The need for cybersecurity training has never been greater.
You’ll find all the cybersecurity training you need to earn a certification, protect your network, or train your team at CBT Nuggets.
5 Best Cybersecurity Certs for 2023
If you’re considering earning a cybersecurity certification in 2023, here are our top recommendations. These five security certifications range from entry-level to advanced. Pick your cert based on where you want to take your career.
Course | Level | Length |
|---|---|---|
| CompTIA Security+ (SY0-601) | Entry | 31 hrs 28 mins |
| (ISC)² CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional | Intermediate | 11 hrs 56 mins |
| ISACA CISM – Certified Information Security Manager | Intermediate | 14 hrs 48 mins |
| ISACA CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor | Intermediate | 13 hrs 4 mins |
| Cisco CCNP Security Core (350-701 SCOR) | Intermediate | 33 hrs 51 mins |
Cybersecurity Courses for Beginners
Most security professionals specialize in one area of IT before getting into cybersecurity. That means the easiest way to get into cybersecurity isn’t necessarily with security certifications. Instead, the best way to start down the security path is with basic certifications like the Network+, CCNA, or a Microsoft certification.
After you’re at least familiar with systems administration, networking, or even software engineering, then you should start looking at these cybersecurity certifications.
Watch these courses for free for 7 days.
Cybersecurity Certifications for Beginners
These cybersecurity courses – and the certifications they prepare you for – are designed for IT professionals with little or no experience in cybersecurity. With the help of hands-on labs and practice, these cybersecurity courses will prepare you to take these security exams in about 6 to 12 weeks.
Course | Level | Length |
|---|---|---|
| CompTIA Security+ (SY0-601) | Entry | 31 hrs 28 mins |
| Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate (200-201 CBROPS) | Entry | 11 hrs 36 mins |
| Microsoft Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals (SC-900) | n/a | 17 hrs 17 mins |
Cybersecurity Skills for Beginners
Cybersecurity is a notoriously hands-on, into-the-fire career field, which means learning a lot outside the scope of a cybersecurity certification. These cybersecurity courses will help you learn the most important aspects of security and risk management.
Course | Level | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Supporting Secure Operations and Incident Response | Entry | 2 hrs 28 mins |
| Implementing Secure Network, Cloud, and Mobile Solutions | Entry | 11 hrs 45 mins |
| Secure Design and Architecture Fundamentals for Enterprise Environments | Entry | 14 hrs 41 mins |
| Security Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities | Entry | 6 hrs 30 mins |
| Security and Risk Management | Intermediate | 1 hr 19 mins |
| Physical Security and Network Attacks | Entry | 1 hr 20 mins |
FREE DOWNLOAD
Ultimate Security Cert Guide
This 62-page guide lists every Palo Alto, Offensive Security, (ISC)2, Check Point, CompTIA, and Cisco cybersecurity certification, and how they fit into your career.
Cybersecurity Training for Security Pros
Security jobs are often a continuation of the skills acquired throughout an IT career. For instance, network administrators may become analysts or pen testers. Developers may become security engineers. Systems administrators may turn to application or systems security.
Here are the cybersecurity certifications that will get you into common security career paths.
Cybersecurity Courses for Security Analysts
Security analysts do two things: discover and detect cyberattacks. IT professionals looking to become cybersecurity analysts need a well-rounded set of technical skills, which are validated with these cybersecurity certifications.
Typical background: Systems administrator, network administration
Course | Level | Length |
|---|---|---|
| (ISC)² CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional | Intermediate | 11 hrs 56 mins |
| Security Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities | Entry | 6 hrs 30 mins |
| Security and Risk Management | Intermediate | 1 hr 19 mins |
| Physical Security and Network Attacks | Entry | 1 hr 20 mins |
| CompTIA Security+ (SY0-601) | Entry | 31 hrs 28 mins |
| CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst CySA+ (CS0-002) | Intermediate | 10 hrs 1 min |
| CompTIA CASP+ (CAS-004) | Advanced | 20 hrs 43 mins |
| Microsoft Security Operations Analyst (SC-200) | Intermediate | 12 hrs 23 mins |
| Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate (200-201 CBROPS) | Entry | 11 hrs 36 mins |
| Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) | Intermediate | 13 hrs 28 mins |
Cybersecurity Courses for Security Engineers
Security engineers set up defenses and prevent disruption to services in the event of an attack. Most often, engineers implement the security measures that come down from a security manager. These cybersecurity courses are essential for every security engineer.
