Information security professionals looking to apply for positions in Cyber Security must have entry-level security certifications. There are many factors that can influence which certification is right for you. One of these variables is whether the certificate is most affordable. The recognition of the certification may be the deciding factor. This will ensure that employers are aware of what certification is. Further consideration should be given to the best certification path for you. These are all valid concerns for information security professionals. We can help you determine which certification is best to get started in Cyber Security.
CompTIA Security+ (Grade: B)
CompTIA is a vendor-neutral certification organization. CompTIA certifications do not apply to any particular model, OS, hardware. This is the opposite to Amazon Web Services, Cisco Certified Network Associate, and any Microsoft Certifications. CompTIA provides a broad knowledge base that can be applied to many areas of technology for companies all over the world.
Security+ is an entry-level certification for security administrators, cloud security professionals, and cybersecurity professionals. This certification will assess your ability to mix-and-match performance-based questions. This test will include multiple-choice questions that will cover a broad but not deep understanding of security. This includes protocols, security controls and hardware, as well as risk management and cryptography. This certification is required by the Departments of Defense section 85511, and many DOD contractors will require it to be accepted for entry. Security+ is well-known and widely respected. This certification is an excellent way to show that you are prepared to start your career in cyber security.
CompTIA CySA+ (Grade: B)
For many people, the CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst Certification is the next step after obtaining the Security+ Certification. After obtaining the Security+ Certification, you can choose which direction you want to go. Many people choose to continue with CompTIA and obtain the CySA+ as the next step towards becoming an analyst in a Security Operations Center (SOC). The road doesn’t have to start with Security +, and the destination doesn’t necessarily need to be a SOC. Employers will know that you are serious about this career by getting a certification such as the CySA+.
The exam is similar to other CompTIA exams. It lasts 2 hours and has 85 questions. Questions can be performance-based or multiple choice. The cost of the exam is $370 USD.
If you choose to start your journey with CySA+ and Security+, you will need more experience with tools such as SIEM’s, HSM’s, IDS/IPS’s, and threat detection
