In this Article, You will discover the 6 Top Cyber/Info Sec Certification Programs which is valued in the Industry and can make your profile worthy for the Job Market in 2025.

These Programs are beginner friendly, meaning entry level candidates can prepare and attempt for these exams and recieve official certification from respective bodies.

No Professional Working Experience is required to attend these examinations, and it’s totally worth attempting.

ISC2 CC – Certified in Cyber Security

Isc2 is a Global Non-profit body of Cybersecurity Programs.

ISC2 Programs are ANAB Accredited and regogized by the Department of Defense USA.

The learning content is focused on the practical industry use case, and the material is complete theory. There are no Technical labs associated with ISC2 but elaborated theory on the technical aspect.

Example – It won’t conduct firewall labs and configurations but rather imphasize on firewall application and it’s overall importance in cybersecurity.

The CC – Cerified in cybersecurity is such program from ISC2 which got introduced recently and it is perfect choice for entry level candidates entering cyber/infosec security.

The CC Program covers the following domains/syllabus:

1. Security Principles
2. Incident Response / Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery
3. Access Controls
4. Network Security
5. Security Operations

The Syllabus and it’s content is pure theory yet focuses on real corporate use cases and the language is complete industry standard.

It avoids academic/Institutional focused themes making it a perfect choice among students and professionals entering cybersecurity.

ISC2 CC Program highlights:

1. CC Exam – Free to Attempt ( May soon cost $150-$200 )
2. Learning Resources – You can signup for free to avail material / You can also checkout CyberNomadTV ISC2 CC Learning Guide/ Articles to prepare for the examination.
3. Pre-requsites – None / Entry Level Professional / No-Work Ex
4. Accredition – AANB | Deparment of Defense
5. Certification Annual Maintainence – $50/anual membership fee once passed

The ISC2 CC Program sets you for Jobs in Cybersecurity/Information technology making you eligible for roles in the market for $70,000-$90,000/annual

Once you pass the ISC2 CC Examination, you will get the official certificate like this once you pay AMF Annual Membership Fee of $50

The Certification Validity is for 3 years. After expiry you can again write the updated examination to recertify and renew membership.

For me, It has added a lot of value professionally. The terminology is being used in my career and current job Role.

CC Program Summary:

• Ceritifcation Ideal for – IT Professionals, Career Changers, College Students
• CC Exam Advantages – Respect and Value Addition, Higher Salaries, Community Benefits, Foundation to Advance level examniations
• Unlocking – Creative and Analytical Capabilities, Up to date Learning nuggets and Whitepapers

Check Out ISC2 CC – Link

Comptia Security+

Comptia is another leading Non-Profit body providing various IT Certifications from very long time.

It not just have Cyber Portfolio in it but also have various IT Programs like – Network+ | A+ | Linux+ | Server+

Comptia is also ISO Standard body and recognized by the Department of Defence.

The Security+ Exam from Comptia is one such examination making you ready in the Job market and equips you with Technical cybersecurity flavour.

It’s highly deep technical which covers A-Z of CyberSecurity.

ISC2 CC is more professional in terms of it’s content but Security+ is more domain focused which makes your technical knowledge at par.

Comptia Security+ have wide domains and it’s quite lengthy.

The Syllabus/Domains covered in Comptia Security+ as follows:

1. Security Concepts
2. Threats, Vulnerabities, Mitigations
3. Security Architecture
4. Security Operations
5. Security Program Management

Comptia Security+ Program Hghlights:

1. Exam Details – Multiple Choice Format, 75% passing criteria, 90 questions/90 minutes
2. Certification Validity: Valid for Three Years, and can be renewed
3. Target Audience: Individuals new in cybersecurity, including junior IT auditors, penetration testers, security analysts, network administrators, and system administrators.
4. Career Advancement: CASP+, CySA+, and PenTest+.

Comptia Securty+ Summary:

It demonstrates professional skills in securing devices, networks, and apps while ensuring data availability, confidentiality, and integrity. In order to address real-world issues, CompTIA Security+ emphasises practical, hands-on skills. Being the most well-known certification, it is crucial for career advancement in the ever-evolving field of cybersecurity.

