A strategic guide for IT support staff seeking to transition into cybersecurity roles, highlighting certifications that offer the best return on investment. These credentials validate foundational security knowledge, enhance employability, and bridge the gap between general IT support and specialized security operations.
Get targeted exposure with custom position pinning and highlighted placement.
The gold standard entry-level certification validating baseline cybersecurity skills. It covers network security, compliance, threats, and vulnerabilities, serving as a prerequisite for many government and enterprise security roles. Ideal for IT support staff with one to two years of experience.
Focuses on behavioral analytics and security operations rather than just defense. This certification helps support staff transition into junior analyst roles by teaching threat detection and response. It bridges the gap between technical implementation and security analysis.
A hands-on, practical certification from SANS Institute that validates the ability to implement security controls. It is highly respected for its rigorous exam and covers real-world security engineering. Suitable for those seeking deep technical understanding beyond theoretical knowledge.
Designed for entry-level security operations center (SOC) analysts. It teaches monitoring, analysis, and response to cybersecurity incidents. This certification is ideal for IT support staff familiar with Cisco environments looking to specialize in network security monitoring.
An entry-level certification from ISC2 that validates foundational knowledge of security principles. It is often free for those interested in the profession, offering a low-cost barrier to entry. It emphasizes ethics, risk management, and access control concepts.
While not exclusively a security certification, strong networking knowledge is foundational for cybersecurity. This certification helps support staff understand traffic flow, protocols, and network architecture, which are critical for identifying and mitigating security threats.
Validates knowledge of cloud security and compliance principles within the Microsoft 365 and Azure ecosystems. As enterprises migrate to the cloud, this certification is highly relevant for support staff managing Microsoft-based infrastructure and security policies.
Provides a broad introduction to cybersecurity concepts for those new to the field. It covers security fundamentals, IT audit, control, and assurance. This certification is beneficial for IT support staff in regulated industries who need to understand compliance frameworks.
A beginner-friendly course and exam from Offensive Security that introduces ethical hacking concepts. It helps support staff understand attack vectors and defense mechanisms. This certification builds confidence for those interested in later pursuing advanced penetration testing.
Formerly known as Associate of (ISC)², this credential allows candidates who have not yet met the full experience requirement to earn the associate title. It validates knowledge across eight domains of the CISSP Common Body of Knowledge, signaling serious career intent.
A practical, hands-on certification focused on penetration testing fundamentals. It requires candidates to hack into a live network environment. This certification is highly valued for its practical approach, making it excellent for IT support staff interested in red teaming.
Validates Linux skills which are critical for server security and cybersecurity tooling. Many security tools are Linux-based, and this certification ensures support staff can manage and secure Linux environments effectively. It is a strong complementary credential to Security+.
A non-degree, online program that prepares learners for entry-level security roles. It includes hands-on labs and covers Python, SQL, and SIEM tools. While not a traditional certification, it is recognized by employers and offers a structured learning path.
Although intermediate, the PNPT is often pursued by experienced support staff seeking a practical alternative to CEH. It focuses on real-world penetration testing, reporting, and professional practices. Highly regarded for its hands-on exam and comprehensive report writing.
A well-known certification that validates skills in hacking techniques and tools. It is often required by government agencies and many enterprises for security roles. While criticized for being theoretical, it remains a valuable keyword for HR screening systems.
For support staff working in cloud environments, this certification validates expertise in securing AWS workloads. It covers identity management, protection, detection, and infrastructure security. It is a high-value credential for those specializing in cloud security operations.
Certsifies skills in implementing security controls and threat management in Microsoft 365. It is highly relevant for IT support staff managing enterprise identity and access management. This role-focused certification aligns directly with job responsibilities in modern IT environments.
Validates knowledge of Juniper security product families and secure network design. For IT support staff in organizations using Juniper firewalls and switches, this certification demonstrates specialized expertise in network security infrastructure management.
Validates skills in planning and managing penetration testing, as well as performing manual and automated penetration tests. It is a great next step after Security+ for support staff who want to move into offensive security or vulnerability assessment roles.
Focuses on integrating security into the software development lifecycle. For IT support staff involved in DevOps or application support, this certification provides knowledge on securing applications throughout their lifecycle. It bridges the gap between IT and development teams.