Every major cybersecurity certification explained — difficulty, cost, exam format, study resources and career value. Curated by Tarang Parmar.
The most respected penetration testing certification. Requires a 24-hour hands-on exam where you must compromise multiple machines. Issued by Offensive Security.
The most popular entry-level security certification. Vendor-neutral, DoD 8570 approved, and recognized globally. Great first cert for beginners.
EC-Council's flagship ethical hacking certification. Theory-heavy but widely recognized by HR departments. Good for getting interviews.
The premier certification for security managers and CISOs. Requires 5 years of experience. Covers 8 domains of security knowledge. Commands top salaries.
ISC2's cloud security certification. Covers cloud architecture, data security, platform security, legal compliance and risk management.
Fully hands-on beginner penetration testing certification. No experience required. Great stepping stone before OSCP. 100% practical exam.