I have some basic IT knowledge and want to know which roadmap of certifications is best to start a career in Cybersecurity. Should I go straight for the CISSP, or is that too advanced? I’ve seen people mention CompTIA, ISC2, and SANS, but the price points are so different. I want to spend my budget wisely on credentials that HR departments actually recognize and value for junior applicants.
3 answers
Definitely do not start with the CISSP; it requires five years of professional experience to even become fully certified. For a beginner, the classic path is CompTIA Network+ followed by CompTIA Security+. This duo ensures you understand how data moves across a wire before you try to secure it. If you want a more hands-on technical route, the eJPT (eLearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester) is highly regarded because the exam is a practical lab rather than multiple-choice. For those on a tight budget, the ISC2 "Certified in Cybersecurity" (CC) is currently offering free training and exam vouchers, making it an unbeatable entry point for many students globally.
Does anyone feel that vendor-specific certifications like those from AWS or Microsoft Azure are becoming more valuable than general ones like Security+?
I started with the Cisco CyberOps Associate. It’s very practical if you want to work in a SOC because it focuses specifically on the tools used in a monitoring environment.
I've heard great things about CyberOps! It bridges the gap between networking and security very effectively, which is exactly what a junior needs to understand.
In the current market, yes. Since most companies are "cloud-first," having an AWS Certified Security - Specialty or an Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) can make you much more employable than someone with only general security knowledge.