How Cybersecurity Certifications Boost Your Salary
Despite the massive ability hole in the IT industry, it’s far from top development. During the following 10 years, the quantity of cybersecurity jobs will bounce 36% — a lot quicker than the average of all other occupations at only 5%, according to projections from the U.S. Department of Work Statistics. In today’s blog, we will discuss how Cybersecurity certifications boost your salary in 2024.
There are a lot of ways of breaking into cybersecurity. Famous options include upskilling programs through your company, earning a graduate degree in cybersecurity or another connected field, or in any event, taking Cybersecurity courses on your own time.
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What is an average cybersecurity analyst’s salary?
The median salary for cybersecurity analysts in the US in 2022 was $112,000, according to the US Agency of Work Statistics (BLS). That compares to $53.85 each hour.
Cybersecurity analyst salaries by experience
- In many industries, your level of experience can have a big impact on how much you procure.
- This is especially evident in cybersecurity, where hands-on experience is similarly significant, if not more important, to companies than education.
Cybersecurity Certifications
Selecting the most suitable certification for your needs can overpower you. To assist in your decision-making, here’s a breakdown:
Entry-Level Certifications
- CompTIA Security+: CompTIA Security+ is a non-vendor-biased certification that confirms foundational expertise in security concepts, controls, and incident response. Serving as a fantastic entry point into cybersecurity, it is ideal for individuals new to the field, providing a solid base of essential knowledge.
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker): This certification is designed to hone skills for identifying and addressing security shortcomings through ethical hacking practices.
- CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor): CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor) focuses on principles and practices of information security auditing, equipping individuals to assess and evaluate an organization’s security stance. This certification is tailored to prepare professionals to scrutinize and guarantee the effectiveness of information systems controls.
Intermediate-Level Certifications
- CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional): CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) is a globally acknowledged certification that confirms an advanced comprehension of security architecture and engineering principles. Tailored for individuals aspiring for leadership or management jobs in cybersecurity, it is a prestigious validation of expertise in the field.
- CISM (Certified Information Security Manager): CISM (Certified Information Security Manager) concentrates on implementing information security management practices and strategies. Individuals who attain this certification gain the knowledge and skills to make and implement hearty security programs within organizational frameworks.
- OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional): OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) is a hands-on certification that investigates advanced penetration testing techniques and tools. It provides individuals with the skills needed to conduct sophisticated vulnerability evaluations, making it a significant resource for those seeking expertise in offensive security practices.
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Benefits of Cybersecurity Certifications on Your Salary
Demonstrating Expertise
Certifications in cybersecurity provide:
- Validating skills.
- A commitment to staying side by side in a rapidly evolving industry.
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Average salary: $162,347
What certification shows: Expertise in information security governance, management, programs, as well as incident management
What you need: Five years of professional work experience before sitting for the test
Cost of certification: $575 for Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) individuals and $760 for non-individuals
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Average salary: $158,191
What certification shows: Dominance of security and risk management, resource security, security architecture and engineering, communication and network security, identity and access management, security appraisal and testing, security operations, and software development security. It’s also “been compared to earning a graduate degree in IT security,” according to Skillsoft.
What you need: Five or more years of paid experience in one of the above domains
Cost of certification: $749
AWS Certified Security — Specialty
Average salary: $149,741
What certification shows: An ability to get AWS cloud data and “navigate complex security challenges”
What you need: AWS suggests having something like five years of IT security experience with two securing AWS workloads
Cost of certification: $300
How to increase your cybersecurity salary
Now that you have a better idea of what you could hope to procure as a cybersecurity analyst, we should take a look at how you might help your salary, in any event, for an entry-level analyst position.
Learn new cybersecurity skills.
Companies are looking for professionals with powerful cybersecurity skills to confront evolving threats.
- Vendor management: Understand how companies can safeguard themselves from assaults originating from third-party vendor networks
- Intelligence analysis: Research and gather data on potential threats and agitators to inform better security practices
- Network support: Know best practices for keeping a company’s PC network working and secure
- Identity management: Guarantee that only authorized clients have access to data and technological resources
- Splunk: Work this security information and occasion management system (SIEM) to respond to threats
Procure a certification or degree.
While you don’t necessarily need a degree to get a job in cybersecurity, earning one could help you find more job opportunities and get a knock on your salary.
Some companies will cover the expense of certification courses and tests, offsetting how much you’d need to spend from cash on hand. Make certain to talk with your manager about options if you’re interested in pursuing a certification.
Negotiate your job offer.
Whenever you’re offered a cybersecurity job, inquire as to whether the sum offered is available for negotiation. While there’s no guarantee that you’ll get what you request, you could be walking away from a bigger salary by not trying.
What to know before working toward certifications
Like earning most honours, cybersecurity certifications require individuals to have a true experience, then commit to study and pay for the test itself. There are multiple ways of studying for the certifications, including books, on-demand courses, classroom-style prep, and even boot camps, Hendrickson says.
“Learning shouldn’t be drawn closer with a one-size-fits-all model,” he adds. “Everyone follows a different way to skill proficiency, capability, and eventually dominance.”
“You still need to have the option to do the job once you are hired,” he says.
Benefits of Cybersecurity Certifications on Your Salary
Industry Recognition
Specific certifications like CISSP, CEH, and CompTIA Security+ appreciate expansive recognition and regard in cybersecurity. Acquiring these certifications authenticates your skills and opens roads for working with respectable organizations. These regarded certifications enhance your marketability, making bosses more inclined to provide competitive compensation bundles to certified candidates.
Increased Employability
In a landscape set apart by widespread cyber threats, organizations are increasingly emphasizing cybersecurity in their hiring processes. Possessing pertinent certifications strengthens your resume and heightens your possibilities of securing a job. Bosses favour candidates with recognized certifications, viewing them as a testament to a commitment to greatness and a proactive stance in tackling cybersecurity challenges.
Salary Increment
Given their substantial impact, elevating your salary is a compelling incentive to seek cybersecurity certifications. Bosses commonly acknowledge and remunerate the dedication and investment important for obtaining these certifications. Certified professionals much of the time experience higher initial salaries and access more lucrative opportunities for career advancement compared to their non-certified peers.
Profit from Investment
While there is an initial investment in time and resources, the profit from investment (ROI) from pursuing cybersecurity certifications is as often as possible substantial. The increased earning potential, heightened job security, and expanded career opportunities justify the upfront expenses of certification tests and training programs.
Professionals often discover that the acquired skills enhance their ongoing jobs and contribute significantly to long-term career achievement.
Career Advancement
Cybersecurity certifications provide initial salary support and catalyze career advancement. As you build certifications and experience, you qualify for higher-level positions with more prominent responsibilities. Each additional certification contributes to an enriched skill set and enhanced credibility, positioning you as an important resource within your organization and fostering continued career development.
Conclusion
Today, we discussed how Cybersecurity certifications boost your salary. If you’re interested in starting a career in cybersecurity, consider the Cybersecurity Professional Certificate on Digital Class. This program is designed to help individuals with no previous experience find their first job in the field of cybersecurity, all at their speed. The courses cover topics, for example, security models, tools that are utilized to access and address threats, networks, and more.
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