Top 10 Cybersecurity Certifications to Consider in 2019

What are the best cybersecurity certifications? That's a question that all cybersecurity professionals ask themselves throughout their careers. There are a lot of options, and which credential you should get depends on your experience level and the type of work you'd like to do. Here are the top cybersecurity certifications for 2019 based on the most in-demand jobs in the industry.

1. CCNA Routing & Switching
Who needs it: beginners with less than 1 year of experience

This credential is vendor-specific to Cisco, one of the world's most popular providers of network hardware. It's one of the essential IT security certifications for beginners, covering foundational networking knowledge such as infrastructure, wide area networks (WAN), wireless access, and basic security. This certification tops our list, because it's useful for practically any cybersecurity career path, regardless of whether you work exclusively with Cisco tools.

2. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
Who needs it: beginner to mid-level professionals with 1–3 years of experience

The CCNP is an important next step after you've earned your CCNA. This credential shows employers that you have job-ready skills in planning, running, and troubleshooting Cisco networks, as well as the ability to work as part of a team on security solutions. Think of CCNA Routing & Switching and CCNP as a career-building power couple that will help you advance from general IT positions into networking and cybersecurity.

3. CCNA: Security
Who needs it: beginner to mid-level professionals with 1-3 years of experience

This specialized certification in the Cisco suite can be earned in addition to your other Cisco credentials or alone, depending on your experience with networking. It's very important that you have a foundation in networking first. CCNA: Security is a well-respected certification that tells employers you have the knowledge and hands-on experience to work as a cybersecurity practitioner in roles like network administrator and security analyst. This is also a good choice if you're not sure whether you want to pursue management positions or continue building your career as an advanced practitioner.

4. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Who needs it: mid-level professionals with at least 2 years of experience

Penetration testers are in very high demand. Classified by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as information security analysts, penetration testers and similar professionals can look forward to 28 percent job growth now through 2026. CEH is quickly becoming one of the most required cybersecurity certifications, even for those not planning on working as penetration testers. So, what is the CEH certification? It's a credential that validates your ability to gather information, perform cyberattacks, and exploit weaknesses in a lawful and legitimate manner to help organizations identify vulnerabilities in their security plan. It proves you can "think like a hacker" — always a valuable skill.

5. CompTIA Network+
Who needs it: beginners with less than 1 year of experience

Network+ covers practical skills you'll need to build and run networks. The difference between Cisco and CompTIA is that CompTIA certifications are vendor-neutral, ensuring broad knowledge across a range of equipment. Employers frequently look for both types of entry-level cybersecurity certifications. Many employers view this as a stepping stone toward additional CompTIA certifications like CompTIA Security+.

6. CompTIA Security+
Who needs it: mid-level professionals with 1–3 years of experience

CompTIA Security+ will build upon your foundational knowledge of networks with security-specific skills like cryptography and threat identification and management. This credential will help you make the move from a general IT role into a more specialized cybersecurity position.

7. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
Who needs it: professionals interested in information systems auditing

CISA certification covers the skills you need to audit information systems, such as assessing, controlling, and reporting vulnerabilities. You may pass the CISA exam before completing the 5 years of work experience required to earn the certification, making this a great option for those looking to stay a step ahead.

8. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Who needs it: professionals interested in cybersecurity management positions

As its name implies, CISM is a management certification that assesses skills like security governance, risk and incident management, and program development. The demand for computer and information management positions is projected to grow by 12 percent through 2026, and qualified security managers are among the most desirable candidates. Like CISA, you can earn a passing score on the exam first, and then complete the 5 years of work experience required to become certified.

9. CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP)
Who needs it: professionals with 5+ years of experience and interest in non-management roles

CASP certification has a technical, hands-on concentration, making it a great certification for engineers, analysts, and other cybersecurity practitioners. You'll use your critical thinking skills to plan and implement security solutions. CASP is recognized by the Department of Defense as an advanced cybersecurity certification. It's a great certification to have if you're interested in working in the public sector (government) and it's well respected by private-sector employers too.

10. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Who needs it: professionals with 5+ years of experience and interest in management roles

CISSP is often considered the top certification for cybersecurity, especially for those in management and executive positions. According to CyberSeek, there are over 77,000 cybersecurity job openings in the U.S. requesting the CISSP certification. Roles that benefit from this credential focus on high-level policy decisions within an organization, such as developing and managing security standards and processes. This certification is a must-have for CIO and CISO positions.

These are just a few of the certifications that will be in demand for 2019 and beyond. The fact that there is so much to learn and achieve in the cybersecurity industry is part of its appeal — not to mention the ability to earn a high salary and work in a growing field. No matter where you are in your career journey, it's always a good time to start earning your next cybersecurity certification.