Entry-Level Cybersecurity Certifications

1. CEH-Council Certified Ethical Hacker

CEH is one of the most demanded security certifications in the cybersecurity industry and can only be cracked with a great deal of effort. The latest CEHv12 is an advanced version of CEHv11 where there are enhanced attack methodologies and lab techniques, an increasing number of labs, etc. If you clear CEH, you can apply to dozens of jobs like Network Engineer, Cyber Defense Analyst, Warning Analyst, IT Security Administrator, Solution Architect, Cybersecurity Consultant, Information Security Manager, and a lot more! The course outline contains 20 modules with domains that include SQL injection, Cryptography, IoT hacking, Cloud computing, Session hijacking, Sniffing, Malware threats, hacking web servers, Social engineering, Denial-of-Service, etc.

• Cost of the Exam: Varies between $1,050 to $1,119. Training is excluded.
• Exam Pattern: MCQ based
• Number of Questions: 125
• Time Limit: 4 hours
• Pass Percentage: 65% – 85% depending on the difficulty.

2. CompTIA Security+

Security+ is a globally recognized cybersecurity certificate that measures and assesses the candidate’s ability to carry out core security operations to be able to pursue an IT security career. The structure of this exam is designed as such so that it aligns with the latest trends and techniques and proves that the professional has required hands-on skills and is prepared to solve a wider variety of complex issues. Skills that can be learned through the Security+ Exam are attacks, threats, and vulnerabilities on embedded devices, newer variants of DDoS attacks, access management, cryptography, threat detection, risk mitigation techniques, governance, risk, and compliance.

• Cost of the Exam: $392 (approx)
• Exam Pattern: MCQ and PBQ based
• Number of Questions: 90
• Time Limit: 90 minutes
• Passing Marks: 750 (On a scale of 100-900)

3. GIAC Security Essential Certification (GSEC)

Provided by Global Information Assurance Certification, GSEC is the first level of security authorization for people who are from the background of networking and information systems and networking. This certification helps you to earn skills in security tasks, such as network security, active defense, cryptography, cloud security, and incident response. Any person who is working as an IT professional in a company where security plays a major role may be benefited from this certification. Also, if one wants to get knowledge and experience in information and security then this certification acts as a boon. 

• Cost of the Exam: $949
• Exam Pattern: Open Book Exam
• Number of Questions: 106-180 
• Time Limit: 4-5 hours
• Passing Marks: 73%

4. Offensive Security Certified Professional

The OSCP PEN-200 exam is designed uniquely to test and prepare individuals to be successful penetration testers. The course is intended for Infosec professionals transitioning into penetration testing, pen testers seeking an industry-leading certification, security professionals, network administrators, and other technology professionals. The course also requires to have some prerequisites. These include a concrete understanding of TCP/IP networks, knowledge of Python and Bash scripting along with Windows and Linux Administrator experience. The exam covers topics such as command line, practical tools, active and passive information gathering, vulnerability scanning, buffer overflows, client-side attacks, web application attacks, locating and fixing exploits, privilege escalation, password attacks, Metasploit, and tunneling. Overall, it is guaranteed to make you an expert penetration professional.

• Cost of the Exam: Varies between $999 to $2148
• Exam Pattern: Practical Based
• Time Limit: 24 hours
• Passing Marks: 70 (out of 100)

The demand for cybersecurity professionals has surged in recent years, driven by the increasing shift to online platforms across various industries. From online education to e-commerce and virtual events, the Internet has become integral to our daily lives. With this reliance comes the critical need to protect data, servers, and applications from cyber threats. As more financial transactions and sensitive information are exchanged online, the role of cybersecurity experts in safeguarding digital assets has become paramount.

Due to all these factors mentioned above, there has been significant growth in the job openings for cybersecurity experts. To find the best professionals, organizations usually filter the candidates on the basis of the official industry-level certifications as it proves that the candidate has the required working knowledge to carry out the required tasks. If you are planning a career in cybersecurity and hold an interest in security-related domains, you have come to the right place! 

We will be discussing the top cybersecurity certifications that you can go for to prove your skills and eventually land the job of your dreams.