Validates knowledge of security threats, protective controls, risk management and incident response across modern IT environments.
439EntryNo prerequisites
Best Cybersecurity Certifications in 2026
Cybersecurity certifications cover foundations, defensive operations, penetration testing and security management. Choose the work you want to do first: Security+ is a common starting point, while CySA+, OSCP, CISSP and CISM each lead to a different kind of role.
Validates knowledge of designing and managing security programs, including risk, architecture, access control, operations and software security.
884AdvancedHas prerequisites
Validates practical skills in security frameworks, risk management, networks, Linux, SQL, threat detection and response, and Python automation.
294EntryNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of IT auditing, covering audit processes, IT governance, systems development, operations, resilience and information asset protection.
810AdvancedHas prerequisites
Validates knowledge of security operations, including alert and log analysis, vulnerability prioritization, incident handling and reporting.
439IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of attacker tools and techniques, including reconnaissance, system, network, web, wireless and cloud attacks, and cryptography.
1,050IntermediateHas prerequisites
Validates knowledge of information security governance, risk management, security program development and management, and incident management.
810AdvancedHas prerequisites
Validates skills in administering Microsoft Entra identities, including hybrid identities, authentication, Conditional Access, workload identities and identity governance.
165IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates practical penetration testing skills, including enumeration, exploitation, privilege escalation, Active Directory attacks and professional reporting.
1,749AdvancedNo prerequisites
Validates expert knowledge of designing Zero Trust strategy, security operations, identity, compliance, and infrastructure, application and data security.
330AdvancedHas prerequisites
Validates foundational knowledge of security principles, governance, access control, network and cloud security, and security operations.
249EntryNo prerequisites
Validates foundational knowledge of security, compliance and identity concepts and Microsoft Entra, security and compliance solutions.
99EntryNo prerequisites
Validates practical skills in implementing access controls, monitoring risk, responding to incidents and securing networks, systems and applications.
384IntermediateHas prerequisites
Validates knowledge of securing cloud environments, including architecture, data, platforms, applications, operations and cloud legal and compliance requirements.
734AdvancedHas prerequisites
Validates knowledge of securing Azure, hybrid and AI workloads through identity, data, network and compute controls and monitoring.
165IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of security operations, incident response and threat hunting with KQL using Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR.
165IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of enterprise security architecture and engineering, including governance, risk, compliance and security operations.
544AdvancedNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of securing AWS workloads, including threat detection, incident response, infrastructure security, identity, data protection and governance.
300AdvancedNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of AI concepts, securing AI systems, AI-assisted security operations, and AI governance, risk and compliance.
298IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates practical skills in detecting, investigating and responding to security incidents, including attacker techniques, credential attacks and exploitation.
999IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of access control, networking, cryptography, Linux and Windows security, cloud security and incident handling.
999IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of authorizing and maintaining secure systems, including scoping, control selection, implementation, assessment and ongoing compliance.
734IntermediateHas prerequisites
Validates practical skills in planning, performing and reporting penetration tests, from scoping and reconnaissance to exploitation and post-exploitation.
439IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of digital forensics and incident response, including memory forensics, timelines, Windows artifacts and enterprise investigations.
999IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of building security into software, from requirements and design to testing, deployment and supply chain.
734AdvancedHas prerequisites
Validates practical skills in network intrusion detection, including packet-level TCP/IP analysis, tcpdump, Wireshark, Snort, Zeek and network forensics.
999IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of digital forensics, including evidence handling and analysis of disks, operating systems, networks, cloud and mobile.
750IntermediateHas prerequisites
Validates hands-on knowledge of securing industrial control systems, including architecture, threats and attacks, communications, hardening, governance and recovery.
999IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of designing security architecture, including governance, risk, architecture modeling, infrastructure security and identity and access management.
599AdvancedHas prerequisites
Validates practical skills in configuring Palo Alto Networks firewalls, including PAN-OS networking, device settings, Panorama and deployment automation.
250IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of security governance, executive leadership, program management, core security competencies, and strategic planning, finance and procurement.
1,099AdvancedHas prerequisites
Validates knowledge of building security into systems from requirements through disposal, using systems engineering and risk management.
599AdvancedHas prerequisites
Validates knowledge of security operations work, including security concepts, monitoring, host-based analysis, network intrusion analysis and security procedures.
300EntryNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of security leadership, including operational management, systems lifecycle, risk, security operations, contingency planning and legal compliance.
599AdvancedHas prerequisites
Validates knowledge of managing security programs, including policy, risk, projects, vendors, SOC management and incident response.
999AdvancedNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of enterprise defense, including hardening, detection, network and identity analysis, incident response and malware triage.
999IntermediateNo prerequisites
Validates knowledge of identifying, detecting, responding to and recovering from cybersecurity threats using the NIST Cybersecurity Framework.
367.50IntermediateNo prerequisites
How to choose a certification
Which certification fits your goal?
- Security foundations: CompTIA Security+. Covers core security concepts, threats, controls and operations used in IT support, systems administration and junior security roles. There are no required prerequisites.
- Defensive analysis: CompTIA CySA+. CompTIA's intermediate exam for security analysts: threat detection, vulnerability management and incident response. It follows Security+ in CompTIA's security pathway.
- Practical penetration testing: OSCP. OffSec's hands-on penetration testing exam: nearly 24 hours attacking machines in a private lab network, then a written report. Choose it for penetration testing roles.
- Broad experienced security practice: CISSP. ISC2's broad certification covering security practice, architecture and leadership across eight domains. Certification requires four to five years of qualifying security experience.
- Security program management: CISM. ISACA's certification for leading information security: governance, risk, security programs and incident management. Certification requires five years of information security experience.
What to know before choosing
- Passing the exam is one step for CISSP and CISM. You can pass the exam first, then earn the certification once you meet the experience requirement and your endorsement or application is approved.
- Use the right kind of practice. Technical roles need lab practice with systems, logs, networks or attack tools. Management credentials such as CISM focus on governance and risk decisions and need different preparation.
- Check role-specific requirements. Government and defense jobs often require a specific approved certification. Check the job posting or the DoD 8140 requirements for the role.