Cisco CyberOps Associate

Cisco is a leading Technology giant building IT Infrastructure products – Routers, Switches, Firewalls, Security Products and Collaboration products

The market share capture by Cisco in the Infrastructure space is huge.

Coming to Beginner Cyber Security Programs, Cisco Offers one such program called – Cisco CyberOps Associate.

This particular exam program is my favourite as it covers entirely technical aspect which is highly important once you are working in an actual job where you are expected to be technical to perform complex tasks.

The CyberOps Program is a dedicated towards – SOC, Incident Response and Security Analyst role

Overall it’s a cool Cyber Security Program, and I highly recommend it due to it’s depth of content focusing IT and Cyber.

To earn this certification, you’ll need to pass two exams:

• A core exam
• One of two Cybersecurity Professional concentration exams

A variety of resources are available to help you ace the exams – from guided learning to self-study and a community forum.

The Cisco CyberOps covers the following domains/syllabus:

1. Fundamentals
2. Techniques
3. Processes
4. Automation

Cisco CyberOps Program Highlights:

1. Objective: Verifies proficiency in cloud environment security, incident response, and cyberattack prevention.
2. Exams Required: Pass two tests:

• Core Exam: 350-201 CBRCOR: Performing CyberOps Using Cisco Security Technologies
• Exam of Concentration: Pick between the following two options:

300-215 CBRFIR: Conducting Forensic Analysis and Incident Response Using Cisco Technologies

300-220 CBRTHD: Conducting Threat Hunting and Defending using Cisco Technologies

Important topics covered in the syllabus (for both tests):

• Threat Hunting Fundamentals
• Threat Modeling Techniques
• Threat Actor Attribution Techniques
• Threat Hunting Tehcniques
• Threat Hunting Processes
• Threat Hunting Outcomes

CyberOps Program Summary:

The Cisco CyberOps Professional certification aims to test the skills of cybersecurity experts in preventing online attacks. It focusses on the crucial skills necessary to secure current cloud environments, actively prevent attacks, and effectively handle security incidents.
An Individual must pass two exams in order to obtain this certification: a core exam that covers the fundamentals of cybersecurity operations using Cisco technologies, and a specialised concentration exam.
This course seeks to assist people in advancing their careers.

Cisco CCNA

Cisco is a leading Technology giant building IT Infrastructure products – Routers, Switches, Firewalls, Security Products and Collaboration products.

CCNA validates a broad range of fundamentals from networking technologies, to security, to software development.

CCNA is an asset to IT professionals of all experience levels, but learners often benefit from one or more years of experience implementing and administering Cisco solutions.

Example learner profiles:

• Individuals looking to move into the IT field
• IT professionals looking to stand out in the job market
• IT professionals looking to enrich their current roles with additional networking skills

CCNA Program domains/syllabus includes:

1. Network Fundamentals
2. Network Access
3. IP Connectivity
4. IP Services
5. Security Fundamentals
6. Automation and Programmability

Exam Deatils:

• Duration: 120 minutes.
• Format of the exam: Multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blanks, simulations.

CCNA Program Highlights:

1. Objective: Develops foundational knowledge in networking for entry-level IT roles.
2. Certification Exam: 200-301 CCNA.
3. Job Roles: Prepares for roles like Network Administrator, System Administrator, Network Engineer, NOC Engineer, and Help Desk Technician.
4. Prerequisites: Basic computer literacy, internet usage skills, and basic IP address knowledge.
5. Learning Approach: Emphasizes hands-on experience with Cisco equipment (routers, switches) and simulation tools (Packet Tracer, GNS3, EVE-NG).
6. Career Advancement: Often a first step towards more advanced Cisco certifications like CCNP and CCIE.

CCNA Program Summary:

This exam tests your knowledge and skills related to network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, and automation and programmability.
A variety of resources are available to help you study – from guided learning to self-study and a community forum.

To earn this certification, you’ll need to pass a single required exam.
Your certification is valid for three years. You can renew with Continuing Education credits or retake exams before they expire.

