Top Network Security Certifications for Career Advancement

What is Network Security?

Most experts define network security as the policies and practices of taking protective measures for protecting network infrastructure from trespassing, illegal access, modification, abuse, change, destruction, or the unauthorized gathering and release of data. The full process requires a combination of hardware devices, security software, and user awareness of security procedures and techniques.

The latter element can range from employees getting briefed on proper security practices, to professionals who have taken network security training. 

Why is Network Security Needed?

So many aspects of our lives have migrated to the digital world. We use the internet to conduct financial transactions, communicate with family and colleagues, make purchases, seek entertainment, and engage in research. So much of our personal information resides online, everything from birth dates, Social Security (or other identification numbers), health history, credit history, bank accounts, utility bills, and a host of other things.

All that data and all those transactions are vulnerable to hackers and cybercriminals. The more of our lives we commit to the internet, the higher the risk of compromise. Moreover, the continuing importance of the Internet of Things (IoT) means even more reliance on wireless networks, which only increases the threat landscape, giving criminals more avenues and opportunities to perpetrate fraud. There is too much at stake in our personal and commercial lives to let network security slip. So, what types of network security are there?

What Are the Types of Network Security?

There is a whole arsenal of network security tools, methods, and practices available for cybersecurity professionals. Here’s a high-level overview:

Software

Security software resources include anti-virus, anti-malware, and anti-spyware. These tools are available as suites or as subscriptions, updated continuously by the host vendor to keep up with the latest threats. These applications monitor your network, blocking intruders, malware, and viruses.

As an aside, it’s extremely wise to opt for a security subscription as opposed to getting a suite and loading it in-house. Subscription providers/vendors are in a better position to deal with the constant changes to the cyber security landscape. There seems to be a new cyber threat or virus emerging every day, and your software won’t defend against threats it doesn’t yet know exist. That’s why it’s better to leave that heavy lifting to the subscription provider.

Password Protection

This is such a simple measure but is extremely important. Strong passwords are an inexpensive yet effective way of keeping systems, applications, and networks safe, and you don’t have to be a seasoned cybersecurity professional to put strong passwords into practice. And when we say “strong” passwords, we don’t mean ridiculous ones like “password” or “99999”.

Firewalls

If you picture your network as an exclusive nightclub, then the firewall would be the bouncer, working the door and keeping out undesirables. They filter traffic (incoming and outgoing), based on predetermined policies, preventing unauthorized users from coming in. Anyone who’s tried to work remotely but were locked out of their company’s main systems due to not having the right authorization, has experienced first-hand the effectiveness of a firewall.

Email Security Software

Email is a very vulnerable point in any network. Cybercriminals love to send bogus emails that look like correspondence from legitimate companies and financial institutions. But just one click of a link embedded in these fraudulent emails could be enough to compromise your system. To that end, email security software can not only filter out incoming threats, but it can also even prevent certain kinds of data from being transmitted out.

Segmented Networks

This process sorts and divides traffic based on specific established criteria. Segmented networks are especially useful for limiting users to just one area, specifically the one they need to do their work while keeping these users out of the data that’s outside of their wheelhouse. Restricting users like this helps decrease the overall network’s weak spots.

Network Security Jobs and Salaries

With the rise in cybercrime, there is an unsurprising corresponding increase in demand for network security professionals. Not only do opportunities abound, but the job security is solid and the compensation is generous. Here’s a sample of popular cybersecurity careers and salaries:

• Information Security Manager: $120,000 to $160,000
• Cybersecurity Engineer: $53,000 to $185,000
• Application Security Engineer: $81,500 to $191,500
• Cybersecurity Analyst: $53,000 to $116,000
• Penetration Tester: $70,000 to $169,000
• Network Security Engineer: $58,000 to $168,000

Which are the Best Network Security Certifications?

Before you can make big bucks in the network security field, you need to learn the tools and skills. That’s where network security training comes in. Network security certification courses not only give you the essential knowledge for these positions, but they also give you that valuable certificate that shows prospective employers that you have the required qualifications.

Let’s dig into some of the major network security certifications.

1. CEH: Certified Ethical Hacker

Also known as “white hat hackers,” these are IT security professionals whose job it is to try and penetrate systems and find vulnerabilities. Businesses and organizations hire them to find weaknesses in the system and figure out how to fix them. When you consider how important cybersecurity has become, it’s unsurprising that this certification is such a sought-after commodity.

2. CISSP: Certified Information Systems Security Professional

This certification is for experienced security professionals who are responsible for the development and management of their organization’s security procedures, policies, and standards. It is perfect for IT security professionals who want to take their careers to the next level.

3. CISM: Certified Information Security Manager

This certification is a critical resource for IT professionals who have enterprise-level security management responsibilities. They manage, develop, and oversee security systems and develop organizational best practices.

4. CCSP: Certified Cloud Security Professional

This certification has become highly sought after thanks to many organizations increasingly migrating to the cloud. The course focuses on IS and IT professionals who apply best practices to cloud security architecture, design, operations, and service orchestration. If you work with cloud platforms, this is a must.

5. CISA: Certified Information Systems Auditor

This certification target IS professionals who focus primarily on audit control, assurance, and security. It provides you with the skills required to govern and control enterprise IT and perform an effective security audit. 

6. COBIT 5 Certification Training

IT auditors, developers, managers, and leadership benefit the most from this certification. COBIT 5 maximizes the value of information by incorporating the latest thoughts and theories on enterprise governance. The certification covers management techniques and provides globally accepted principles, practices, and analytical tools and models, all designed to help increase the organization’s and individual’s trust in information systems, as well as in their value.

7. CompTIA+ Security+

This certification provides knowledge and training in cryptography, threat management, identity management, network access control, security systems, risk identification, and mitigation. It’s geared toward entry-level IT people.

Which certifications you choose depend on where you are in your career, and the ideal list will be different for each person. For instance, the last two certifications are best suited for entry-level IT professionals, while offerings such as CISM and CISSP are for more experienced security experts.

For the IT professional who wants to be a well-rounded individual, there’s no better way than to gradually gain certification in all the above disciplines. Even the best, most experienced cybersecurity professionals can benefit from some upskilling. There is always something new to learn, whether it’s a newly discovered cyber threat or a new means of fighting them. Upskilling not only improves your standing within your organization, but it also makes you a more marketable choice if you decide to find a new position elsewhere. Upskilling brings expertise, leverage, and freedom.

Get help in becoming an industry-ready professional by enrolling in a unique Advanced Executive Program in Cybersecurity. Get valuable insights from industry leaders and enhance your interview skills. Enroll TODAY!

A Great Path to Network Security Certification

If all this information about network security has inspired you to pursue a new (or better) career in the field, then Simplilearn can help you on your way. The Advanced Executive Program in Cybersecurity course is a globally trusted certification that validates foundational, vendor-neutral IT security knowledge and skills. As a benchmark for best practices in IT security, this certification training covers the essential principles of network security and risk management.

Whether you choose the applied learning or corporate training option, the course includes 32 hours of instructor-led learning, covering the half-dozen domains that are essential for becoming an IT security professional. You also get an exam voucher and a course completion certificate.

So, visit Simplilearn today, and master all the nuances of network security. The skills you receive are an increasingly sought-after and valuable resource in today’s security-conscious digital world!