Cybersecurity Certification Roadmap

Struggling to decide on your next certification? Use the dynamic chart below to understand how the cybersecurity community values different certifications.

Certifications Ranking

Your input directly shapes the graph, reflecting both the popularity and satisfaction with the certifications.

When you rate a certification, you evaluate three factors: Overall Quality, Cost Effectiveness, and Required Skill Level. Your ratings impact positions on the graph as follows:

Satisfaction (Vertical Axis)

The average score across all votes for each certification determines its position on the vertical axis.

Market Presence (Horizontal Axis)

The total number of ratings a certification receives indicates its popularity and determines its position on the horizontal axis.

Cybersecurity Certifications

Total 37 Certifications

Investigating Windows Endpoints

IWE

Blue Team

A comprehensive 13Cubed Training/Certification specializing in Windows Endpoint Forensic Investigation.

Provider: 13Cubed

beginner

OffSec Certified Expert 3

OSCE3

Red Team

OffSec's OSCE³ certification signifies exceptional mastery in the offensive security domain. Earned upon successful completion of three following courses and their respective exams (OSEP, OSWE, and OSED), the OSCE³ certification is a symbol of determination, knowledge, and skill.

Provider: OffSec

expert

Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT

CGEIT

InfoSec

The Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT® (CGEIT®) certification is framework agnostic and the only IT governance certification for the individual. Whether you’re seeking a new career opportunity or striving to grow within your current organization, CGEIT proves your expertise in enterprise IT governance, resources, benefits and risk optimization.

Provider: ISACA

advanced

Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control

CRISC

InfoSec

A Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control® (CRISC®) certification will make you a Risk Management expert. Studying a proactive approach based on Agile methodology, you’ll learn how to enhance your company’s business resilience, deliver stakeholder value and optimize Risk Management across the enterprise.

Provider: ISACA

intermediate

Certified CyberDefender

CCD

Blue Team

CCD is a vendor-neutral, hands-on cybersecurity training and certification. It is designed to prepare the next generation of SOC analysts, security blue teams, threat hunters, and DFIR professionals.

Provider: CyberDefenders

intermediate

OffSec Exploitation Expert

OSEE

Red Team

The OSEE is the most difficult exploit development certification you can earn. Modern exploits for Windows-based platforms require modern bypass methods to circumvent Microsoft’s defenses. In Advanced Windows Exploitation (EXP-401), OffSec challenges learners to develop creative solutions that work in today’s increasingly difficult exploitation environment.

Provider: OffSec

expert

OffSec Certified Professional

OSCP

Red Team

The industry-leading Penetration Testing with Kali Linux (PWK/PEN-200) course introduces penetration testing methodologies, tools, and techniques in a hands-on, self-paced environment.

Provider: OffSec

intermediate

Practical Network Penetration Tester

PNPT

Red Team

The Practical Network Penetration Tester™ (PNPT) certification is an intermediate-level penetration testing exam experience. This exam will assess a student’s ability to perform a network penetration test at an professional level. Students will have five (5) full days to complete the assessment and an additional two (2) days to write a professional report. In order to receive the certification, a student must: Perform Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) to gather intel on how to properly attack the network Leverage their Active Directory exploitation skillsets to perform A/V and egress bypassing, lateral and vertical network movements, and ultimately compromise the exam Domain Controller Provide a detailed, professionally written report Perform a live 15-minute report debrief in front of our assessors, comprised of all senior penetration testers

Provider: TCM Security

beginner

HTB Certified Defensive Security Analyst

CDSA

Blue Team

HTB Certified Defensive Security Analyst (HTB CDSA) is a highly hands-on certification that assesses the candidates’ security analysis, SOC operations, and incident handling skills. HTB Certified Defensive Security Analyst (HTB CDSA) certification holders will possess technical competency in the security analysis, SOC operations, and incident handling domains at an intermediate level. They will be able to spot security incidents and identify avenues of detection that may not be immediately apparent from simply looking at the available data/evidence. They will also excel at thinking outside the box, correlating disparate pieces of data/evidence, and pivoting relentlessly to determine the maximum impact of an incident. Another skill they will bring is the creation of actionable security incident reports tailored for diverse audiences.

