Top 5 Cyber Security Certification Courses Which Every Professional Should Take

Every security professional should know the top 5 cyber security certification courses to boost his career. These certifications are must for enhancing your knowledge domain, gaining expertise and also getting a salary hike. These courses not only help you earn better but also put you on a high growth career path.

This Article deals with Top 5 Cyber Security Certification Courses which every established and aspiring security professional should take

1. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Certified Information Systems Auditor is a globally recognized certification offered by ISACA (formerly the Information Systems Audit and Control Association) in the field of audit, control and security of information systems. It has gained worldwide acceptance because of its uniform certification criteria. The certification has a high degree of visibility and recognition in the fields of IT security, IT audit, IT risk management and governance. Vacancies in the areas of IT security management, IT audit or IT risk management often ask for a CISA certification. Being CISA-certified showcases your audit experience, skills and knowledge, and demonstrates you are capable to assess vulnerabilities, report on compliance and institute controls within the enterprise.

Benefits of CISA

• Acts as a hallmark of your knowledge and experience
• Quantifies and markets your expertise
• Demonstrates that you have gained and maintained the level of knowledge required to meet the dynamic challenges of a modern enterprise
• Is globally recognized as the mark of excellence for the IS audit professional
• Combines the achievement of passing a comprehensive exam with recognition of work and educational experience, providing you with credibility in the marketplace.
• Increases your value to your organization
• Gives you a competitive advantage over peers when seeking job growth
• Helps you achieve a high professional standard through ISACA’s requirements for continuing education and ethical conduct

Eligibility

A minimum 5 years of professional information systems auditing, control or security work experience (as described in the CISA job practice areas) is required for certification. Substitutions and waivers of such experience, to a maximum of 3 years, may be obtained in certain conditions.

As per ISACA, CISA is awarded to anyone who meets the following requirements:

• Successful completion of the CISA examination
• Submit an Application for CISA Certification
• Adherence to the Code of Professional Ethics
• Adherence to the Continuing Professional Education Program
• Compliance with the Information Systems Auditing Standards

For detailed information on CISA click here

2. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) is a certification for information security managers awarded by ISACA (formerly the Information Systems Audit and Control Association).

The CISM aims is to provide a common body of knowledge for information security management. The focus of the certification lies on information risk management as the basis of information security. It also includes material on broader issues such as how to govern information security as well as on practical issues such as developing and managing an information security program and managing incidents.

The point of view in the certification is that of widely accepted cross-industry best practices, where information security gets its justification from business needs. The implementation includes information security as an autonomous function inside wider corporate governance.

Independent studies consistently rate ISACA’s designations among the highest paying IT and impactful certifications that an IT professional can earn.

Eligibility

A minimum of five years of information security work experience, with a minimum of three years of information security management work experience in three or more of the job practice analysis areas. The work experience must be gained within the 10-year period preceding the application date for certification or within 5 years from the date of originally passing the exam.

As per ISACA, CISM is awarded upon successful completion of following stages:

• Successfully pass the CISM exam.
• Adhere to ISACA’s Code of Professional Ethics.
• Agree to comply with the Continuing Education Policy.
• Work experience in the field of information security.
• Submit an Application for CISM Certification.

Benefits

• Boosts your earning potential
• Counts in the hiring process
• Enhances your professional credibility and recognition

For detailed information on CISM, please click here

3. Certified Ethical Hacker

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is a qualification obtained by assessing the security of computer systems, using penetration testing techniques. Penetration tests are employed by organizations that hire certified ethical hackers to penetrate networks and computer systems with the purpose of finding and fixing security vulnerabilities. While unauthorized hacking, also known as Black Hat hacking, is illegal, penetration testing done at the request of the owner of the targeted systems is not.

The EC-Council offers another certification, known as Certified Network Defense Architect (CNDA). This certification is designed for United States Government agencies and is available only to members of selected agencies.

Eligibility

Minimum 2 years of information security experience as validated through the application process unless the candidate attends official training.

Benefits

• Establish and govern minimum standards for credentialing professional information security specialists in ethical hacking measures.
• Inform the public that credentialed individuals meet or exceed the minimum standards.
• Reinforce ethical hacking as a unique and self-regulating profession.

For detailed information on CEH, please click here.

4. Certified Information Systems Security Professional

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is an independent information security certification governed by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, also known as (ISC)².

The CISSP curriculum covers subject matter in a variety of Information Security topics. The CISSP examination is based on what (ISC)² terms the Common Body of Knowledge (or CBK). According to (ISC)², “the CISSP CBK is a taxonomy – a collection of topics relevant to information security professionals around the world. The CISSP CBK establishes a common framework of information security terms and principles that allow information security professionals worldwide to discuss, debate and resolve matters pertaining to the profession with a common understanding.”

Eligibility

• Possess a minimum of five years of direct full-time security work experience in two or more of the (ISC)² information security domains (CBK). One year may be waived for having either a four-year college degree, a master’s degree in Information Security, or for possessing one of a number of other certifications. A candidate without the five years of experience may earn the Associate of (ISC)² designation by passing the required CISSP examination, valid for a maximum of six years. During those six years a candidate will need to obtain the required experience and submit the required endorsement form for certification as a CISSP. Upon completion of the professional experience requirements the certification will be converted to CISSP status.
• Attest to the truth of their assertions regarding professional experience and accept the CISSP Code of Ethics.
• Answer questions regarding criminal history and related background.
• Pass the multiple choice CISSP exam with a scaled score of 700 points or greater out of 1000 possible points.
• Have their qualifications endorsed by another (ISC)² certification holder in good standing.

Benefits

• The CISSP helps You validate your proven competence gained through years of experience in information security.
• It helps you demonstrate your technical knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively develop a holistic security program set against globally accepted standards.

For detailed information on CISSP, please click here.

5. Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC)

Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) is an information security certification entity that specialises in technical and practical certification as well as new research in the form of its GIAC Gold program. SANS Institute founded the certification entity in 1999 and the term GIAC is trademarked by The Escal Institute of Advanced Technologies.

GIAC provides a set of vendor-neutral computer security certifications linked to the training courses provided by the SANS. GIAC is specific to the leading edge technological advancement of IT security in order to keep ahead of “black hat” techniques. Papers written by individuals pursuing GIAC certifications are presented at the SANS Reading Room on GIAC’s website.

Initially all SANS GIAC certifications required a written paper or “practical” on a specific area of the certification in order to achieve the certification. In April 2005, the SANS organization changed the format of the certification by breaking it into two separate levels. The “silver” level certification is achieved upon completion of a multiple choice exam. The “gold” level certification can be obtained by completing research paper and has the silver level as a prerequisite.

Benefits

• Managers use GIAC certification to ensure job candidates possess in-depth technical skills
• GIAC Certifications help IT Security professionals earn promotions and raises faster
• The process of preparing for a GIAC certification helps you to learn more detailed technical subject matter

For detailed information on GIAC, please click here.