The 8 Cybersecurity Certifications That Will Take Your Career to the Next Level in 2023

Hey there! If you‘ve been considering advancing your cybersecurity career, you likely already know about the massive talent shortage the industry is facing.

With over 3.4 million unfilled positions globally and the US alone expecting a shortage of upwards of 500,000 professionals by 2025, qualified candidates have their pick of exciting, high-paying cyber jobs.

However, simply having interest in the field won‘t cut it anymore. To stand out, you need skills validation through credible certifications that align to employer demands.

So among the myriad options, which ones should you pursue? Well, I‘ve compiled the 8 best cybersecurity certifications for 2023 based on extensive research into job trends, salary prospects and more.

This handpicked list covers options for total beginners looking to switch careers as well as intermediate and advanced pros aiming for specializations and leadership roles.

Let‘s examine each certification along with target candidate profiles, exam specifics, career advancement potential and more data to help you make the optimal choice!

At First Glance: The 8 Cyber Certifications

Before looking at the nitty-gritties, here‘s a snapshot of the top credentials:

Certification Offered By Difficulty Ideal Work Experience
Google Cybersecurity Professional
Certificate
Google Beginner None Necessary
CompTIA Security+ CompTIA Intermediate 2 years in IT admin with
security duties
CompTIA CySA+ CompTIA Intermediate 3-4 years in IT security
Certified Information
Security Manager (CISM)
ISACA Advanced 5+ years in InfoSec
with 3 as manager
Certified Information
Systems Auditor (CISA)
ISACA Advanced 5 years in areas like
IT audit, control, security
Systems Security Certified
Practitioner (SSCP)
(ISC)2 Beginner 1 year in IT or security
Microsoft Security,
Compliance and Identity
Fundamentals
Microsoft Beginner Fundamental understanding
of networking, cloud,
Microsoft products
Certified Ethical
Hacker (CEH)
EC-Council Intermediate 2 years work experience + TCP/IP grasp

Now let‘s explore each of these popular certifications in greater detail.

1. Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate: Best for Career Switchers

Cyberseek‘s career pathway data reveals entry-level cybersecurity roles like Cybersecurity Support Technicians and Analysts make up over 20% of the total job distribution.

Being beginner-friendly while teaching in-demand skills, Google‘s Cybersecurity Certificate can successfully prep those looking to transition from other fields.

Key Details and Scope

  • Self-paced online program covering ~50 hours of coursework
  • Foundational concepts like encryption, risk management, OS security etc.
  • Hands-on labs for tools like Linux, Python, SQL
  • Shareable certificate upon completion
  • No prior work experience or tech background required

Led by industry experts like Khan Academy, the course cuts through complex jargon with an interactive, career-focused curriculum. Learners also gain membership in an exclusive Google community for networking opportunities.

The certificate directly feeds Google‘s Career Certificate apprenticeship program that facilitates interviews for jobs with reputed companies. In a recent survey, 85% enrolled candidates reported career benefits like getting a raise, finding a new job or starting their own business.

So whether looking for cyber internships or full-time entry-level positions, this program can put beginners firmly on that path.

Sample Target Job Roles

  • Cybersecurity support technician: $46k/year
  • Cybersecurity analyst: $103k/year
  • Security operations center (SOC) analyst: $77k/year

Cyberseek also forecasts these IT support and analyst roles to have stellar growth with over 40,000 projected openings in the US by 2025.

2. CompTIA Security+: Validating Core Cyber Skills

Called the “first security certification IT professionals should earn”, Sec+ confirms mastery of essential, role-based skills.

While Security+ isn‘t mandatory for most cyber jobs today, it provides a springboard proving baseline proficiencies that open lots of mid-level career avenues.

Key Details and Scope

  • Exam covers network security, cloud security, threats, cryptography etc.
  • Tests to plan/implement secure solutions protecting IT infrastructure
  • No prerequisite certifications but 2 years admin experience recommended
  • Exam has 90 questions with 90 minute completion time
  • Certification lasts 3 years, requiring renewal via exam retake

Offered by non-profit trade association CompTIA, the ANSI-accredited Sec+ meets cyber workforce guidelines of the US Department of Defense.

