{"id":1709,"date":"2022-04-29T15:25:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T15:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/?p=1709"},"modified":"2022-04-29T15:25:02","modified_gmt":"2022-04-29T15:25:02","slug":"the-value-of-cybersecurity-certifications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/the-value-of-cybersecurity-certifications\/","title":{"rendered":"The Value of Cybersecurity Certifications"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-container-2 wp-block-gallery-1 wp-block-gallery columns-1 is-cropped\"><ul class=\"blocks-gallery-grid\"><li class=\"blocks-gallery-item\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"581\" src=\"http:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-29-at-10.34.28-AM-1024x581.png\" alt=\"\" data-id=\"1710\" data-full-url=\"http:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-29-at-10.34.28-AM.png\" data-link=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/?attachment_id=1710\" class=\"wp-image-1710\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-29-at-10.34.28-AM-1024x581.png 1024w, https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-29-at-10.34.28-AM-300x170.png 300w, https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-29-at-10.34.28-AM-768x436.png 768w, https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-29-at-10.34.28-AM-1536x872.png 1536w, https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-29-at-10.34.28-AM-2048x1163.png 2048w, https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-29-at-10.34.28-AM-1200x681.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 1362px) 62vw, 840px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>A lot of people question whether cybersecurity certifications are worth the investment of time and money. \u00a0Several arguments can be made against certifications, especially since there are so many certifications out there now and many have come and gone in terms of popularity over the years. \u00a0With that said, they are still an intriguing option for the entry level cybersecurity professional or career changer looking to move into the cybersecurity field.<br><br>Are cybersecurity certifications worth the effort? <strong>Cybersecurity <a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry.php?id=All%20Course&amp;keyword=\">certifications<\/a> are worth the effort if you use them as a supplement to other qualifications on your resume. \u00a0Only having certifications on a resume is an indication to employers that your knowledge is not based on experience.<\/strong><br><br>In other words, certifications are worth the effort, but they are not the only thing that will require your time and effort while you\u2019re building your cybersecurity career. \u00a0I am a big proponent of certifications because I\u2019ve seen them help my career and the careers of many others, and they provide many benefits other than just the obvious potential financial impact. \u00a0Let\u2019s look at several of those benefits now.<br><br><strong>The Benefits of Obtaining a <a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry.php?id=All%20Course&amp;keyword=\">Certification<\/a><\/strong><br><br>Many people just starting out in cybersecurity assume that certifications are all about the money, and that can be true, but certifications can also provide several other benefits for your career.<br><br><strong>1. Certifications can be a differentiator<\/strong><br><br>Certifications can be a differentiator between you and someone else competing for the same position. \u00a0I have witnessed a few occasions where an applicant with a certification or multiple certifications beat out a similarly-qualified but non-certified applicant, solely because of the <a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry.php?id=All%20Course&amp;keyword=\"><strong>certification<\/strong><\/a>. \u00a0In these cases, the employer used the certification as the deciding factor.\u00a0 For those attending college, I always recommend that they also pursue a certification because the certification serves as a point of difference between them and other college graduates.<br><br><strong>2. Certifications show a level of accomplishment and perseverance<\/strong><br><br>Everyone knows that earning a certification takes work, so having them does convey a level of commitment to your career and knowledge base. \u00a0This is especially important as you start your career and have less to rely on or talk to potential employers about.\u00a0 Having a certification shows you\u2019re serious about your career field.<br><br><strong>3. Most employers place high value on certifications<\/strong><br><br>Not all employers are swayed by certifications, but there are still A LOT of employers that are impressed by them. Even the Department of Defense has established baseline certifications for their personnel, such as the (ISC)\u00b2 <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry_desc.php?id=ISC2-CISSP-Systems-Security-Training-Course-May-09\">CISSP<\/a><\/strong> and Cisco&#8217;s <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry_desc.php?id=Cisco-CCNA-Training-Course-May-23-Herndon-VA\">CCNA<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry_desc.php?id=Cisco-CCNP-Enterprise-Core-Training-Course-Jun-06\">CCNP<\/a><\/strong> certifications for many of the security and intelligence positions. \u00a0Some employers even give preference to certifications over a college degree, so having a certification can get you noticed by them as well.