Typical background: Systems administrator, network administration, software engineer
Course | Level | Length |
|---|---|---|
| CompTIA Security+ (SY0-601) | Entry | 31 hrs 28 mins |
| Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate (200-201 CBROPS) | Entry | 11 hrs 36 mins |
| Implementing Secure Network, Cloud, and Mobile Solutions | Entry | 11 hrs 45 mins |
| Secure Design and Architecture Fundamentals for Enterprise Environments | Entry | 14 hrs 41 mins |
| CompTIA CASP+ (CAS-004) | Advanced | 20 hrs 43 mins |
| Cisco CCNP Security (300-710 SNCF) | Intermediate | 18 hrs 44 mins |
| Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator (SC-300) | Intermediate | 12 hrs 6 mins |
| AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C01) | Intermediate | 24 hrs 26 mins |
| (ISC)² CCSP – Certified Cloud Security Professional | Intermediate | 17 hrs 31 mins |
| Microsoft Information Protection Administrator (SC-400) | Intermediate | 8 hrs 1 min |
Cybersecurity Training for Penetration Testers
Penetration testers are essentially hackers hired by a company to break into their system or at least find vulnerabilities. Pen testers rely heavily on networking skills even above scripting or programming skills, which is reflected in their background and associated cybersecurity courses.
Typical background: Systems administrator, network administration, software engineer, security analyst
Course | Level | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Penetration Testing | Intermediate | 11 hrs 51 mins |
| Cyber Security White Hat Hacking v10 | Intermediate | 19 hrs 57 mins |
| CompTIA PenTest+ (PT0-001) | Intermediate | 25 hrs 39 mins |
| Security Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities | Entry | 6 hrs 30 mins |
| Physical Security and Network Attacks | Entry | 1 hr 20 mins |
| Penetration Testing Tools | Intermediate | 19 hrs 9 mins |
| Information Gathering and Vulnerability Scanning for Penetration Testing | Intermediate | 4 hrs 42 mins |
| Penetration Testing Planning and Scoping | Intermediate | 2 hrs 31 mins |
Cybersecurity Courses for Security Managers
Security managers have a diverse portfolio of cybersecurity tasks – from detection and monitoring to governance and compliance. These skills are encapsulated in these intermediate cybersecurity certifications from ISACA and (ISC)2.
See (ISC)2 experience requirements
Course | Level | Length |
|---|---|---|
| ISACA CISM – Certified Information Security Manager | Intermediate | 14 hrs 48 mins |
| Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) | Intermediate | 13 hrs 28 mins |
| ISACA CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor | Intermediate | 13 hrs 4 mins |
| (ISC)² CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional | Intermediate | 11 hrs 56 mins |
| Governance, Risk, and Compliance | Intermediate | 16 hrs 20 mins |
Security Awareness Training for End Users
The greatest threat to your system isn’t hidden in code somewhere. It’s in an inbox — or spelled “password!”. Your users are the weakest link. Make sure everyone in your organization knows what to do and not do.
Cybersecurity Training for Government & Military
DoDD 8140 is a cybersecurity training framework that outlines all the cybersecurity certifications required for IT professionals who work for the U.S. federal government, including contractors. DoDD 8140 is considered the gold standard for information assurance training.
Each of these cybersecurity courses satisfy at least one baseline certification in a DoDD 8140 information assurance level.
Course | Level | Length |
|---|---|---|
| CompTIA A+ (220-1101) | n/a | 27 hrs 41 mins |
| CompTIA A+ (220-1102) | n/a | 29 hrs 5 mins |
| CompTIA Security+ (SY0-601) | Entry | 31 hrs 28 mins |
| CompTIA Cloud+ (CV0-003) | Entry | 35 hrs 45 mins |
| CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst CySA+ (CS0-002) | Intermediate | 10 hrs 1 min |
| ISACA CISA – Certified Information Systems Auditor | Intermediate | 13 hrs 4 mins |
| (ISC)² CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional | Intermediate | 11 hrs 56 mins |
| Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate (200-201 CBROPS) | Entry | 11 hrs 36 mins |
| Microsoft Security Operations Analyst (SC-200) | Intermediate | 12 hrs 23 mins |
| AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C01) | Intermediate | 24 hrs 26 mins |
| CompTIA CASP+ (CAS-004) | Advanced | 20 hrs 43 mins |
| Cisco CCNP Security Core (350-701 SCOR) | Intermediate | 33 hrs 51 mins |
| Cisco CCNP Security (300-710 SNCF) | Intermediate | 18 hrs 44 mins |
| CompTIA Network+ (N10-008) | Entry | 29 hrs |
Who Else Needs to Learn Cybersecurity?
