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The best cyber security certification depends on the job you want, not simply which qualification is most famous. A beginner needs a different starting point from a SOC analyst, penetration tester, cloud security engineer, auditor or security manager.
A useful way to choose is to work backwards from the role. Decide whether you want a broad foundation, defensive security operations, offensive testing, cloud security, governance and risk, audit, or senior security leadership. You can then select a certification that develops and validates the skills used in that area.
Cyber security certifications at a glance
- New to cyber security: ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) or CompTIA Security+.
- Security operations / SOC analyst: CompTIA CySA+ or Microsoft Security Operations Analyst.
- Penetration testing / ethical hacking: CompTIA PenTest+ or EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
- Cloud security: ISC2 CCSP and platform-specific cloud security certifications.
- Experienced security professional: ISC2 CISSP.
- Security management: ISACA CISM.
- IT audit and assurance: ISACA CISA.
- Risk and controls: ISACA CRISC.
What should a complete beginner take?
If you are entering cyber security with little or no professional security experience, start with a broad foundation rather than an advanced specialist credential.
Two common routes are ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) and CompTIA Security+.
ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
ISC2 positions CC as an entry-level certification with no work-experience requirement. It covers security principles, business continuity and incident response concepts, access controls, network security and security operations.
ISC2 is introducing an updated CC examination outline from 1 September 2026, including greater recognition of current areas such as AI-related security concepts. If you are planning to sit the exam around that date, make sure your study material matches the correct outline.
CC can be a good first certification if you want an accessible introduction to professional cyber security terminology and a pathway towards more advanced ISC2 credentials later.
CompTIA Security+
Security+ is another widely recognised foundation. It is vendor-neutral and particularly useful for people moving into cyber security from IT support, networking or systems administration.
The qualification covers broad security concepts including threats, vulnerabilities, identity and access, secure architecture, operations, incident response, risk and governance.
ExperTrain offers instructor-led CompTIA Security+ training.
CC or Security+: which is the better first certification?
Neither is universally better.
Choose ISC2 CC if:
- you have little or no cyber security experience
- you want a straightforward entry point into the ISC2 certification pathway
- you want to learn broad security fundamentals before deciding on a specialism
Choose Security+ if:
- you already have some IT, networking or support experience
- you want a broader technical foundation
- you expect to progress into SOC, infrastructure security, cloud or penetration-testing roles
For many career changers, either can provide a sensible first milestone. Practical experience remains just as important as the certificate itself.
Which certification is best for a SOC analyst?
If you want to work in a Security Operations Centre, focus on defensive monitoring, detection, investigation and incident response.
CompTIA CySA+ is strongly aligned with this type of work. It develops skills around SIEM, EDR and XDR, threat intelligence, threat hunting, vulnerability management, incident response and security reporting.
ExperTrain's CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) course is designed for security analysts, SOC analysts, incident-response analysts and vulnerability-management professionals.
Microsoft environments also offer role-based security routes. For example, the Microsoft Security Operations Analyst (SC-200) course is relevant to professionals using Microsoft Sentinel, Defender and related security operations technologies.
Security+ or CySA+: which should you take?
For most learners, Security+ first, then CySA+ is a logical sequence.
Security+ builds the broad foundation. CySA+ assumes greater familiarity with security operations and concentrates more heavily on interpreting security evidence and responding to threats.
Our CompTIA Security+ vs CySA+ guide compares the two in more detail.
Which certification is best for penetration testing?
If you want to move into offensive security, ethical hacking or penetration testing, two common routes are CompTIA PenTest+ and EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH).
CompTIA PenTest+
PenTest+ covers the complete penetration-testing process, including planning and scoping, reconnaissance, vulnerability scanning, exploitation, post-exploitation, reporting and remediation.
It is particularly useful if you want a vendor-neutral certification with a strong focus on practical testing methodology.
See ExperTrain's CompTIA PenTest+ course.