Hence military and government entities frequently use it as a qualification benchmark. obtain Sec+ certified professionals made an average of $80k/year in 2022, as per TechRepublic analysis.

Let‘s look at example mid-level cyber roles Security+ can position you for.

Sample Target Job Roles

  • Information security analyst: $103k/year
  • Cybersecurity consultant: $117k/year
  • Network security engineer: $120k/year

ISACA industry research shows 75% cybersecurity managers mandate or encourage Security+ for their teams, emphasizing its value.

3. CompTIA CySA+: Cutting-Edge Defensive Expertise

With cyber threats growing exponentially more complex and damaging, the ability to predict and combat them is a highly prized skillset.

CompTIA CySA+ specifically verifies your capabilities to proactively defend networks by leveraging threat intelligence.

Rather than reacting to incidents, modern companies demand professionals who can get into hackers‘ mindsets to implement robust system safeguards.

That‘s exactly the niche CySA+ focused certifications fill while commanding premium salaries.

Key Details and Scope

  • 120 exam questions with 165 minute limit
  • Covers configuring security tools, analysis, interpreting data, vulnerability management etc.
  • Recommended having Security+ certification
  • Needs 3-4 years hands-on experience in IT security

As per Global Knowledge, 93% students rated CySA+ as extremely or very relevant to real-world security roles.

Let‘s look at few high-value cyber jobs cleared by the CySA+ tag.

Sample Target Job Roles

  • Cyber threat intelligence analyst: $107k/year
  • Vulnerability assessment analyst: $91k/year
  • Cybersecurity analyst II: $98k/year

With cyberattack costs potentially running into millions, organizations rank identifying and containing threats before they spread as top security priorities for 2023.

This explains the tremendous demand forecast for threat hunters. CySA+ delivers the exact perimeter defense abilities employers covet.

4. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM): Entering Cyber Leadership

For seasoned cyber professionals with technical mastery seeking managerial growth, CISM is the gold standard.

Validating capabilities to formulate and govern security strategies for the organization, demand for CISMs keeps breaking records.

Key Details and Scope

  • Proven information security leadership with 5+ years experience required
  • Exam domains are Information Security Governance, Information Risk Management etc.
  • 150 questions with 4 hours to complete the test
  • Certification renewal every 3 years with mandatory ongoing education

In its 2022 CISM salary survey report, ISACA discovered that over half of respondents earned $125k or more. For those employed in the tech hub Silicon Valley, salaries averaged at a steeper $152k/year.

Let‘s look at leadership positions a CISM certification can drive you to.

Sample Target Job Roles

  • Chief Information Security Officer (CISO): $233k/year
  • Director of cybersecurity: $196k/year
  • Head of information security: $178k/year

Top enterprise cybersecurity executives are rewarded more than ever before as organizations aim to poach management talent amidst record job openings.

CISM provides the exact administrative education sought after to seize these lucrative senior cyber opportunities.

5. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA): Compliance & Audit Specialist

Cybersecurity Ventures predicts that over 80% of organizations will be aligned to one or more cyber compliance frameworks by 2025.

This majorly expands the need for trained audit and compliance supervision to meet rigorous evaluation demands.

That‘s the vital gap CISA fills by validating expertise to monitor system controls, ensure policy adherence, liaison with auditors etc.

Key Details and Scope

  • Assesses auditor skills across 5 practice areas like IT audit process, governance, risk etc.
  • 200 MCQ questions covering 150 audit tasks and concepts
  • Must have 5 years relevant work experience in IT audit, control, security domains
  • Certification renewal every 3 years; continuing education hours mandatory

In just 2021, those with a CISA certification averaged salaries of $132k as per ISACA reports.

Let‘s examine what core audit and compliance roles you can step into.

Sample Target Job Roles

  • IT auditor: $98k/year
  • Regulatory compliance manager: $117k/year
  • Audit director: $154k/year

Nearly every major corporation today needs continuous evaluation of systems and protocols to meet strict governance requirements.

CISA gives you the tools to orchestrate exactly such assessments while taking your career to new heights.

6. Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP): Springboard for Budding Cyber Talent

With cybersecurity firmly established as a specialist career, students and those in non-technical roles also want an avenue to transition.

