybersecurity Skills Gap Report faced fines, jail time, or position loss because of cyber-attacks. This is one of the personally motivated reasons why cybersecurity leaders are hiring skilled cybersecurity professionals.

The demand for cybersecurity talent force is increasing. So, let’s understand the importance of cybersecurity certifications in getting a job.

What Are Cybersecurity Certifications?

Cybersecurity certifications are important credentials used to validate an individual’s skills, knowledge, and experience in the field of cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is a huge domain that encompasses a variety of operations, right from risk assessment, vulnerability management, ethical hacking, network security, cloud security, application security, digital forensics, and so on.

Therefore, one can find a variety of cybersecurity certification programs designed to learn specific skills. Since these certifications are provided after a rigorous assessment and proving their technical competencies, they are highly valued among employers.

Reasons Why Employers Value Certifications

Not just one or two, but there are several reasons why certified candidates are preferred over non-certified counterparts.

Here are a few reasons why a cybersecurity certification can be an important credential for your cybersecurity career.

· It serves as proof of your technical expertise and validates that you possess the essential technical cybersecurity skills required to perform a specific cybersecurity job.

· Helps to demonstrate your willingness to lifelong learning and professional commitment in the field of cybersecurity.

· Certifications also serve as a standard for industry knowledge and help employers gauge a candidate’s value properly to simplify the hiring process.

· In some regulated industries like finance and healthcare, where stringent compliance requirements are there, certifications provide employers with assurance that cybersecurity professionals will be able to effectively handle sensitive data and meet the regulatory standards.

Certifications also increase a candidate’s credibility and employability in the industry and help them get even higher salaries.

Different Types of Cybersecurity Certifications

Depending upon specific cybersecurity job roles and skills, cybersecurity certifications also come in different shapes and sizes.

1. Entry-level certifications: These are designed for students and professionals seeking a career in cybersecurity who want to master the basic concepts to get started in this career path.

2. Intermediate certifications: These cybersecurity certifications cover advanced cybersecurity concepts and equip learners with specific cybersecurity skills to advance in their existing role

3. Advanced certifications: These are basically cybersecurity leadership certifications that help seasoned professionals gain the required skills to strategize and execute cybersecurity measures.

Best Cybersecurity Certifications for Career Growth

Now that you understand how important a certification can be for your career, let us discuss some of the most popular and widely recognized certification programs to start and grow in your career.

1. Certified Cybersecurity General Practitioner (CCGP™)

Offered by the United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI®), this is a beginner-level cybersecurity certification program that makes an individual’s foundation in cybersecurity concepts strong.

2. CompTIA Security+

This is another program for students and professionals who want to master the fundamental concepts of cybersecurity.

3. Certified Cybersecurity Consultant (CCC™)

This is an intermediate-level certification offered by USCSI® and empowers professionals to design and implement efficient security architecture.

4. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Those who want to master ethical hacking and penetration testing skills can immensely benefit from this widely recognized certification from EC-Council.

5. Certified Senior Cybersecurity Specialist (CSCS™)

USCSI® offers this certification for senior-level cybersecurity professionals who want to gain leadership skills in strategizing cybersecurity measures to strengthen their organization’s overall security posture.

6. Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)

This is one of the most popular and recognized certification programs offered by the prestigious ISC2 and designed for senior-level cybersecurity professionals with over 5-8 years of experience who want to advance in their careers to senior levels.

Though not mandatory, certifications can significantly boost your career path!

Whether or not you need a cybersecurity certification varies based on various scenarios. Government, compliance, and consulting roles often mandate these credentials. However, if you possess practical skills and knowledge then you can enter jobs like penetration testing or ethical hacking without explicitly requiring a certification.

Moreover, having the required experience can also compensate if you do not possess a certification. Overall, a certification is an essential credential that validates and demonstrates your skills and expertise in various fields of cybersecurity. They can help you stand out from the crowd and ensure you get noticed among employers. The benefits of certifications are many. But what ultimately matters are your practical knowledge, confidence, and your performance in interviews that will help you land a job.

So, if you are looking to start or advance in a cybersecurity career, gain the essential skills you are aiming for, get the relevant certification to enhance your chances of getting hired and of course get higher salaries, and prepare well enough for interviews of your desired job role.