A rise in cybercrime has fueled a demand for cybersecurity professionals. Two incidents alone in 2021, the ransomware attack against the Colonial pipeline and the Microsoft Exchange Server vulnerabilities debacle, have highlighted the need for cybersecurity experts to protect both enterprise resources and critical services and infrastructure.
As an IT professional, the demand for cybersecurity skills presents a huge opportunity to increase your earning potential. While most cybersecurity professionals have at least a bachelor's degree in computer science, a degree will only take you so far up the ladder. Most companies prefer candidates who also have a certification to validate knowledge of best practices.
But with so many cybersecurity certifications out there, where do you start?
As one of the leading cybersecurity companies in Las Vegas, we've compiled the top cybersecurity certifications IT professionals need to earn to deepen their knowledge and expertise and stand out when you apply for a role in this lucrative field.
The CISSP certification ranks among the most sought-after credentials in the industry. Many IT companies consider CISSP a base requirement for employees responsible for network security. Passing the exam can lead to some incredibly lucrative positions. It's considered a must-have for people looking to move into a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) role, but it's also a salary booster for IT security managers, systems engineers, consultants, and analysts.
To sit for the CISSP exam, you need at least five years of cumulative work experience in at least two of eight cybersecurity domains covered in the exam. However, candidates with a four-year degree in computer science can trim off one year of the work requirement. Paid internship and part-time work can also count.
The course covers the design and implementation of cybersecurity programs, including engineering, security architectures, risk management, identity and access management, and software security, among other topics.
Also known as Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer certification is certification to become a system engineer and one of the most prestigious and globally recognized credentials for IT professionals. This Microsoft certification certifies your competence in designing, installing, administering, configuring, and troubleshooting Microsoft-server-based computer and networking systems.
Some of the topics covered include installing and configuring Windows Server 2016, administering Windows server, configuring advanced Windows server, designing and implementing server infrastructure, and implementing an advanced server infrastructure.
Almost everyone in the technology field will benefit from an MCSE certification, but certain industry professionals should consider getting certified. These include people who are administrators, developers, and consultants, including:
The Information Technology Infrastructure Library, better known as ITIL, is the world's most popular IT Service Management (ITSM) framework. Used across virtually every industry, from technology to animation, ITIL is designed to help users align their IT services and business requirements perfectly. ITIL certifications consist of a series of qualifications that cover many areas of the ITIL service lifecycle.
ITIL 4 certification offers four different certification levels:
To stop a hacker, you must be able to think like one. The Certified Ethical Hacker certification offered by EC-Council teaches you how to think and act like a hacker and take a more proactive approach to cybersecurity. You qualify to take the exam if you have 2 years of experience in information security or complete an official EC-Council training. This certification covers the following topics:
CEH students are put through real-time scenarios, exposed to hacking techniques, and finally taught how to scan, hack and protect their system from the same. You learn how to scan, test and hack and protect your systems.
IT professionals who complete this course have many jobs to choose from, including penetration testing, cyber incident analyst, cybersecurity engineer, threat intelligence analyst, and cloud security architect. But it also benefits security professionals, site administrators, and anyone concerned with network security.
The CISM certification is one of the best cyber security certifications for any IT professional interested in managing enterprise information security or IT consultants who support infosec program management. If you're looking to pivot from the technical to the managerial side of cybersecurity, earning your CISM certification could be a good choice.
It covers:
To qualify for the CISM certification exam, you must have five years of experience in the information security field, and three of those years must be in infosec management. You can also waive one or two years with another certification in good standing or a graduate degree in an information security-related field. The exam is incredibly rigorous and demands a lot of time and knowledge, but the result is worth it.
This is a base-level certification for IT professionals new to cybersecurity - you only need two years of IT experience to complete it. Earning a CompTIA Security+ certification allows you to demonstrate your ability to monitor and secure mobile, cloud, and internet of things (IoT) environments, assess an organization's security, identify and respond to security incidents, and understand laws and regulations related to risk and compliance.
The CompTIA Security+ certification exam covers:
When it comes to virtualization technologies, VMware is the undisputed industry leader. VMware's VCP-Security (VCP-SEC) certification program validates a candidate's knowledge of VMware's security solutions and the candidate's ability to administer the security features and functions of NSX-T Data Center, Workspace ONE, and VMware Carbon Black Cloud.
VMware offers other five VCP certifications, including:
SonicWall offers an extensive technical training curriculum for network administrators and security experts who deploy, optimize, and troubleshoot SonicWall products and security applications. The certification is attained by completing one of the Advanced Administration courses and successfully passing the associated exam.
But before you can take your CSSP exam, you first have to go through the Network Security Advanced Administration (NSAA) course. The course will enable you to configure, monitor, manage and optimize the SonicWall Network Security firewall appliances running SonicOS to effectively defend against evolving and emerging network and cyber security threats.
Upon completion of the course, then you will be able to configure the SonicWall firewall for secure and remote connectivity, network optimization, and advanced threat protection. Once you have completed the NSAA course, you are eligible to take the Certified SonicWall Security Professional (CSSP) exam.
Successful completion of the SonicWall Network Security Administrator (SNSA) certification OR legacy Certified SonicWall Security Administrator (CSSA) certification is required to take the CSSP certification exam.
These top cybersecurity certifications will keep you up to date on the latest techniques and security best practices or help increase your income and marketability. At Orbis Solutions, Inc., we provide cybersecurity services to businesses in Las Vegas. We are staffed with certified testers, including a CISSP (Certified Information Security Systems Professional) and a CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) who can help secure you from malicious activity. Our seasoned penetration testing team methodically investigates systems for potential vulnerabilities and provides solutions for any weaknesses they identify. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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