Farhan_Mohd_IST_110_Assign_CyberSec_Certs_rev4
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Greenville Technical College *
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Course
110
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Information Systems
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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GTC IST-110:
Cybersecurity Industry Certifications
Objectives
Research and analyze what it takes to become a network defender
Background / Scenario
Cybersecurity is one of the fastest growing and in-demand professions. Individuals in this field perform a wide variety of jobs including but not limited to consultation, investigation and program management services to mitigate risks through both internal and external
sources. Cybersecurity professionals are required to evaluate, design and implement security plans, conduct
in-depth fraud investigation and perform security research and risk assessment and propose solutions to potential security breaches.
Individuals with good security skills have a great earning potential. To be considered for one of these high paying jobs, it is imperative to have the proper qualifications. To this effect, it is important
to consider the industry certificates available for this career path. There are many certifications to choose from and selecting the right certificate(s) for you individually requires careful consideration.
Required Resources
PC or mobile device with Internet access
Part 1:
Conduct search of Certifications.
Using your favorite search engine conduct a search for the most popular certifications are (in terms of what people hold, not necessarily what employers demand):
Four professional organizations that govern industry certifications have been provided for this assignment. A fifth is of your choosing. Provide more detail below about the certification requirements / knowledge gained i.e.: vendor specific or neutral, number of exams to gain certification, exam requirements, topics covered etc. Notes:
All five certifications must be within the security (more specifically
the cybersecurity) field.
Do not leave any sections blank
All URLs must be functional links
You may reuse one of the four governing bodies listed OR choose a fifth (based upon your research)
GTC - CPT Dept
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GTC IST-110:
Cybersecurity Industry Certifications
Certification #1 – EC-Council
Cert. Name = (list then spell out acronyms)
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Organization
(governing org) =
The International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants, or EC-Council
Description =
Validates skills in aspects of penetration testing and network security assessments.
Prerequisites = At least 2 years of IT work experience focused on cybersecurity.
Recommended
Knowledge Level = Level 1, Intermediate-advanced networking and operating systems skills.
Topics covered =
Footprinting, reconnaissance, scanning, injection attacks, exploits, malware, evasion techniques, cryptography.
Cost = $899 for exam plus annual renewal fee of $149.
# of exams to achieve
certification =
1 exam (CEH Practical)
Duration of Exam(s) =
4 hours
Length of certification
(renewal required?)
Annual renewal required with continuous education/experience criteria.
Expected Salary for
Certification = $90,260 (USA average)
Sources (URLs) from
your research (List ALL used)
https://www.eccouncil.org/programs/certified-ethical-hacker-
ceh/
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GTC IST-110:
Cybersecurity Industry Certifications
Certification #2 – ISC2
Cert. Name = (list then spell out acronyms)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Organization
(governing org) =
The International Information System Security Certification Consortium, or (ISC)²
Description =
Recognized as the global gold standard for information security certifications. Broad-based knowledge on security technologies and best practices.
Prerequisites = 5 years of full-time experience in 2 of 8 security domains and compliance with (ISC)2 Code of Ethics.
Recommended
Knowledge Level = Expert-level understanding across multiple domains.
Topics covered =
Security and risk management, asset security, security architecture and engineering, communication and network security, identity and access management, security assessment and testing, security operations, software development security.
Cost = $699 for exam plus annual membership renewal fee of $85.
# of exams to achieve
certification =
1 exam (CISSP)
Duration of Exam(s) =
3 hours
Length of certification
(renewal required?)
Annual continuing professional education (CPE) and fee required.
Expected Salary for
Certification = $109,000 USD average
Sources (URLs) from
your research (List ALL used)
https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/CISSP
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GTC IST-110:
Cybersecurity Industry Certifications
Certification #3 - CompTIA
Cert. Name = (list then spell out acronyms)
Security+
Organization
(governing org) =
The Computing Technology Industry Association, or CompTIA
Description =
Validates fundamentals of security principles with a focus on network infrastructure, access control, risk identification and mitigation practices.
Prerequisites = No prerequisites required. Recommended foundation in IT concepts such as networks, operating systems, hardware basics, and software.
Recommended
Knowledge Level = Entry-level with foundational understanding of common security concepts.
Topics covered =
Networking concepts, compliance and operational security, threats and vulnerabilities, application/data/host security, access control and identity management, risk analysis and incident response.
Cost = $346 for exam
# of exams to achieve
certification =
1 exam
Duration of Exam(s) =
90 minutes
Length of certification
(renewal required?)
3 years, need 20 continuing education units (CEUs) for renewal.
Expected Salary for
Certification = $69,301 USD average
Sources (URLs) from
your research https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security
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GTC IST-110:
Cybersecurity Industry Certifications
Certification #3 - CompTIA
(List ALL used)
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Cybersecurity Industry Certifications
Certification #4 - Cisco
Cert. Name = (list then spell out acronyms)
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Organization
(governing org) =
Cisco
Description =
Indicates a foundation in and understanding of basic networking topics including OSI model, TCP/IP suite, network topologies, IPv4/IPv6, and network device configurations.
Prerequisites = None, but networking prerequisites recommended.
Recommended
Knowledge Level = Entry-level understanding of network fundamentals and protocols.
Topics covered =
OSI model, LAN and WAN technologies, IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, Ethernet standards, network device configurations, wireless standards, infrastructure services.
Cost = $300 for 2 exams
# of exams to achieve
certification =
2 exams
Duration of Exam(s) =
90 minutes each
Length of certification
(renewal required?)
3 years, need 100 continuing education hours for renewal.
Expected Salary for
Certification = $77,000 USD average
Sources (URLs) from
your research (List ALL used)
https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-
certifications/certifications/associate/ccna.html#~overview
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GTC IST-110:
Cybersecurity Industry Certifications
Certification #5 (of your choosing)
Cert. Name = (list then spell out acronyms)
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Organization
(governing org) =
ISACA
Description =
Validates skills in information security governance, program development and management. For security professionals in leadership roles.
Prerequisites = Minimum 5 years of full-time information security work experience with 3 years in a managerial role.
Recommended
Knowledge Level = Expert-level comprehension of security program and project management.
Topics covered =
Information security governance, program development and management, incident management, risk management, information asset security.
Cost = $579 for exam, $150 annual membership.
# of exams to achieve
certification =
1 exam (CISM)
Duration of Exam(s) =
4 hours
Length of certification
(renewal required?)
Annual CPE and renewal fee required.
Expected Salary for
Certification = $142,000 USD average
Sources (URLs) from
your research (List ALL used)
https://www.isaca.org/credentialing/cism
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Cybersecurity Industry Certifications
Part 2:
Reflection
In your research which certification do you consider as most useful in your desired career path? (1-2 sentences)
In my research, I consider the CompTIA Security+ certification most useful for my desired career path as a junior network defender.
Why? (3-4 sentences)
As someone just entering the cybersecurity field, Security+ provides a strong foundational knowledge around core security principles from networking concepts
and threats to technical controls like access management and encryption. While CompTIA certifications are vendor-neutral, Security+ also covers practical topics useful for real-world network monitoring roles like vulnerability scanning, malware analysis and incident response. Its broader focus relative to sole-purpose network+ certification makes it applicable across the security domain. Achieving Security+ early in my career would validate entry-level skills and accelerate hands-
on training opportunities that will prepare me for mid-level defensive roles over time.
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