Getting certifications in your name can be a great way to advance your career in the IT industry. It is proof that you are constantly trying to advance your skills, which is something potential employers are always going to be looking for. But, as technology advances, so do the risks. According to Cybersecurity Ventures, the cost of fighting cybercrimes is estimated at $6trillion annually by 2021 and while the number of unfilled jobs is estimated at 3.5 million. This has resulted in a growing need for better cybersecurity and better ethical hackers.

So, doing a course on hacking and getting certified for it is a great next step for your career. Security experts are required in every company. There are different courses and certifications you can do to advance your career.

Whether you choose an ethical hacking course, become a certified information system auditor, each one has its own merits.

Here are the top certifications in cybersecurity and hacking that you can pursue:

1- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH):
A certified ethical hacker is by far one of the most widely known and sought after certifications. The course is offered on online portals like Koenig solutions and provides an in-depth understanding of the different phases of ethical hacking, the different attack vectors and countermeasures and ways to fight against malware. This ec council certification is required by essential service providers in an enterprise and creators and designers of critical cloud infrastructure.

2- Certified Network Defender:
From designing and building a secure online network to ensuring the online security of the organisation remains intact - network engineers have many responsibilities. People with a passion for computer networking and cybersecurity often turn towards this career path and get themselves certified as network defenders.

3- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM):
Managers and IT consultants are the most suitable for this certification.The course mainly focuses on management and developing security management capabilities. A CISM certification makes you capable of managing and developing the information security program of an enterprise.

4- Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP):
A CCSP certification testifies that you have highly advanced skills and knowledge to design, manage and secure applications, data and infrastructure of cloud-based systems using the best practices in line with existing trends and expert recommendations. This certification comes highly recommended for information security leaders in charge of cloud security design, architecture and organising of services.

5- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA):
CISA is a certification targeted to the people in an organisation who ensure that the company’s information technology and business systems are well taken care of and routinely monitored and checked. HRs and business owners are always on the lookout to hire people with CISA certifications. This includes risk management and best practices, managing personnel, strategies, IT portfolio and resource management and many other key responsibilities.

6- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP):
This certification is designed to teach you how to design, implement, and manage a best-in-class cybersecurity system. CISSP breaks down cybersecurity and IT information into different domains. Students are taught about asset security, identity and access management, and security assessment, among other things. This is a great certification course for those who want to not only prevent threats in the present but also detect and stop these threats before they reach the organisation.

7- CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+):
Security+ certification offers in-depth knowledge of the profession in terms of technical and security-related disciplines. The certificate covers detailed knowledge of different security-related disciplines. It requires a Network+ certification and at least two years of experience in the Network industry to be eligible for this certification. With this, candidates qualify in fields of cryptography, threat management, security, security risk identification and mitigation, security infrastructure and network access control.

8- Offensive Security Certified Solution
This is a technical certification that is based on hands-on labs. It attests for the practical understanding and clarity of knowledge over the process and life cycle of penetration testing. Before pursuing this course, candidates need in-depth knowledge pertinent to system internals, software development and networking protocols.
Over the past few years, the number of cybersecurity jobs available has increased and will continue to do so with continuous technological change. Being certified as an ethical hacker shows that you have the skills and background to understand the relationship between and information-security program and business objectives. Such a skillet is in high demand, making ethical hacking an excellent choice for a career progression. The time has come to choose your career wisely and keep growing and gaining knowledge in the years to come!