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
CEH covers ethical hacking techniques across networks, systems, web applications, wireless environments, cloud and other technologies. The current programme also incorporates AI into ethical-hacking workflows.
It is a well-known credential for people who want structured exposure to attacker techniques and defensive countermeasures.
ExperTrain offers the EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) course.
PenTest+ or CEH?
Both can support an offensive-security pathway.
PenTest+ may suit you if:
- you prefer a vendor-neutral penetration-testing certification
- you want strong emphasis on the full engagement lifecycle and reporting
- you are progressing from Security+ or equivalent knowledge
CEH may suit you if:
- your employer or target jobs specifically request CEH
- you want broad exposure to ethical-hacking tools and techniques
- you value the EC-Council certification pathway
Whichever route you choose, lab practice matters. Offensive security is a practical discipline, so certification without hands-on experience will only take you so far.
Which certification is best for cloud security?
Cloud security increasingly requires a combination of general security knowledge and platform-specific skills.
ISC2 CCSP is designed for experienced professionals working with cloud security architecture, data protection, infrastructure, applications, operations, legal requirements, risk and compliance.
ISC2 introduced an updated CCSP exam outline from 1 August 2026, so candidates should use current study materials.
ExperTrain offers a CCSP Certification Preparation course.
You may also need vendor-specific knowledge in Microsoft Azure, AWS or another platform. A cloud security professional who understands broad security principles but cannot work with the controls available in the organisation's actual cloud environment will still have a significant skills gap.
Which certification is best for an experienced security professional?
ISC2 CISSP is one of the best-known certifications for experienced information security professionals.
It spans eight broad domains covering:
- security and risk management
- asset security
- security architecture and engineering
- communications and network security
- identity and access management
- security assessment and testing
- security operations
- software development security
CISSP is not intended as a beginner qualification. The value comes partly from combining broad examination knowledge with professional experience.
ExperTrain offers CISSP Certification Preparation for experienced professionals.
Should beginners take CISSP?
Usually, no. You can study CISSP material early in your career, but if you are still learning basic networking and security concepts, a foundation such as CC or Security+ will normally provide a better progression.
A common path is:
IT fundamentals → networking → Security+ or CC → practical security experience → specialist certification → CISSP when your experience and role justify it.
Which certification is best for cyber security management?
ISACA CISM is aimed at professionals responsible for managing information security rather than concentrating only on technical implementation.
The qualification covers information security governance, risk management, security programme development and incident management.
ISACA has announced that the CISM examination content outline will change from 3 November 2026. Candidates preparing during autumn 2026 should therefore check which syllabus applies to their intended exam date.
ExperTrain offers the ISACA CISM Certified Information Security Manager course.
CISSP or CISM?
These certifications overlap but have different emphasis.
CISSP is broader across security architecture, engineering, operations, development and management.
CISM concentrates more strongly on management, governance, risk and running a security programme.
A technical security professional progressing into a broad senior role may favour CISSP. A security manager, Head of Information Security or professional focused on governance and programme management may find CISM particularly relevant.
Experienced leaders sometimes hold both because the credentials demonstrate different aspects of security capability.
Which certification is best for IT audit?
ISACA CISA is designed for professionals involved in information systems audit, assurance, governance and controls.
It is highly relevant to:
- IT auditors
- internal audit professionals
- risk and compliance specialists
- assurance professionals
- people who assess technology controls
ExperTrain offers the ISACA CISA Certified Information Systems Auditor course.
Which certification is best for cyber risk?
ISACA CRISC is a specialist route for professionals working with IT risk, controls and organisational risk management.
It can suit risk analysts, security managers, governance specialists, control professionals and people responsible for translating technical risk into business terms.
If your work is mostly about identifying, assessing, responding to and monitoring technology risk rather than operating security tools directly, a risk-focused certification may provide more value than another technical credential.
Which cyber security certification is hardest?
Difficulty is subjective because different certifications test different skills.