Everyone. There’s not a single IT professional that shouldn't learn cybersecurity. Cybersecurity threats are persistent, which makes cybersecurity skills valuable. Most entry-level IT certifications cover cybersecurity basics, and there are even some intermediate certifications dedicated entirely to validating cybersecurity skills.
Here are the most valuable cybersecurity certifications for network engineers, systems engineers, and cloud professionals.
Cybersecurity Training for Systems Engineers
Security is a core feature of any system and one of the first things anyone learns to manage in their sysadmin career. Access management only scratches the surface of the cybersecurity skills you should learn to become a system engineer.
Course | Level | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Implementing Microsoft 365 Security and Threat Management | Intermediate | 10 hrs 46 mins |
| Azure Security | Advanced | 13 hrs 8 mins |
Cybersecurity Training for Network Engineers
Cybersecurity has long been baked into the responsibilities of network engineers — and that’s reflected in the network security certifications available from Cisco, Palo Alto, CCSA, and CompTIA.
Course | Level | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate (200-201 CBROPS) | Entry | 11 hrs 36 mins |
| Cisco CCNP Security Core (350-701 SCOR) | Intermediate | 33 hrs 51 mins |
| Cisco CCNP Security (300-710 SNCF) | Intermediate | 18 hrs 44 mins |
| Fortinet NSE 4 - FortiOS 7.x | Intermediate | 24 hrs 26 mins |
| Fortinet NSE 5 - FortiManager 7.x | Intermediate | 8 hrs 47 mins |
| Fortinet NSE 5 - FortiAnalyzer 7.x | Intermediate | 5 hrs 42 mins |
| Fortinet NSE 6 - FortiSwitch | Intermediate | 9 hrs 1 min |
| Fortinet NSE 6 - Secure Wireless LAN | Intermediate | 5 hrs 50 mins |
Cybersecurity Training for AWS Professionals
AWS has a shared responsibility model, which means they secure their data centers. You secure the access to your cloud resources. These cybersecurity courses were developed specifically with that concept in mind.
Course | Level | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Juniper vSRX Firewalls on AWS | Intermediate | 1 hr 22 mins |
| AWS Compliance and Governance | Intermediate | 4 hrs 26 mins |
| AWS Access Management | Entry | 2 hrs 35 mins |
| AWS Protective Controls | Intermediate | 6 hrs 4 mins |
| AWS Data Security | Intermediate | 4 hrs 49 mins |
| AWS Certified Security – Specialty (SCS-C01) | Intermediate | 24 hrs 26 mins |
All CBT Nuggets Cybersecurity Training
CBT Nuggets cybersecurity training is divided into courses and skills. Skills teach real-world cybersecurity methods and often accompany virtual labs for safe, browser-based training. Courses are often associated with popular cybersecurity certifications from CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft, (ISC)2, and more.
Cybersecurity Certification Training from CBT Nuggets
Most cybersecurity courses from CBT Nuggets have practice exams, virtual labs, and detailed instructions on how to build sandbox environments to secure — or break into. Start studying for a cybersecurity certification with CBT Nuggets.
Cybersecurity Skills Training from CBT Nuggets
Cybersecurity skills are designed as an easy way to learn one aspect of security quickly. Security managers can build their own courses from these skills. Security professionals can follow along to better secure their systems.
Start your road to certification.
The path to certification has never been clearer than with CBT Nuggets’ easy-to-use and results-proven learning platform.
CBT Nuggets is fun, bite-sized training led by experts in the field. I can confidently say that their instructors make learning something to look forward to.
Christopher W. | Technology Support Specialist
Read more reviews