Which Cyber Security Certifications will Help Boost your career?
2 September 2020
Are you an IT professional considering a career move into a cyber security role? Cybercrime is rising rapidly and organisations need to stay two steps ahead. Professionals with cyber security certifications are in high demand, so there’s never been a better time to join the InfoSec or cyber security industry.
Unfortunately, criminals are devising clever ways to deceive everyday users. The need for cyber security professionals is greater than ever, but there is an increasing InfoSec skills gap in the UK. There are just not enough applicants for information security roles, so it’s the perfect time to pivot your technical skills and join the cyber security industry.
For IT professionals, it’s hard to know what recruiters are looking for, so we’ve put together this list of cyber security certifications that both recruiters and employers are currently looking for.
These certifications will help your application shine above the competition.
Do you need a Cyber Security Certification?
Yes – employers will want the proof that you have the required skills. For any professional InfoSec job role, the recruiter will need you to demonstrate that you meet the required criteria.
Completing a cyber security certification will not only give you the skills and experience that you need for professional development, it will also demonstrate to employers that you have what it takes to do the job to a high standard.
These courses are extremely hands-on and practical with an exam to pass. The exam is in-depth and requires a lot of self-learning and preparation.
Which Cyber Security Certifications do employers look for?
When browsing for cyber security and InfoSec courses, always make sure they’re EC-Council certified.
EC-Council are a global certification body who build and maintain various standards within the information security space. They are one of the most widely respected awarding bodies of cyber based qualifications in the world, including being recognised by GCHQ in the UK.
Employers will specifically look for EC-Council certified certifications when recruiting for cyber security job roles so it’s highly beneficial to have one.
All the courses on this list are certified by EC-Council.
Certified Ethical Hacker
Ethical hackers play a vital role in cyber security. In order to stop a hacker, you have to think like a hacker, right? This certification allows you to do just that.
You don’t have to have criminal experience in order to be a hacker and you can gain the necessary skills and experience by completing a certified training course.
The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) programme is widely respected and provides an interactive learning opportunity to learn how hackers operate, and most importantly – how to prevent them. You’ll be fully immersed into the hacker mindset by scanning, testing, hacking and securing your own system!
The accredited ethical hacking course will give you the advanced hacking tools and techniques used by hackers and information security professionals alike.
If you want to stand out in the job market, this is a must-have for your any cyber security professional’s CV.
Discover more about the Certified Ethical Hacker Programme.
Certified Network Defender
If you’re a Network Administrator who wants to work in a cyber security role, this certification is definitely for you. The Certified Network Defender course will give you the required skills to progress in your career.
This Certified Network Defender certification program is a hands-on, lab intensive course. You will grow your analytical skills allowing you to identify emerging threats before they become a problem.
The course also covers how to plan, protect, detect, and respond to the network attacks.
ASTA Training are proud to deliver the world’s most advanced Certified Network Defence course with the most current network security domains.
Complete the course at your own pace here.
Certified Hacking Forensic Investigator
If you want to enhance your career in cyber security, the Certified Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI) course will provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to do so. During the course, you will learn the fundamentals of computer forensics and evidence collection.
Computer Hacking Forensic Investigation (CHFI) is a unique role within the cyber security industry. It covers the process of detecting hacking attacks and extracting evidence to conduct audits and prevent future attacks.
Cyber related crime is increasing rapidly. Computer Hacking Forensic Investigation skills and knowledge are becoming more in demand. The police, government and corporate sectors across the world recognise the CHFI program as the leading forensic investigation certification available.
Certified Security Analyst
The Certified Security Analyst (ECSA) training course will significantly benefit you if you’re hoping to become an ethical hacker, penetration tester, network service administrator or security tester.
This course covers methodologies for penetration testing in depth. You will learn techniques and methodologies for testing databases, websites, cloud services and even social engineering. It also covers reporting, presenting data and other post-testing actions that will help keep your company’s data safe.
The Certified Security Analyst course truly covers a wide range of detailed information, so this is essential learning for information security professionals.
Complete the course at your own pace here.
Certified Chief Information Security Officer
When it’s time to progress your career to the next level as a cyber security professional, the Certified Chief Information Security Officer programme is a great path to a more senior role.
This certification is an industry-leading programme, widely recognised by recruiters and employers for senior information security roles.
Related: How to start a new career in the security industry
The course assumes prior knowledge and experience, so it’s not for you if you’re new to the industry. You will concentrate on applying your existing knowledge to solve new cyber security challenges. You should have at least 5 years’ experience working within a cyber security role as the content assumes a high level of technical knowledge.
This course was created to bridge the gap between executive and technical management. If you want to boost your career to the next level, this is the natural way forward for recruiters to notice you.
Learn more about the CCISO Training Program.
Other skills and certifications to consider
GDPR & Data Protection Laws
Whilst not strictly related to cyber security, GDPR underpins Information Security across Europe and beyond. Having formal GDPR Training will help you stand out to employers and recruiters, as it’s often overlooked by technicians.
All cyber security professionals will need a broad understanding of data protection and GDPR legislation.
Risk Management
To gain employment in the cyber security industry, you’ll need general risk management knowledge such as
- Risk identification, assessment and mitigation
- Contingency planning
- Risk tracking and reporting
- How to balance risk and reward
An online risk management course could help fill a gap in your CV if you don’t have direct experience with managing risks.
Project Management
InfoSec professionals with project management experience or certifications have an advantage, especially with modern methodologies such as agile project management.
An industry-leading qualification such as PRINCE2 is also beneficial when applying for job roles in the cyber security sector. More companies are now adopting and agile approach to working and project management, so make sure your project management methodologies are modern and up-to-date.
More Cyber Security Certifications
Looking for more cyber security certifications? See the full range of cyber security courses here or download our brochure for more information.
Students who enrol on our courses are given continual support and guidance via the ASTA Mentor Programme, which is free of charge for 12 months, so you won’t be on your own!
Our advisors are happy to chat to answer your questions, contact us for a chat about your cyber security career goals and we’ll advise on the best way forward.