<br><br><strong>4. A certification can keep your employer on their toes<\/strong><br><br>Several times in your career, you can followed the playbook of earning a certification on your own time and with your own money, all without letting your employer in on your intentions. \u00a0After earning the certification, I can forward them the email confirmation or let them know verbally (or just hang it on your office wall without saying anything.)\u00a0 In these scenarios, you can start to see the wheels turn as they wonder when you completed the certification, why you\u2019re improving yourself and what your intentions are. By obtaining a certification while you\u2019re working, either in the cybersecurity field or not, obtaining a certification can get your employer to take notice. \u00a0In many cases, this can give you leverage.<br><br><strong>5. Certifications can be used to negotiate a raise or promotion<\/strong><br><br>At some point, money must become a factor in any career decision, and here it is. \u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry.php?id=All%20Course&amp;keyword=\">Certifications<\/a><\/strong> can be helpful in providing a cybersecurity professional with leverage to negotiate a raise or promotion. \u00a0This is why so many certification providers try to tie their certifications to pay rates.\u00a0 Of course, there are many other factors involved in whether a certification can lead to a raise for you but can be worth the effort to try to use a certification as a bargaining chip for higher pay.<br><br><strong>6. Everyone who doesn&#8217;t have a certification wishes they did<\/strong><br><br>This may be the best benefit of all.  Wouldn\u2019t you rather have the certification than not? \u00a0Think about it.\u00a0 Is there any person out there without a degree that wouldn\u2019t wave a magic wand to get a degree if they could? \u00a0Is there any IT person out there who wouldn\u2019t mind having an alphabet of certifications after their name?\u00a0 We all like these qualifiers, but many of us simply don\u2019t have the drive to pursue them which makes them that much more valuable to those of us who do.<br><br><strong>7. Employers often place more credibility in training programs that result in certifications<\/strong><br><br>There are tons of online and in-person <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry.php?id=All%20Course&amp;keyword=\">training programs<\/a><\/strong> available. Many of these training programs do not sufficiently prepare the participant for passing the certification exam.  The challenge is that many of these programs are paper mills or brain dumps, where the student isn\u2019t really given the time to learn anything. All too often, the students are not offered the opportunity to try to learn things hands on, therefore they are unable to pass the exam at the end of the training.\u00a0Having a certification is often seen by employers as a higher validation of knowledge than just having completed some training, so it is vitally important to select a training organization that has a proven track record of success in training <strong>and<\/strong> certification.<br><br><strong>What is the best way to prepare for a certification?<\/strong><br><br>When preparing for a cybersecurity <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry.php?id=All%20Course&amp;keyword=\">certification<\/a><\/strong>, be sure to use a variety of sources. \u00a0Any given textbook, class or video course is going to be that provider\u2019s interpretation of what is best able to prepare you for the exam. \u00a0No one resource will be able to provide everything that you need for guaranteed success or will be able cover all of the exam topics in the best way.<br><br>With that in mind, a good approach for cybersecurity <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry.php?id=All%20Course&amp;keyword=\">certification<\/a><\/strong> preparation is to take a course or video course first, and then reinforce that training with textbook study and hands on practice. Many certification books are available at public libraries. Check out those resources and use them to supplement the coursework you\u2019ve already done. Once you become comfortable with the material, work through several practice exams. The best practice exam options explain the correct answers in detail, as well as the incorrect answers.\u00a0 Since many certification exams have fifty or more exam questions, you\u2019ll want to work through several hundred practice questions to prepare and ensure you\u2019ve seen enough question topics and question variety.\u00a0 Keep in mind that any questions on the exam are written from the perspective of how the test writer sees the content, and not necessarily what is done in any given operational setting.\u00a0 That means it\u2019s best to think of the exam concepts from the point of view of the test writer.