Top Cyber Security Certifications to Earn in 2025
In an era where digital transformation is at the forefront of every industry, cybersecurity has never been more critical. Just recently, a series of high-profile cyber incidents rocked various sectors, from healthcare to telecommunications. For instance, in January 2025, the Community Health Center (CHC) suffered a breach that exposed over a million patient records. Similarly, the New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe) faced a ransomware attack, disrupting their operations. These incidents underscore the urgent need for skilled cybersecurity professionals who can safeguard sensitive data and maintain the integrity of digital systems.
Earning a cybersecurity certification is not just about enhancing your career prospects; it’s about equipping yourself with the knowledge and skills to combat these ever-evolving threats. Certifications validate your expertise, increase your earning potential, and make you a valuable asset in the fight against cybercrime. In this blog, we explore some of the most popular cybersecurity certifications that can help you stand out in this competitive industry.
1. CompTIA Security+
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites, but basic IT knowledge is recommended.
Cost: $370 USD.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 3–6 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Moderate.
CompTIA Security+ is an entry-level certification that covers essential cybersecurity skills. It validates your ability to assess the security of an organization, monitor and secure cloud, mobile, and IoT environments, understand laws and regulations related to risk and compliance, and respond to security incidents. This certification is ideal for roles such as systems administrator, security engineer, and IT auditor.
2. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Prerequisites: Five years of cumulative, paid work experience in at least two of the eight CISSP domains.
Cost: $749 USD.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 6–12 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Advanced.
Offered by (ISC)², the CISSP certification is highly regarded in the cybersecurity industry. It demonstrates your expertise in designing, implementing, and managing a best-in-class cybersecurity program. The CISSP is suitable for experienced security practitioners, managers, and executives.
3. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Prerequisites: Two years of work experience in the Information Security domain or completion of an official EC-Council training.
Cost: $1,000 — $1,500 USD.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 3–6 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Advanced.
The CEH certification, provided by EC-Council, focuses on ethical hacking and penetration testing. It equips you with the skills to think like a hacker and identify vulnerabilities in systems before malicious actors can exploit them. This certification is perfect for security officers, auditors, and site administrators.
4. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Prerequisites: Five years of work experience in information security management.
Cost: $575 USD for ISACA members, $760 USD for non-members.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 6–12 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Advanced.
ISACA’s CISM certification is designed for management-focused individuals who design and manage an enterprise’s information security program. It emphasizes risk management, governance, and incident management, making it ideal for information security managers and IT consultants.
5. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
Prerequisites: Five years of work experience in information systems auditing, control, or security.
Cost: $575 USD for ISACA members, $760 USD for non-members.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 6–12 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Advanced.
Also offered by ISACA, the CISA certification is geared towards professionals who audit, control, monitor, and assess an organization’s information technology and business systems. It is highly valued by employers and is ideal for IT auditors, audit managers, and consultants.
6. GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC)
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites, but basic knowledge of networking and security concepts is recommended.
Cost: $949 USD.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 3–6 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Moderate.
The GSEC certification, provided by GIAC, is designed for professionals who want to demonstrate their knowledge of information security beyond simple terminology and concepts. It covers a wide range of topics, including network security, cryptography, and incident response.
7. AWS Certified Security — Specialty
Prerequisites: Five years of IT security experience and at least two years of hands-on experience securing AWS workloads.
Cost: $300 USD.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 3–6 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Advanced.
As cloud computing continues to grow, the AWS Certified Security — Specialty certification has become increasingly valuable. It validates your expertise in securing data and workloads in the AWS cloud. This certification is ideal for cloud security professionals and solutions architects.
8. Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
Prerequisites: Five years of IT experience, including three years in information security and one year in one or more of the six CCSP domains.
Cost: $599 USD.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 6–12 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Advanced.
The CCSP certification, offered by (ISC)², is designed for IT and information security leaders responsible for applying best practices to cloud security architecture, design, operations, and service orchestration. It is perfect for cloud security architects and engineers.
9. Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites; suitable for beginners.
Cost: $49 USD per month on Coursera.
Duration: Approximately 6 months with 7 hours of study per week.
Difficulty Level: Beginner.
The Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate is a beginner-friendly course that covers the fundamentals of cybersecurity. It includes hands-on projects and assessments to help you build practical skills. This certification is ideal for those new to the field and looking to start a career in cybersecurity.
10. Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites; suitable for beginners.
Cost: $99 USD.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 1–2 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Beginner.
Microsoft offers the Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals certification, which provides a foundational understanding of security, compliance, and identity concepts. It is suitable for individuals looking to gain basic knowledge of Microsoft security solutions and services.
11. Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites, but basic knowledge of networking and security concepts is recommended.
Cost: $300 USD.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 3–6 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Moderate.
The Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate certification focuses on the skills needed to monitor, detect, and respond to cybersecurity threats. It is designed for individuals pursuing a career in cybersecurity operations and is ideal for roles such as security operations center (SOC) analyst.
12. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites; suitable for beginners.
Cost: $100 USD.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 1–2 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Beginner.
The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification provides a foundational understanding of AWS cloud concepts, services, and security. It is suitable for individuals looking to gain basic knowledge of AWS cloud security and is ideal for roles such as cloud security specialist.
13. CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)
Prerequisites: Ten years of IT administration experience, including at least five years of hands-on technical security experience.
Cost: $466 USD.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 3–6 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Advanced.
The CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) certification is designed for advanced-level cybersecurity professionals. It validates your ability to think critically and solve complex security issues. This certification is ideal for roles such as security architect, security engineer, and SOC manager.
14. Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites, but a strong understanding of networking, Linux, and basic scripting is recommended.
Cost: $999 USD for the exam and 30 days of lab access.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 3–6 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Advanced.
The Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) certification is a hands-on, performance-based certification that requires you to successfully attack and penetrate various live machines in a controlled environment. It is ideal for penetration testers, ethical hackers, and security analysts.
15. Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US)
Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites.
Cost: $550 USD for IAPP members, $1,000 USD for non-members.
Duration: Self-paced; typically 3–6 months of study.
Difficulty Level: Moderate.
The Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) certification, offered by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), focuses on U.S. privacy laws and regulations. It is ideal for privacy professionals, legal advisors, and compliance officers.
Supercharge Your Cybersecurity Career Now with NetCom Learning
NetCom Learning offers a comprehensive suite of cybersecurity training solutions designed to meet the needs of individuals and organizations alike. Here are some of the ways NetCom Learning can support your cybersecurity training journey:
- World-class learning experience: NetCom Learning has trained over 1 million learners, provided authorized training from leading vendors such as Microsoft, EC-Council, and more, and received the highest ratings from learners — an average of 8.5 out of 9.0.
- Customized training methods: They provide blended learning solutions with customized security training solutions that suit your organization’s goals and help create a convenient learning experience leading to a clear focus on Business Outcomes.
- 25+ years of business experience: Since 1998, NetCom Learning has empowered organizations to reach optimal performance results and address challenges by managing all aspects of organizational learning.
- Top-notch and certified instructors: NetCom Learning has 6,000+ certified instructors who are subject matter experts in their respective fields. The live instructor-led training in a virtual classroom environment promotes seamless instructor-peer interaction.
- Global delivery capabilities: They have delivered training to over 600 locations worldwide, including 5 different continents. Multiple Locations at NetCom Learning helps manage a multi-shore client delivery infrastructure with a diversified group of learning professionals.
- Industry recognized partners: NetCom Learning offers authorized training from leading security training vendors such as EC-Council, CompTIA, Microsoft, AWS, (ISC)2, and Cisco.
Conclusion
Earning a cybersecurity certification can open doors to new opportunities and help you stay ahead in this ever-evolving field. Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to advance to a higher level, these certifications can provide the knowledge and credentials you need to succeed. Choose the certification that aligns with your career goals and start your journey towards becoming a cybersecurity expert today.
