Cybersecurity Certification: How Lucrative is CyberSecurity?

Cybersecurity is the life of data. So, if you are wondering if there was ever a need for it, there you have it. Countless instances have demonstrated the vulnerability of data, as it can be tampered with, manipulated, or stolen when not adequately protected. Also, considering that every functioning organization works with data, the need for strong data security becomes even more understandable. It's okay to wonder if cybersecurity is lucrative, especially when you are looking to dabble in it. You want to know what the odds are and what is in it for you. Read on. 

Why should you consider Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is currently one of the most in-demand jobs, not just in Nigeria but globally. Everyday, there is a need for a particular body or company to combat cyber-attacks, hence, the need for more cybersecurity professionals. Also, a cybersecurity breach is very dangerous and can cause people to lose whatever it is they have gathered for years. Having enough cybersecurity can help to keep data safe and secure. 

No organization would slow down on having a competent cybersecurity specialist on board because of how relevant and significant data is to them. To further encourage you, Glassdoor says that cybersecurity specialists earn between NGN200,000 and NGN800,000 monthly. So, if you are thrilled enough to embark on your cybersecurity journey, we have curated a number of certifications that will help you get started, grow, and land your dream job. 

Cybersecurity certifications you can take!

If you are just starting or not, you may want to check out these courses, some of them are free.

Introduction to IT and Cybersecurity

If you are new to IT and cybersecurity, this is most likely a course you would need. Cybersecurity is a wide career but this course will help you decide what role would suit you. You get to explore different roles in the field which include Network Administrator, Incident Responder, System Administrator, Penetration Tester, Cloud Engineer, Cybersecurity Manager, and Privacy Analyst. 

Course Provider: Cybrary

Duration: 1hr41mins

Level: Beginner

Price: Free

CompTIA Security +

This is a global certification course that helps cybersecurity enthusiasts to solidify their basic cybersecurity skills. CompTIA security+ helps you to take on more security tasks and be competent for a cybersecurity specialist role.  You will learn about cyber threats, implementation, Design, Operations incident response, and Risk. 

Course Provider: CompTIA

Duration: 2 months or more (depending on if you are a fast learner)

Price: $392

ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamental Certification 

ISACA Cybersecurity fundamental certification teaches you about threat landscape, security operations and response, Information security fundamentals, and securing assets. If you looking to progress in your cybersecurity career, it is advisable to check out this certification that can help you forge ahead. 

Provider: ISACA

Duration: You can train at your pace

Price: $160 for members and $220 for non-members 

Cisco Certified Network Professional Security Certification

One of the best ways to start building your cybersecurity skills is by registering to take the Cisco cybersecurity certification which prepares you to become a CyberOps associate, CyberOps professional, CCNP security, or CCIE security. You can leverage any of these courses to start your professional journey and be good at what you do. 

Course Provider: Cisco

Duration: You can learn at your pace.

Price: $400 - $1600

Introduction to PCI (Payment card industry) compliance 

PCI compliance is a self-paced course that introduces you to PCI scanning, PCI compliance and reports, PCI mandate reports, Web application scanning, PCI vulnerability management, and more. This course lineup shows that there is more than enough new stuff for you to grab for free. 

Course Provider: Qualys

Duration: 1hour

Price: Free

AWS Certified Security - Speciality

This is a certification you can take after you are sure of every cybersecurity skill you have mastered. AWS Certified Security - Specialty certification confirms that you can now create and implement solutions in the Amazon web cloud. It also verifies that you understand specialized data classifications and data protection mechanisms. 

Course Provider: Amazon Web Services (AWS)

Duration: You can learn at your pace 

Price: $300

It is important to know that while gaining any of these certifications, you need to gain practical knowledge too as cybersecurity is filled with certified techies. What makes you different from other people who have numerous certifications is the ability to actually get the work done. 

Want to know about more Cybersecurity certification? Read this post: Cybersecurity certifications that are now more valuable to employers than ever