Best Cybersecurity Certifications

Certificate programs in cybersecurity are unique because they fall under two general categories:

1. certificate programs for those who already obtained a bachelor's or master's degree. These programs are extensive forays into a very specific subject within cybersecurity and are meant to build technical and theoretical skills. This program will teach you how to maintain or develop systems for security or how to actively develop solutions to deal with malware and destructive code.
2. certificate programs for students with no background in cybersecurity. These certificates' function similar to degrees, but are expedited without any common core classes. Generally, the second certificate type covers broad subjects such as data management or information technology security. A degree in cybersecurity differs because it takes place over a longer period of time, allowing for students to learn additional information and to build programming and technical skills.

A certificate in cybersecurity is a great opportunity to expand your career options in an ever-expanding field. Many news, governmental, and economic organizations highlight the value and long-term strength of technological work in our future societies. Therefore, a degree in cybersecurity is stable and a certificate will allow you to work in an emerging, yet challenging field. Pursuing cybersecurity as a career can benefit those with a more introverted personality, as in-person interaction is minimal.

Different certificate degrees indicate different skillsets; make sure to consider all different types of cybersecurity occupations before applying to a degree. Generally speaking, the higher paying jobs within the cybersecurity field require a bachelor's or master's degree along with various certificates. Certificates require extra educational experience and play an important role in job applications and practical work; they are only attainable by people with bachelor's and master's degrees.

If you are interested in studying cybersecurity, obtain a tech degree in computer science before applying for some certificate programs. Top universities offer many certificates in experiential fields that distinguish many students from those with just basic degrees.

A graduate certificate in cybersecurity is very popular for many bachelor's computer science and technology majors who may not have direct experience with cybersecurity technology. These certificates offer a variety of accreditation tests, which aren't allowed to be taken from bachelor's certificate programs.

Generally, students who have bachelors' certificates need some level of extra work experience, between two to four years in a relevant field, before applying to a graduate certificate program. Graduate certificate programs expand into more specific topics within cybersecurity including disaster recovery, intrusion detection, and cybersecurity ethics.

The main difference between the two certificate programs is the intended student for each program. Bachelor certificate students don't necessarily need relevant work experience or a college degree to get into programs, although it would be advised. Graduate certificate students need relevant work experience and at least a bachelor's degree to apply. Many students use graduate programs to expand their studies and skills on their resumes.

Cybersecurity is a very lucrative field within all tiers of work, and it is likely to see job growth within the future. Furthermore, the skill set needed for a career in cybersecurity can qualify you for a variety of roles at different types of companies. Many companies require specific certifications within cybersecurity, which you would get within your coursework, to get your foot in the door. These certifications should signify which career path would be best for you.

Many common certificate programs only offer a few accreditation tests, so if you have a career goal in mind you may have to actively search for specific tests. Careers in the government and within certain tech fields may require separate accreditation testing to qualify you for either role. Common careers in cybersecurity include an ethical hacker, a computer systems architect, a cybersecurity analyst, and an IT support manager.

Cybersecurity Architect

Cybersecurity architects build and actively manage the security of computer networks. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cybersecurity architects make a salary of $116,780 annually and expect to see a 5% growth in the total number of jobs within the next 10 years.

Many roles require additional and specific cybersecurity architect certificate training to be able to get a job as such. Those with general cybersecurity degrees will have to take accreditation tests to be able to apply for this type of job, and a graduate certificate degree when applying to some jobs.

Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity analysts, also known as information security analysts, develop precautionary measures to detect and prohibit security breaches on a company's computer network system. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cybersecurity analysts expect to see a 31% growth in the number of jobs available within the next 10 years. Cybersecurity analysts make a salary of on average $103,590 annually. Generally, jobs within this field require a bachelor's education, however, some beginner levels are becoming more available to those within certificate degrees.

Ethical Hacker

An ethical hacker is an emerging job role within the cybersecurity field whose active goal is to find flaws within given computer networks at a company or government department. Ethical hackers must pass the certified ethical hacker (CEH) exam to qualify them for any job role. While the certification required to get this degree is more actively available online, many in-person colleges are beginning to offer it as an in-person program.

