According to Cybersecurity Ventures, there will be 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings by 2021, up from 1 million in 2014. Every IT role now includes a cybersecurity component. Protecting and defending software, data, computers, infrastructure, and people is something that every IT worker, every technology worker, needs to be concerned with. So, what are the most valuable cybersecurity certifications? It depends on who you ask and how you approach the situation. Although some certifications pay more than others (see the survey), the discrepancies between some of them are insignificant — and they’re all important. Before we get into our list of 10 hottest certifications, we’d like to tell you about ITU Online’s Ultimate Cybersecurity Training Bundle. It includes their most famous courses, such as Ethical Hacking v10 and CompTIA PenTest+. They also guarantee the best price. This incredible package includes lifetime access, ten courses, and over 170 hours of content. You understand that having the right cybersecurity training is critical for the next step in your career, whether it’s a raise or a promotion. However, there are a variety of training options available—which one would lead to the most in-demand cybersecurity jobs? Cybersecurity has emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments of the overall tech job market in the last five years, with numerous prospects for career advancement. One reason for this continued growth is that cybercriminals and state-sponsored hackers continue to improve their skills, posing new challenges that security teams must predict and counter. The federal indictment in February of four members of China’s People’s Liberation Army for hacking Equifax in 2017, resulting in one of the largest data breaches in history, is just one of many reasons why businesses large and small are increasing their investments in cybersecurity. For many companies, the problem is that there aren’t enough cybersecurity experts to meet the rising demand. According to a 2019 study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, 82 percent of employers reported a cybersecurity skills shortage. Another seven out of ten respondents believe the talent shortage has a “direct and measurable” effect on their businesses. According to the same report, the global cybersecurity workforce will have over 1.8 million unfilled vacancies by 2022. With so many options, technologists with the right training will find their way to a higher cybersecurity salary (one study claims that many of the best cybersecurity workers in North America receive upwards of $100,000 per year) or a faster path to the next promotion. There are many options for those looking to break into cybersecurity or change careers. Before we go any further, let’s take a look at the perfect skills for a career in cybersecurity. The following are the baseline and defining cybersecurity skills, according to Burning Glass, which gathers and analyzes millions of work posts from around the country:

What Is Cyber Security Training and Why Do I Need It?

Consider the phrase “hands-on.” For several years, cybersecurity training was mostly focused on book learning and theory, with more realistic experience coming later in the security workforce as college graduates entering the workforce. However, the solution would not be able to meet the current demand for cybersecurity professionals. According to a study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, cybersecurity training must develop to meet this demand.

What Is the Purpose of Cyber Security Training?

According to Thomas Hatch, CTO, and co-founder of SaltStack, an intelligent IT automation software firm based in Utah, cybersecurity training can demonstrate the basics of cybersecurity, particularly for those who are new to the area, since jobs can range from network penetration testing to old-fashioned patch management. “The first thing I would suggest is getting a sense of the landscape, determining what types of cyber protection are available, and then diving into specific areas,” Hatch told Dice. “There’s network penetration and vulnerability, exploit management, and traditional black hat tooling, for example. For attack deterrent systems like honeypots, understanding stable software engineering is a great choice. “There are a lot of things to think about,” he said. “After that, look at the tools available in each of these areas.” Hatch indicated that good cybersecurity training helps both experienced professionals and those with limited expertise to delve deeper into the ramifications of the security threat. Security-centric technologists can better grasp the consequences for the entire corporate network by understanding how networks are patched for vulnerabilities and what the implications are, he said.

Where to Begin Cyber Security Training?

There are various cybersecurity training courses and programs available, similar to cybersecurity certifications, each providing unique perspectives and advice for advancing and enhancing your security career. Although there is no universal standard, many security practitioners and researchers point to the SANS Institute, private training and certifications provider, and its catalog of computer security training courses as a starting point as well as a way to advance a career. Andre Barrutia, director of talent management at Coalfire, a cybersecurity consulting services company in Colorado, said, “SANS Training has a range of subjects around information security and courses can be taken online.” “It is well worth the investment of money and time, and it is in high demand.” SANS courses vary from the fundamentals, such as “Introduction to Cyber Security,” to the much more complex “Cloud Security Architecture and Operations.” However, because of the recent spread of COVID-19, SANS and other cybersecurity training organizations are focusing their efforts online. Other organizations provide free cybersecurity training and learning courses to get professionals and beginners started, while SANS charges for these and other cybersecurity training courses depending on the level of complexity and subject matter. For instance, Cybrary is a free, open-source library of cybersecurity training and learning materials that can be accessed through the internet. The company also provides computer security training and testing for beginners, intermediates, and advanced users. The Department of Homeland Security provides the free Federal Virtual Training Environment (FederalVTE) to U.S. veterans and other government employees, which connects those interested in security with a variety of cybersecurity training and qualification courses ranging from simple coding to reverse engineering.

What Are Some of the Most Successful Cyber Security Training Programs?

Several other organizations, in addition to the SANS Institute, Cybrary, and Homeland Security’s FederalVTE, offer various cybersecurity training programs. Tripwire, a cybersecurity company, released a list of some of the most well-known and recognized cybersecurity training courses in September 2019, including offerings from (ISC)2, Global Information Assurance Certification, Infosec Institute, and the MIS Training Institute. Universities are another place to search for better cybersecurity training. The University of Washington, for example, offers a course called “Building a Cybersecurity Toolkit,” which covers both the fundamentals of cybersecurity and best practices. This cybersecurity training course is free, with a credential available for $199. The Stanford Advanced Computer Security Certificate Program, which involves six online courses that will take between 50 and 55 hours to complete, is a step up the cybersecurity training ladder. This course, aimed at those with a bachelor’s degree who want to advance in their careers, costs more than $3,000 but includes access to executives from Google, Linked In, Symantec, VeriSign, and LifeLock.

10 Hot Cybersecurity Certifications

The editors of Cybercrime Magazine have compiled a list of 10 hot security certifications for IT employees in 2020: We suggest the CompTIA Security+ software, which is included in ITU Online’s Ultimate Cybersecurity Bundle, for newcomers who aren’t sure where to begin. You’ll be able to call yourself a cybersecurity expert once you have your credential. If you’ve already worked in the security industry, check out the top 5 security positions that pay over $200,000. By 2021, cybercrime is expected to cost the world $6 trillion a year, up from $3 trillion in 2015. Over the next decade, Cybersecurity Ventures expects a steady market for seasoned cybersecurity practitioners, making certifications a worthwhile investment.