Top cybersecurity certifications: Entry-level to expert
Cybersecurity certifications can help jumpstart your career or elevate your IT management skills. Discover the best cybersecurity certifications for every budget and career stage.
By: Megan Whitenton, Edited by: Mitch Jacobson
Last updated: September 26, 2025
Cybersecurity certifications are critical for aspiring and established cybersecurity analysts looking to advance their careers. Certifications can boost your skills, add legitimacy to your résumé, and help you land a job or move up in your field. Explore the top cybersecurity certifications based on your career goals and skills.
Key takeaways
- Build the skills required for entry-level roles with Security+, GSEC, SSCP, and CSX-P certifications.
- Develop hands-on ethical hacking expertise with PenTest+, OSCP, and CEH certifications.
- Validate leadership abilities in security management with CISSP, CCSP, CISM, and CASP+ credentials.
What certifications mean for cybersecurity professionals
The best cybersecurity certifications are offered by reputable cybersecurity organizations and accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). ANSI's National Accreditation Board (ANAB) verifies various certifications, ensuring they meet certain technical standards.
Unlike academic certificates, which are generally offered by colleges and universities, certifications are usually provided by industry-specific organizations to validate specific skills. Cybersecurity certifications can help professionals upskill and elevate their careers.
Best entry-level cybersecurity certifications
Entry-level cybersecurity certifications can help aspiring cybersecurity analysts add credibility to their résumés and prepare for their first job in cybersecurity. The following certifications are designed to help you learn the latest foundational skills needed for roles involving security operations or encryption services. Get your foot in the door, and strengthen your knowledge in a specific domain with these entry-level certifications.
CompTIA Security+
Among the most well-known cybersecurity certifications, CompTIA Security+ is often required or highly recommended for entry-level jobs. Developed with input from organizations like Netflix and Johns Hopkins University, the Security+ certification covers topics such as network security, IT risk management, and cybersecurity laws and regulations. CompTIA Security+ is one of several certifications approved by the United States Department of Defense (DoD).
The Security+ certification does not include formal prerequisites; however, CompTIA strongly recommends at least two years of experience in IT administration with a focus in security. Additionally, CompTIA recommends earning its Network+ certification as a prerequisite to the Security+ exam.
The Security+ certification does not include formal prerequisites; however, CompTIA strongly recommends at least two years of experience in IT administration with a focus in security. Additionally, CompTIA recommends earning its Network+ certification as a prerequisite to the Security+ exam.
ISC2 Systems Security Certified Practitioner
Offered through the internationally recognized membership organization ISC2, SSCP is among the most well-known cybersecurity certifications for entry-level analysts in the industry. SSCP certification can help professionals build the best practices and skills they need to implement and manage an organization's critical assets and infrastructure.
Candidates must possess a minimum of one year of full-time experience in one or more of the domains of the current SSCP Exam Outline.
A bachelor's degree and relevant part-time work or internships may also count toward the experience requirement.
Candidates must possess a minimum of one year of full-time experience in one or more of the domains of the current SSCP Exam Outline.
A bachelor's degree and relevant part-time work or internships may also count toward the experience requirement.
GIAC Security Essentials
GSEC certification is beneficial for both entry-level and mid-career security professionals because it covers a broad range of cybersecurity topics and domains, including network security, principles of defense, penetration testing, and cryptography. While taking the GSEC exam can be pricey, earning the certification from GIAC can signal to employers that professionals have a high-level technical foundation in cybersecurity.
GSEC certification does not include any formal prerequisites. However, GIAC recommends that candidates possess a general, foundational knowledge of IT concepts, networking, and cybersecurity principles, along with at least one year of entry-level security experience.
GSEC certification does not include any formal prerequisites. However, GIAC recommends that candidates possess a general, foundational knowledge of IT concepts, networking, and cybersecurity principles, along with at least one year of entry-level security experience.
ISACA CSX-P
Offered by global cybersecurity association ISACA, the CSX-P is designed to test the framework set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). This performance-based certification requires candidates to resolve cyber incidents across the network in real-time to demonstrate their skills.
Taking the CSX-P requires a strong foundational knowledge of operating systems, network protocols, and cybersecurity tools such as Wireshark, Nmap, and Metasploit.
Taking the CSX-P requires a strong foundational knowledge of operating systems, network protocols, and cybersecurity tools such as Wireshark, Nmap, and Metasploit.
Roles that can benefit from entry-level certifications
Best mid-career cybersecurity certifications
Generally, once an emerging cybersecurity professional masters basic skills and gains experience, they can choose a specialty and enjoy more focused job prospects in their mid-careers. Many experienced cybersecurity professionals become ethical hackers or penetration testers. The following certifications can help candidates defend security frameworks against cyberattacks and identify and document weaknesses in an organization's infrastructure and networks.
CompTIA PenTest+
The CompTIA PenTest+ certification is among the most affordable and valuable certifications for mid-level IT professionals interested in ethical hacking. PenTest+ certification trains candidates to identify vulnerabilities, test the strength of "attack" applications, and utilize scripting languages to automate their work.
While there is no formal prerequisite for the PenTest+, CompTIA strongly recommends that students complete a CompTIA certification such as A+, Security+, or Linux+ before pursuing the PenTest+ exam.