A penetration tester may find a management-heavy exam unfamiliar, while an experienced security manager may find hands-on technical testing more difficult.
Advanced certifications such as CISSP, CCSP and CISM are demanding partly because they assume a level of professional maturity and broad experience. PenTest+ and CEH are challenging in a different way because they require stronger understanding of offensive techniques and practical security concepts.
Which certification is best for getting a cyber security job?
No certification guarantees employment. The strongest combination is:
- a certification appropriate to the role
- practical labs or real work experience
- good networking and operating-system knowledge
- evidence that you can investigate problems and communicate clearly
- a CV that connects your skills to the responsibilities in the vacancy
For an entry-level applicant, one appropriate foundation certification plus practical evidence is usually more useful than collecting several overlapping beginner certificates.
Do you need a degree for cyber security?
Not for every role. Employers recruit from computer science, IT, networking, engineering, military, audit and many other backgrounds. Certifications can help career changers demonstrate structured knowledge, but they do not completely replace experience or practical skills.
Should you collect lots of cyber security certifications?
Only when they support a clear development plan.
A good certification pathway should become more specialised or more senior as your career develops. Taking several beginner certifications covering almost identical ground may provide less value than gaining practical experience and then progressing into a role-specific qualification.
Example cyber security certification pathways
Career changer
CC or Security+ → practical labs and junior role → CySA+, PenTest+ or another specialism.
SOC analyst
Security+ → CySA+ and/or SC-200 → incident-response and threat-hunting experience → broader senior certification later.
Penetration tester
Networking and Security+ knowledge → PenTest+ or CEH → extensive labs and real assessment experience → more advanced offensive-security qualifications later.
Cloud security professional
Security foundation → Azure/AWS/cloud administration experience → platform-specific security skills → CCSP.
Security manager
Technical or operational security experience → CISSP and/or CISM depending on role.
IT auditor
Audit or controls experience → CISA → governance, risk or management qualifications as responsibilities expand.
A simple decision checklist
- Am I completely new to cyber security? Start with CC or Security+.
- Do I want to monitor and investigate attacks? Consider CySA+ or SC-200.
- Do I want to test systems offensively? Consider PenTest+ or CEH.
- Do I specialise in cloud security? Build cloud-platform experience and consider CCSP.
- Am I an experienced general security professional? CISSP may be relevant.
- Do I manage security programmes? Consider CISM.
- Do I audit technology controls? Consider CISA.
- Do I focus on risk? Consider CRISC.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cyber security certification for beginners?
ISC2 CC and CompTIA Security+ are both strong entry routes. CC has no experience requirement and is explicitly designed for newcomers. Security+ is particularly useful for people with some existing IT or networking knowledge.
Should I take Security+ before CISSP?
For most early-career professionals, yes. Security+ provides a much more suitable foundation. CISSP is designed for experienced professionals and covers security at a significantly broader and more mature level.
Which certification should a SOC analyst take?
CompTIA CySA+ is closely aligned with SOC and defensive security work. Microsoft SC-200 is also relevant in organisations using Microsoft Sentinel and Defender.
Which certification should a penetration tester take?
CompTIA PenTest+ and EC-Council CEH are two common choices. Practical lab experience should accompany either certification.
Which certification is best for a security manager?
CISM is specifically focused on security management and governance. CISSP is broader and can also be highly valuable for senior security roles.
Which certification is best for cloud security?
CCSP is a leading vendor-neutral cloud security certification for experienced professionals. Platform-specific Azure or AWS security skills are also important.
Explore cyber security training with ExperTrain
ExperTrain offers instructor-led Cyber Security training across CompTIA, ISC2, ISACA, EC-Council, Microsoft, Cisco and cloud technologies.
You can also browse the Cyber Security Glossary, compare Security+ vs CySA+, or read CCNA vs CompTIA Network+ if you are still building your networking foundation.
Further reading
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