• Cybersecurity Analyst
• Cybersecurity Engineer
• Cybersecurity Administrator
• Network Architect/Engineer
• InfoSec Consultant
• Vulnerability Analyst/Penetration Tester
• Cybersecurity Operations Analyst

But this demand isn’t exclusively of great significance to those entering the cybersecurity job market; many IT roles are being redefined with the adoption of secure development practices and multi-layered approach of cybersecurity throughout the organization.

What was once the responsibility only of CISOs, security engineers and analysts, has now shifted to the whole IT department. Software developers, network and system engineers were usually unconcerned about cybersecurity, but are now during a way forced to adopt safer practices. Organizations are pushing security to the start of the event process and place security at the middle of all their operations.

When entering the field, or when looking to enhance your skills, knowing which cybersecurity and infosec certifications are in highest demand and are respected the foremost may be a good place to start out in furthering and propelling your career. But, there are with great care many of them out there! and that we don’t blame you if you stray and confused during which ones to settle on. Do you have to choose the traditional ones about which you hear everyone talking, or some that are more specialized, or simply trying to find an honest deal as certifications do require an investment of your time and money?

The current skill and expertise level, combined with future aspirations should even be taken into consideration when looking into infosec and cybersecurity certifications. Are you only looking to expand on your skills and add on your existing certs, or you’ve just entered the cybersecurity industry, and are trying to find an best place to start?

We have worked out some of the comparison with the market demand and trend. And come up with a list of 6 best information security and cybersecurity certification, all are well-reputated, relevant and high paying in the market.

Let’s take a look at the Top 6 CyberSecurity and Information Security Certifications.

1. CISM – Certified
Information Security 

Manager

Image Credit: ISACA

2. CISSP – Certified Information  

Systems Security Professional

Image Credit: (ISC)2

• security and risk management

• asset security

• security architecture and
  engineering

• communications and network
  security

• identity and access management

• security assessment and testing

• security operations

• software development security

So, quite a bit of requirement. But what do you get when you
earn CISSP certification?

Individuals that secured the CISSP certification are those who
have proven knowledge in all domains of security of information systems and it’s
more of a management level credential, rather than a technical level. They are the decision-makers who involved in the decision-making processes of organizational security protocols.

CISSP is a highly sought-after information security
certification and remains well recognized in the industry, and is a great next
step in your career.

3. GSEC – The GIAC Security Essentials

Image Credit: GIAC

The GSEC is the one entry on this list
that is not as advanced as others like the CISSP certification, to which the
GSEC is often compared. The GIAC Security Essentials credential is provided by the SANS
Institute, a reputed organization, which their information security certification will certainly reflect.

The GSEC is a more technical certification that indicates
hands-on knowledge in a wide array of topics. And when we say wide, we really
mean it, this certification covers 33 topics. They are following below:

• Access control and password
  management
• Active defense
• Contingency plans
• Critical controls
• Cryptography
• Cryptography algorithms and
  deployment
• Cryptography application
• Defense-in-depth
• Defensible network architecture
• Endpoint security
• Enforcing Windows security policy
• Incident handling and response
• IT risk management
• Linux security: Structure,
  permissions and access
• Linux services: Hardening and
  securing
• Linux: Monitoring and attack
  detection
• Linux: Security utilities
• Log management and SIEM
• Malicious code and exploit mitigation
• Network device security
• Network security devices
• Networking and protocols
• Securing Windows network services
• Security policy
• Virtualization and cloud security
• Vulnerability scanning and
  penetration testing
• Web communication security
• Windows access controls
• Windows as a service
• Windows automation, auditing and
  forensics
• Windows security infrastructure
• Wireless network security

As you can see, this certification is not specialized or directed
at a specific group of security professionals. Rather, it shows that the
individual is a technically-oriented information security professional who can quickly solve
most of the problems efficiently. As this is an “essentials” certification,
there are no true requirements, it is intended for anyone who is interested in
infosec and has at least some background knowledge as an IT
engineer, auditor, pentester, security administrator, so on and so forth.