As stated earlier, certificate programs for cybersecurity are quite diverse and are meant to teach you information to help you pass accreditation exams. Some popular certificate programs are

• certificate in information assurance and security
• certificate in cyber security
• certificate in security for web development, and
• cyber defense certificate

While many classes for these certificates vary, especially for graduate certificates, there are a number of common courses between certificates that are mandatory for obtaining the degree. Classes such as information security, operating systems design, cryptography, software design, network security, and computer network management are typical between certificate programs.

Software Design

A Software Design course covers a variety of topics ranging from the different methods of developing software to the interactability of software with hardware devices. Students learn about various types of data forms and data flow design within software. Students also may have a hands-on-experience using different technical tools while they learn about the different types of software systems.

Network Security

Network security is a course that all undergraduate students have to take when pursuing a cybersecurity certificate. This course teaches students how to find malicious programs and software and to protect the privacy and integrity of a platform's data. Students also learn how to actively search for viruses using open-source data search tools and auditing practices.

Most undergraduate certificate programs are between 15 to 18 credit hours, or 5 or six classes. The coursework learned in a cybersecurity certificate program is generally extensive and labor-heavy, especially if you have no prior experience in cybersecurity. Students actively complete programs over a one-year period.

At the end of specific classes and their final semester, students are required to take accreditation exams offered by the college. Some graduate certificate programs may take up to two years to complete. Students should be actively aware of various accreditation exam test periods to plan their schedules if they need extra awards to show on their resume for specific jobs.

In choosing a certificate program in cybersecurity, consider a few important factors. First, consider the work and purpose of each program and make sure it fits your goals. Make sure too that you have the requirements needed, as different cybersecurity certificate programs have unique requirements and qualifications, and offer different classes and accreditation. For example, getting certified in cryptography is different than getting certified in IT. Plan out your career goals and figure out what jobs interest you the most before choosing a certificate program.

Next, factor in location and cost of a certificate program. Many local colleges offer discounts for residents or location-specific scholarships. Some colleges have good affiliations with specific companies you may want to work for, so signing up for their programs are more likely to land you a job at those companies.

Online certificate programs are often cheaper than in-person programs and are more accessible and flexible with your current work/life schedule. However, some companies may look for in-person degree experience, especially if you haven't obtained a bachelors degree in a relevant field from an in-person university. Some students work part-time while taking classes. While many programs accommodate for part-time students, check with your program first before applying.

Many different cybersecurity programs require unique sets of skills, work experience, or educational attainment to apply. However, there are also many cybersecurity degrees that only require a high school education - such as basic information technology certificates and general cybersecurity degrees from community colleges.

Bachelor level cybersecurity certificate programs may require you to know specific computer languages such as Java or C++ and may also require you to have a bachelor's level degree at a university. There also may different requirements to get into online certificate programs, especially at the graduate level and generally depend on your education level and work experience.

Enrollment for in-person and online certificates is generally open during spring and fall semesters when there is a requirement for a bachelor's or graduate's degree. Summer enrollment is available for more general certificate programs and for online certificate programs. Therefore, read about the requirements for enrollment in a cybersecurity certificate program before applying.

Unlike associate degree or bachelor degree programs that have costs spread out between semesters, certificate programs typically charge one flat fee for part-time and full-time students. This fee costs between $15,000 and $21,000, and typically includes computer lab and software fees. Online certificate programs have a much lower cost of around $100 to $200 per credit hours, or $300 to $600 per course. The lower cost of online programs is due to there being less one-on-one teaching and hands-on experience. Note that certification and licensing exams may require fees to independent testers, but some testers offer online certificate programs that include certification tests.

Financial Aid and Scholarship Resources for Certificate Programs

Cybersecurity is one of the most competitive, important, and growing fields within the United States, and so it has a large variety of public, private, and governmental financing options. Every student searching for a higher education, no matter what type of degree they are pursuing, should first look at federal financial aid. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) offers a variety of financial aid options, most important of which is their direct subsidized loans. This aid is best for undergraduate certificate students with little familial financial support.

Many states and cities also actively offer scholarships and financial aid to students within tech fields, especially cybersecurity. Students should check with their given college or university to see public and private scholarship options. Many companies offer corporate sponsorship and financial aid to students who are obtaining a cybersecurity or IT security degree within a tech company. Other companies, such as CISCO and Google, partner with colleges to offer work-specific courses that leads to future employment opportunities.