\u00a0 This is why so many certification preparation books say things like \u201cCompTIA wants you to know\u2026\u201d or \u201cCisco considers\u2026\u201d.<br><br><strong>How do I know when I&#8217;m ready to sit for the certification exam?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A great way to know you\u2019re ready to sit for a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry.php?id=All%20Course&amp;keyword=\">certification<\/a><\/strong> exam is to evaluate if you know the material well enough to teach it to others.  If you can fully explain the certification material to someone who is unfamiliar with that content, that is a good indication you know the material well enough to answer any questions that the exam may ask.  As you near the end of your certification exam preparation, try explaining and teaching the material to someone you know.\u00a0 If you feel confident in explaining it to others, that should give you the confidence that you\u2019re ready to sit for the exam.<br><br>If you would like to learn more about our\u00a0<strong><a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/thinQtank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Training and Certification Programs<\/a><\/strong>, we would love to hear from you! Give us a call at 855-TO-THINQ (855-868-4467) or email\u00a0\u00a0<strong><a href=\"mailto:website@thinqtanklearning.com\">website@thinqtanklearning.com<\/a><\/strong>.<br><br><br><strong>CyberSecurity Training Opportunities<\/strong>:<br><br><meta charset=\"utf-8\"><br>(ISC)\u00b2 <strong>CISSP<\/strong><br>When: May 9 &#8211; 15 2022<br>Where: Herndon VA and Live Online<br><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry_desc.php?id=ISC2-CISSP-Systems-Security-Training-Course-May-09\">Request Information HERE<\/a><\/strong><br><br><br>Cisco <strong>CCNA<\/strong> v1.0<br>When: May 23 &#8211; 27 2022<br>Where: Herndon VA and Live Online<br><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry_desc.php?id=Cisco-CCNA-Training-Course-May-23-Herndon-VA\"><strong>Request Information HERE<\/strong><\/a><br><br><br>Cisco <strong>CCNP<\/strong> Enterprise<br>When: June 6 &#8211; 12 2022<br>Where: Herndon VA and Live Online<br><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry_desc.php?id=Cisco-CCNP-Enterprise-Core-Training-Course-Jun-06\">Request Information HERE<\/a><\/strong><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry.php?id=All%20Course&amp;keyword=\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Current-Course-Offerings-1-1024x564.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-185\" width=\"512\" height=\"282\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Current-Course-Offerings-1-1024x564.png 1024w, https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Current-Course-Offerings-1-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Current-Course-Offerings-1-768x423.png 768w, https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Current-Course-Offerings-1-1200x661.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 85vw, 512px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><br><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry.php?id=Cisco%20Certification%20Training%20Courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry.php?id=Cisco%20Certification%20Training%20Courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image is-resized is-style-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/registry.php?id=All%20Course&amp;keyword=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-14-at-3.23.45-PM.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-675\" width=\"630\" height=\"75\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-14-at-3.23.45-PM.png 3360w, https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-14-at-3.23.45-PM-300x36.png 300w, https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-14-at-3.23.45-PM-768x91.png 768w, https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-14-at-3.23.45-PM-1024x122.png 1024w, https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Screen-Shot-2018-08-14-at-3.23.45-PM-1200x143.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 709px) 85vw, (max-width: 909px) 67vw, (max-width: 984px) 61vw, (max-width: 1362px) 45vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A lot of people question whether cybersecurity certifications are worth the investment of time and money. \u00a0Several arguments can be made against certifications, especially since there are so many certifications out there now and many have come and gone in terms of popularity over the years. \u00a0With that said, they are still an intriguing option &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/the-value-of-cybersecurity-certifications\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;The Value of Cybersecurity Certifications&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1709"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1709"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1709\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1711,"href":"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1709\/revisions\/1711"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thinqtanklearning.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}