While CISSP and GSEC certifications are often compared to each
other but we can clearly see the difference: CISSP has more of a managerial focus,
while GSEC is its technical counterpart. If you want to work in roles where
it is expected to be more hands-on, the GSEC would be a better option for you.

4. CRISC – Certified in
Risk and 

Information Systems Control

Image Credit: ISACA

CRISC, or Certified in Risk and Information
Systems Control, is another ISACA certification on this list, and is equally as
globally recognized and provides those that earn it with career and monetary
benefits, and with an opportunity to showcase their skills in enterprise risk
management and implementing information systems controls.

Professionals that go for this certification are those who are
already associated in business risk management and controls, such as risk and
control professionals, compliance analysts and project managers and
similar. And to even be able to apply to qualify for a CRISC certification, you
are required to have 3 years of experience in managing IT risk and designing
and implementing controls. You also have to have experience across at least two
of the four CRISC domains. Those domains are:

• IT risk assessment
• risk and control monitoring and
  reporting
• risk response and mitigation
• IT risk identification

CRISC is one of the most valued certificates when credential
holders want to prove their position in the real-world threat landscape,
evaluate and manage enterprise risks using advanced security tools.

With career advancement opportunities and competitive advantage
holding this certification has, if you are someone that wants to invest in
their risk management career, this is the cybersecurity certification for you.

5. CSSLP – Certified Secure
Software 

Lifecycle Professional

Image Credit: (ISC)2

And yet again, an (ISC)2 certificate makes its way to our list.
The Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional, or CSSLP for
short, is there to help professionals officially show their AppSec skills and
their knowledge of security problems that happen during the entire software
development lifecycle (SDLC). Due to its domain, individuals that are pursuing
this cert are mostly application security professionals, application designers,
software engineering and security and network professionals, as well as software
developers.

To qualify for the CSSLP, you are required to have four or more
years of experience in one of the eight SDLC domains, that are also covered in
the test for the cert, and they are as follows:

• secure software concepts
• secure software requirements
• secure software design
• secure software implementation
  and programming
• software testing
• secure lifecycle management
• software deployment, operations,
  and maintenance
• supply chain and software
  acquisition

The requirements are not so strict, as you can cut one year of
experience by possessing a BA in CS, infosec, or related field, or even pass the
test prior to obtaining the certificate, and wait out while you gain the needed
work experience.

CSSLP, once earned, will validate the candidate’s expertise in
application security, vulnerability management, how they handle app
vulnerabilities during each part of the SDLC, and pinpoint threats that are
targeting applications. As application security is (finally) becoming more and
more important in the current organizational security environment, this is a
valuable cybersecurity certification to earn.

6. CISA – Certified Information Systems 

Auditor

Image Credit: ISACA

CISA stands
for Certified Information Systems Auditor and is globally recognized for
security auditing professionals and those looking into this field. Certified
individuals have proven knowledge in auditing, control and assurance of
organization’s information technology and systems.

Another ISACA certification, it is highly recognized in the job
market and they have a cool catchphrase: “In a World Full of Auditors, be a
CISA” which really accompanies what holding this cert means — expert-level
security auditor. And skills one can gain are – Information systems auditing process, governance, and management of
information systems, as well as their operations, development and
implementation and how to protect their assets.

As with plenty of other entries on this list you need a minimum
of 5 years of experience in order to take the test, and that experience
should be in information system auditing or security, however, there are ways
to reduce that requirement with other notable professional and/or educational
ground.

While a higher-level and well-paying certification, CISA can be a good
choice even for an entry-level auditor, as you can pass the exam and wait to
fulfill the work experience requirements. This certification will show employers
that you possess the knowledge for planning, executing, and maintaining audit
operations efficiently.

Conclusion

There are a number of cybersecurity and information security certifications out
there, and it can be daunting to choose which one to pursue, as many of them
are investments in both time and money. And should you go for the most popular ones? But with this list in mind, we hope that those
looking to further their career and skills in the industry have found this article useful in order to choose one for them to uplift their career.