The IT security job market is very promising. But the competition is tough. So, certification proves to be a necessary way to boost your skills and make a career in cybersecurity.
The recent news since the last few months has shown the importance of cybersecurity. People are slowly realizing that anyone can fall victim to attacks, and the consequences are often dramatic.
Even hospitals, in the middle of a global pandemic, have been attacked. The society is more and more connected, and therefore, more and more vulnerable, and exposed to attacks. The consequences of these attacks are numerous, and all arise from a security flaw in the system. This means that cybersecurity professionals, who are already in high demand, will be even more so in the future.
Because of this, certification is proving to be a huge asset in any career, as 87% of IT professionals hold at least one certification, according to a Global Knowledge study
What are the advantages and benefits of certification?
The main reasons for training are related to acquiring and developing new skills, increasing one’s salary, but also to become more efficient or simply to meet the employer’s requirements. However, there are two main benefits to certification: performance and salary.
- Better performance at work
According to the Global Knowledge report, certified IT professionals tend to be more effective at their jobs, especially with practical training. These individuals saw a direct and significant impact in their jobs, which is why nearly 20% of these individuals received a pay raise or promotion after becoming certified.
- Higher pay
The more certification a person has, the higher their average salary. According to the study, 77% of certified IT professionals hold more than one certification. The more complementary certifications you have, the better.
Which certification to choose?
There are many certifications in IT security, and their choice depends on the responsibilities you will deal with.
- CEH
Very famous in the world of cybersecurity, the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) training, delivered by EC-Council. This training will teach you to better understand and anticipate threats, and to discover hackers' attack techniques to better protect the company. The CEH is a real immersion in the hackers’ mindset. In short, think like a hacker, to better defend yourself against them.
Today, the Certified Ethical Hacker has become a real reference in the global IT security industry, and more precisely in hacking, and is a prerequisite required by many employers in the sector.
This training requires specific skills and knowledge upstream, and is designed for Network Administrators, IT Security Managers, IT Managers…
- ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Implementer
The ISO/CEI 27001 - Lead Implémenter course, delivered by PECB, gives you the knowledge and skills to implement an Information Security Management System (ISMS). This international standard will teach you how to streamline a company’s internal organization for better data protection.
This certification has many advantages. It ensures an efficient cybersecurity system, it is a marketing asset that reassures customers and various stakeholders, it ensures compliance with data protection and limits the risk of personal data breaches (RGPD).
- CISSP
Launched in 1994, the CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) is the first credential provided by the (ISC)². This credential is intended for security professionals with previous experience, such as Consultants, Network Architects or CISOs.
According to Global Knowledge, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is the highest paid certification in the EMEA region and in the world. For more information on the CISSP, we invite you to read our latest article “Certify your cybersecurity expertise with CISSP”.
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