5 cybersecurity professional certificates for career growth

EC Council's Cybersecurity Essentials

Operating in 145 countries, EC Council is the largest cybersecurity certification organization in the world. Its intermediate-level professional certificate, Cybersecurity Essentials, covers three main topics:

• Ethical hacking
• Network cyberdefense
• Digital forensics

Each of these topics is covered in a dedicated course. All three courses conclude with a two-hour, 75-question exam. If you pass, you will earn an industry-standard certification in the corresponding cybersecurity domain.

The self-paced program requires some foundational cybersecurity knowledge and takes about one month to complete if you commit 16-24 weekly hours to your studies. The certifications you earn can help you enter specialized career tracks or qualify for new roles.

Standard pricing includes all three courses for a total cost of $387.

IBM's Cybersecurity Analyst

Suitable for beginners, this IBM program can help you prepare for an entry-level career as a cybersecurity analyst. During the 14-course program, which is available for a standard price of $1,886, you will learn how to:

• Use industry-standard cybersecurity tools and technologies.
• Respond to cybersecurity incidents.
• Reduce organizational risks and implement compliant cybersecurity measures.
• Investigate cyberattacks.

Courses follow a logical progression, beginning with fundamentals and before layering in more complex and technical concepts. Upon completion, you will hold an employer-recognized IBM professional certificate. You will also qualify for a 30% discount on CompTIA's complementary Security+ and CySA+ certification examinations.

Harvard's Computer Science for Cybersecurity

This introductory program allows learners to earn a prestigious credential from Harvard University. The certificate program explores computer science fundamentals with strong cybersecurity applications, specifically covering:

• Programming and computing algorithms.
• Major cybersecurity threat types.
• Core cybersecurity strategies.
• Practical approaches to managing cybersecurity needs without compromising system or network usability.

You can enroll in this program through edX for a total cost of $668. The program consists of two self-paced courses that you can complete in about four months, leading to a nondegree award from Harvard.

IBM's Cybersecurity Fundamentals

Available at a standard price of $596, this five-month program includes four courses suitable for cybersecurity beginners. It can help you build a strong background in:

• The history and development of cybersecurity.
• Common motives behind cyberattacks.
• The typical hierarchy of an organizational cybersecurity team.
• Commands and techniques for performing basic cybersecurity assessments.
• Encryption and cryptography.

The program can help you build a well-rounded and adaptable knowledge base, giving you solid foundations for future cybersecurity studies.

IBM's Generative AI for Cybersecurity

Economic pressures and anxiety within the workforce are prompting many people to enroll in academic programs covering generative artificial intelligence (AI). IBM's Generative AI for Cybersecurity certificate program helps beginners build career-ready skills for deploying AI in cybersecurity contexts.

Across three targeted courses, you can learn to:

• Identify real-world applications for generative AI.
• Develop effective prompt engineering skills.
• Use generative AI to support both regular and complex cybersecurity measures.

This program costs just $147. You can complete the self-paced courses in about nine weeks.