While there is no formal prerequisite for the PenTest+, CompTIA strongly recommends that students complete a CompTIA certification such as A+, Security+, or Linux+ before pursuing the PenTest+ exam.
Offensive Security Certified Professional
OSCP is a certification offered by Offensive Security, the company that created Kali Linux, an operating system designed specifically for ethical hacking. OSCP certification includes hands-on training in a virtual environment to test your knowledge of networks, scripting, cryptography, and the Linux operating system. OSCP also requires self-reporting and documentation of the training process.
OSCP certification requires students to take the PEN-200 course and pass a 24-hour proctored practical exam.
Additionally, Offensive Security recommends that candidates possess knowledge of Linux administration, networking, scripting, and Windows prior to taking the prerequisite course.
OSCP certification requires students to take the PEN-200 course and pass a 24-hour proctored practical exam.
Additionally, Offensive Security recommends that candidates possess knowledge of Linux administration, networking, scripting, and Windows prior to taking the prerequisite course.
CompTIA Certified Ethical Hacker
Like CompTIA PenTest+, CEH is a popular and reputable penetration testing certification; however, unlike PenTest+, CEH covers more high-level exam material and offers a more generalized certification. CEH focuses on critical penetration testing concepts, including scanning, reconnaissance, web hacking, and network security.
Test-takers are required to either complete an official EC-Council training program or possess a minimum of two years of verified work experience in a role involving information security.
Test-takers are required to either complete an official EC-Council training program or possess a minimum of two years of verified work experience in a role involving information security.
Mid-career roles that use high-level certifications
Best expert and senior-level cybersecurity certifications
Experienced cybersecurity consultants or network administrators can pursue expert- and senior-level cybersecurity certifications to take their careers to the next level. The following advanced certifications offer candidates the opportunity to highlight their management potential and leadership skills.
ISC2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional
The CISSP is one of the most highly regarded cybersecurity certifications in the industry. CISSP is ideal for senior-level cybersecurity professionals looking to pursue strategic cybersecurity program management roles within their organizations.
CISSP requires five years of cumulative, full-time work experience in at least two of the eight CISSP Common Body of Knowledge domains. Candidates may substitute a relevant four-year degree or an approved certification for professional experience.
CISSP requires five years of cumulative, full-time work experience in at least two of the eight CISSP Common Body of Knowledge domains. Candidates may substitute a relevant four-year degree or an approved certification for professional experience.
ISC2 Certified Cloud Security Professional
Cloud security is among the fastest-growing, most desirable skills in cybersecurity and IT. The vendor-neutral CSSP certification demonstrates a candidate's ability to secure any platform, rather than a specific digital ecosystem. CCSP highlights skills including building applications, securing assets in the cloud, and engineering security networks.
CCSP certification requires five years of cumulative paid work experience in IT, including at least three years in information security and one year in one of the CCSP Common Body of Knowledge domains.
CCSP certification requires five years of cumulative paid work experience in IT, including at least three years in information security and one year in one of the CCSP Common Body of Knowledge domains.
Certified Information Security Manager
Offered by ISACA, CISM certification highlights the managerial skills needed to lead a corporate security program. CISM covers four skill domains: information risk management, information security program development, information security governance, and information security incident management.
CISM certification requires five years of experience in information security management, including at least three years in three of the four CISM domains.
CISM certification requires five years of experience in information security management, including at least three years in three of the four CISM domains.
CompTIA SecurityX (formerly CASP+)
CompTIA SecurityX is the only advanced cybersecurity certification that tests both technical and managerial skills. It covers cryptographic techniques, cloud technologies, software vulnerabilities, risk analysis, and operations and security concepts. Like CompTIA's Security+ and PenTest+, SecurityX is also compliant with the DoD for some government cybersecurity positions.
While SecurityX does not include formal prerequisites, CompTIA recommends at least 10 years of broad, hands-on IT experience, with five of those years in a hands-on security role.
Additionally, CompTIA recommends knowledge equivalent to other CompTIA certifications (such as Network+, Security+, and PenTest+) or equivalent practical experience.
While SecurityX does not include formal prerequisites, CompTIA recommends at least 10 years of broad, hands-on IT experience, with five of those years in a hands-on security role.
Additionally, CompTIA recommends knowledge equivalent to other CompTIA certifications (such as Network+, Security+, and PenTest+) or equivalent practical experience.
Roles that may benefit from expert-level certifications
Should you get a certification in cybersecurity?
Generally, cybersecurity certifications are required or strongly recommended for entry-level cybersecurity employees and those looking to break into the field; however, even if you have experience, you may benefit from earning a cybersecurity certification for a more niche role that requires specialized IT expertise.
Benefits of earning a cybersecurity certification can include:
- Improved job prospects for all career levels.
- Upskilling opportunities in the latest and most requested cybersecurity specialties.
- Advancement opportunities for beginners to gain experience and develop skills.
- A focus on management and leadership functions for mid-career professionals looking to excel.
- Qualifying for higher-paying cybersecurity jobs in niche areas of IT.
Weighing the necessity of cybersecurity certification for the specific role you seek in the IT industry is key.
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