Most Valuable Cyber Security Certifications for 2017

  • CISSP - Certified Information Systems Security Professional 

The CISSP, offered by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, or (ISC)2, a nonprofit organization that specializes in information security education and certifications, is an exam that will certify you have mastered the knowledge required to handle data and network security for companies.

The test involves 250 questions, takes an average of six hours to complete and has been designed for professionals with a minimum of three to five years of experience. You will be challenged in a number of cyber security domains, including security management practices, access control, cryptography, security models and architecture, telecommunications and networking.

A CISSP is in many ways the crown jewel of cyber-sec certifications, and it's a definite must have if you want to become a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). But it is also a huge boon in other IT security job titles such as analyst, systems engineer, consultant and manager.

The salary depends on the job role, location and experience, but the average annual pay for CISSP certificate holders in $109,000.

  • CISA - Certified Information Systems Auditor 

The CISA is offered by Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), and as the name implies, it is focused on info systems control and monitoring skills. CISA is the globally recognized standard to appraise knowledge and expertise in examining vulnerabilities and setting up technology controls at the enterprise level.

CISA applicants must have a minimum of five years professional experience and score above 450 on the 200-800 point test in order to be approved for this certification. The topics of the exam will be focused on information systems disciplines including acquisition, development, implementation, operations, maintenance, and auditing. It will also assess your skills in IT management and governance and the protection of information assets.

A globally accepted certification, CISA is a main requirement for security auditing positions. The annual salary of CISA certificate holders is $110,000.

  • CISM - Certified Information Security Manager 

CISM is another ISACA-offered certification. Whereas its sibling CISA is focused on information auditing, CISM is centered on information security management. Applicants must pass a 200-question exam which will weigh their abilities in developing and managing information security programs, and being able to quarterback the response to information security incidents.

Applicants must have a verified five-year experience before registering for the exam, and the certification is a big plus for anyone inclined in organizational security and looking for a lucrative InfoSec management or consulting job.

You can expect your CISM certificate to rake in an average of $115,000 annually.

  • GSEC - GIAC Security Essentials Certification 

Individuals interested in demonstrating their skills in securing IT systems can enroll for the GSEC exam, offered by the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC), a body recognized globally by governments and the military for its cutting-edge cyber security certifications.

GSEC is for people with hands-on information security experience beyond knowledge and terminology. That's why there's no prerequisites or previous training required, and practical experience and a healthy dose of confidence will be your best friends when taking the five-hour, 180-question-long exam. This can be a good place to start if you have a clean sheet and possess no other cyber security certification.

The average salary for the GSEC cert holder is $77,000.

  • CRISC - Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control 

Another ISACA certification, CRISC helps professionals develop a better understanding of how IT risk relates to the overall organization. By earning the certification, you'll develop the skills required to understand and manage corporate risk and implement the right security controls.

CRISC is a program often endorsed as a necessity for c-suite executives as well as chief compliance, risk and privacy officers. The exam will focus on the four areas of risk identification, assessment, response, and monitoring & reporting, and requires a minimum of three years of relevant experience to apply.

Given the top tier positions that some CRISC certificate holders occupy, the median salary is $111,000.

  • CEH - Certified Ethical Hacker 

The CEH is the flagship certification of the International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants (EC-Council), a professional organization that offers widely respected IT security certifications.

Certified Ethical Hackers are professionals who use the same tools as their malicious counterparts to pinpoint weaknesses and vulnerabilities in target systems in order to assess the security and help plug the holes. Savvy businesses proactively protect their networks by hiring the services of CEHs in order to beat hackers at their own game. In order to be eligible for the 125 question CEH exam, you must have 2 years of verifiable experience.

The median salary of Certified Ethical Hackers is $96,000.

  • ECSA - EC-Council Certified Security Analyst 

This is EC-Council's sequel to the CEH and builds upon what you know as an ethical hacker to elevate your skills as a penetration tester. However, note that you are not necessarily required to hold a CEH certificate before taking the exam.

The ECSA is focused on helping security professionals and penetration testers validate the analytical phase of ethical hacking by being able to precisely measure and assess the outcome of hacking tools and technologies. ECSA professionals use improved methods and techniques to identify and mitigate risks to information security and network infrastructures across the enterprise.

The ECSA certificate is a suitable document to hold when applying for job titles such as network server administrator, firewall administrator, info security tester, system administrator and risk assessment professional.

The average annual pay for an ECSA certification holder is $88,000.

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