Fortinet Certified Associate Cyber Security

In this course, you will learn about the cyberthreat landscape. This landscape includes the threats that endanger computer networks, the cast of bad actors who are behind these threats, and the cybersecurity first principles that, if followed, can keep you and your computer network safe.

This course is designed as an entry point for individuals who are new to cybersecurity.

FCA Program domains/syllabus:

1. Introduction to FortiGate
2. System Maintenance and Monitoring
3. Network Configuration
4. Firewall Policies
5. Network Address Translation (NAT)
6. Authentication
7. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs):
   • IPsec VPNs: Creating secure site-to-site and remote access VPNs.
   • SSL VPNs: Configuring secure remote access via web browser or client.
8. Security Profiles/Features:
   • Antivirus: Protecting against malware.
   • Web Filtering: Controlling access to websites.
   • Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Detecting and blocking intrusion attempts.
   • Application Control: Managing application usage on the network.
9. Traffic Shaping/QoS (Quality of Service)
10. High Availability (HA)

FCA Program Key highlights are as follows:

1. Objective: To verify that FortiGate devices can execute complex operations and configurations. It focusses on the basic steps involved in using common FortiGate features.
2. Target Audience: IT professionals handling network operations and simple administrative duties, network security administrators, etc.
3. Passing the FortiGate Operator exam is required.
4. Antivirus, application control, authentication, cybersecurity, firewall, FortiGate, intrusion detection systems (IDS), SSL inspection, virtual private networks (VPN), and web filtering are among the skills that have been validated.
5. Requirements: It is highly advised to have a basic understanding of networks, the threat landscape, and technical cybersecurity introductions. Professional experience in cybersecurity is also recommended.
6. Validity of Certification: Two Years

FCA Program Summary:

The FCA certification validates your ability to execute high-level operation of FortiGate devices. This curriculum will offer a course that covers the fundamental operating procedures for the most common FortiGate features.

We recommend this certification for cybersecurity professionals that need to execute high-level configuration and monitoring tasks on FortiGate devices. We also recommend this certification for network security administrators of small and medium size companies.

You will receive digital badges under the following circumstances:

• Exam badge: Each time you pass any version of the exam included in FCA – Cybersecurity.
• Certification badge: Once you achieve the requirement for the FCA – Cybersecurity certification.

Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Practitioner

This certification validates knowledge, understanding, and the basic skills required to apply solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, network security, endpoint security, cloud security, and security operations.

This certification is designed for individuals who want to validate the knowledge, understanding, and basic skills required in the areas of cybersecurity technologies and solutions.
Palo Alto Networks certifications validate job-ready cybersecurity skills, instilling credibility and confidence.

Cybersecurity Practitioner Program domains/syllabus:

1. Network Security
2. Security Operations
3. Cloud Security

These are the main topics of this exam, various sub topics can be found in the datasheet, and then complete the courses found in the digital learning path as needed.

Cybersecurity Practitioner Key Highlights:

1. Main Role: To verify basic understanding of cybersecurity, including concepts related to network security, cloud security, and SOC operations, particularly dealing with Palo Alto Networks technologies.
2. Target Audience: Students, recent graduates, and those wishing to pursue a career in cybersecurity..
3. Validated skills: Includes knowledge of cloud security models, network security concepts, security operations roles, and more.
4. Requirements: No such requirements are stated, making it accessible for individuals new to cybersecurity. A great start for beginners
5. Associated Exam: Typically requires passing the PCCET exam.

Cybersecurity Practitioner Summary:

This certification is designed to give candidates a solid base in cybersecurity fundamentals, with an introduction to how Palo Alto Networks’ solutions fit into the broader security ecosystem.

Validates knowledge and understanding of fundamental cybersecurity concepts.

Validates knowledge and skills required to perform operations and management tasks across a platform.

Validates knowledge and skills required to deploy, operate, and manage a product.

The exam lasts about 90 minutes of questions including Multiple Choice, scenario-based.
It includes around 60-75 questions but this may vary, 75% passing criteria.