That‘s where SSCP comes in as the ideal onramp providing fundamental cybersecurity knowledge for rookies to then build further expertise.

Key Details and Scope

  • 7 SSCP domains like Access Controls, Risk Identification etc.
  • 125 exam questions needing basic understanding of tech concepts
  • No mandatory experience but 1 year in IT/security recommended
  • Certification renewal every 3 years by reAttempt or higher cert

The 2022 (ISC)2 Cybersecurity Career Pursuers Study discovered SSCPs get a 16% higher callback rate for cyber interviews compared to non-certified applicants.

Let‘s check some junior cyber roles SSCP equips you for.

Sample Target Job Roles

  • Information security analyst: $103k/year
  • Cybersecurity specialist: $95k/year
  • Security administrator: $84k/year

The NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework trusts SSCPs to reliably perform essential duties like threat monitoring, vulnerability scanning and basic incident response.

As organizations aim to widen talent pools, SSCP offers the skills to confirm jobs despite limited background.

7. Microsoft Security, Compliance & Identity Fundamentals: Cloud & Identity Specialist

With Microsoft‘s software ubiquitous from Windows to Office 365 along with their cloud dominance, security expertise here is invaluable.

The Microsoft Security, Compliance and Identity (SCI) Fundamentals certification evaluates your ability to safeguard Microsoft environments.

Key Details and Scope

  • Skills like managing Microsoft cloud security, configuring protections, Identity Access Management etc.
  • Exam format is multiple choice questions
  • No mandated experience but understanding of Microsoft ecosystem required
  • Certification doesn‘t expire

Microsoft certified professionals make over $125k/year on average as per Payscale data, amply rewarding the effort.

Let‘s check which cybersecurity roles this foundational certification can target.

Sample Job Roles

  • Cloud security engineer: $158k/year
  • Identity and access management specialist: $122k/year

The expanding adoption of Microsoft cloud solutions like Azure has exponentially increased the need for trained security experts here.

MSCI allows you to showcase precisely such specialized deployment skills for in-demand infrastructure.

8. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): Unlocking Red Team Careers

Lastly, for those drawn to take an adversary perspective to ruthlessly pressure test defenses, CEH delivers the goods.

CEH provides complete methodology mimicking cybercriminals to uncover vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

Key Details and Scope

  • Exposes latest hacker tools/tactics enabling you to stay steps ahead
  • 180 exam questions based on realistic attack simulations
  • Needs minimum 2 years work experience + solid grasp of TCP/IP protocols
  • Certification expires after 3 years necessitating renewal

SANS Institute‘s 2022 cybersecurity salaries survey discovered that Penetration Testers with a CEH could command an average salary of $140k/year.

Let‘s look at exciting red team job possibilities.

Sample Target Job Roles

  • Penetration tester: $120k/year
  • Cybersecurity engineer: $134k/year
  • Vulnerability assessment analyst: $91k/year

Gartner predicts that 30% of cyber leaders will mandate red team exercises like breach and attack simulations annually to validate defenses by 2025, drastically expanding roles.

CEH gives you the attacking skill arsenal to excel as ethical breach simulation professionals.

I hope mapping out the key details for the 8 leading cybersecurity certifications helps better evaluate which fit your background and objectives.

Rather than getting overwhelmed, think about gaps preventing your next career milestone and how these cyber skills can address it. Focus on quality over quantity.

For technical pros, CompTIA’s offerings like Security+ and CySA+ make strong cases boosting employability. Microsoft’s cloud and identity credential can also be valuable specialization.

If aiming for managerial growth, credentials like CISM and CISA set you apart. For auditing roles specifically, CISA is the clear choice.

For newcomers without experience, the Google and SSCP certifications offer approachable kickstarters to cyber jobs. And CEH lets red team enthusiasts realize ethical hacking careers.

Remember to research exam costs, training requirements, renewal criteria etc. beforehand as well so you can budget the investment.

I hope mapping out the cyber landscape this way helps you make the optimal selection aligned to your aspirations in 2023 and beyond! Stay proactive and continue adding skills that tackle dynamically evolving threats.