Provider: HTB Academy

intermediate

CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner

CASP+

Blue Team

CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+, changed to SecurityX) is an advanced-level cybersecurity certification for security architects and senior security engineers charged with leading and improving an enterprise’s cybersecurity readiness.

Provider: Comptia

advanced

Certified Red Team Operator

CRTO

Red Team

Red Team Ops is an online, self-study course that teaches the basic principles, tools and techniques synonymous with red teaming. Students will first cover the core concepts of adversary simulation, command & control, engagement planning and reporting. They will then go through each stage of the attack lifecycle - from initial compromise to full domain takeover, data hunting and exfiltration. Students will learn how common "OPSEC failures" can lead to detection by defenders, and how to carry out those attacks in a stealthier way. Finally, they will learn how to bypass defences such as Windows Defender, AMSI and AppLocker.

Provider: Zero-Point Security

intermediate

OffSec Wireless Professional

OSWP

Red Team

Wireless Attacks (PEN-210) introduces learners to the skills needed to audit and secure wireless devices and is a foundational course alongside PEN-200 and benefits those who would like to gain more skills in network security. Learners will identify vulnerabilities in 802.11 networks and execute organized techniques and those who complete the course and pass the exam will earn the OffSec Wireless Professional (OSWP) certification.

Provider: OffSec

intermediate

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cybersecurity certification roadmap?

Cybersecurity Certification Roadmap is a community-driven initiative that ranks certifications based on community input. Users can select certifications to pursue based on their personal experience level, and the type of content that it covers. The goal is to help you make informed decisions that align with your career objectives.

This community initiative is our shot at trying to make the cybersecurity certification landscape more accessible and easier to navigate. Our goal is to present the collective consensus of the community on the different certifications in a straightforward way.

The certification rankings are not predetermined; instead, they're dynamically calculated based on your input. You can rate a certification based on its training quality, cost effectiveness, and its required skill level.

Choosing your first cybersecurity certification depends on several factors, including your current skill level, goals, and budget. Use the roadmap to get insights into which certifications are considered most valuable by the community. Start with the certification offers you the best return on your investment and positions you strongly for career opportunities.

Start by building hands-on practical experience in cybersecurity skills. This can be achieved through creating and maintaining a personal home lab, solving Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges , and obtaining recognized cybersecurity certifications.

In today’s increasingly competitive job market, certifications play a crucial role in helping you stand out among candidates. They not only demonstrate your commitment and expertise but are also a key differentiator in the hiring process.

Identifying the best cybersecurity certifications depends on individual career goals, experience level, and specific job requirements. We developed this roadmap to help you navigate the available certifications based on widespread community input.

Yes, there are free cybersecurity certifications available. These introductory courses, like Cisco's "Introduction to Cybersecurity," allow you to explore the field and determine your interest before pursuing more advanced certifications.

Evaluating whether a certification is worth it depends on your career objectives. Utilize the certification roadmap to understand how the cybersecurity community rates certifications like CISSP. This tool helps you see how professionals perceive the value and quality of different certifications, guiding you to make informed decisions that align with your goals.

Cybersecurity certifications can be costly, but understanding their value helps you paint a more complete picture. The certification roadmap provides community insights into cost effectiveness, allowing you to compare CISSP with other certifications. This feedback helps you assess if the investment aligns with the certification's perceived value.

The certification roadmap aggregates community ratings on the market value of various certifications, helping you see which ones are considered most lucrative. This collective perspective guides you towards certifications that provide the best financial and career benefits.
Disclaimer

CyberDefenders offers its own blue team certification, the Certified CyberDefender (CCD). However, no certification, including ours, receives any preferential treatment in rankings. All votes are crowdsourced and unbiased. We review new certification submissions to ensure they are legitimate and maintain the quality you deserve.