CompTIA Security+ Certification: launch your career with a solid Foundation

The security of IT infrastructure has become a significant concern for organizations. Technological innovations are transforming the way businesses function. The rising digital revolution has boosted the demand for skilled professionals with the best cyber security certificates who can protect an organization’s valuable information assets from potential data breaches. There is no reason why you should not pursue a career in cybersecurity, looking at the increasing job opportunities in this emerging field.

However, many IT professionals are concerned that beginner-level certifications are too basic and won’t help them go a long way in their careers. Individuals are highly skeptical about CompTIA certificates and their benefits. But, the fact is that the benefits of pursuing these beginner-level certifications outweigh the skeptical concerns. Almost every successful IT professional has at least one CompTIA security+ certification added to their resume.

Organizations are willing to pay attractive salaries to retain certified security professionals. Earning a CompTIA security+ certification can be the first step for IT professionals looking to build a rewarding and in-demand career.

What is CompTIA Security+ certification?

It is an industry-standard certification that validates your skills to perform core security functions and pursue an IT security career. CompTIA is a global provider of vendor-neutral IT certifications. It is not bound to a specific technology like Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, etc. The CompTIA security+ course is an ideal path for beginners to get their journey started in the IT field. Ranking among the most popular certification program among cybersecurity professionals, a CompTIA Security+ certification equips you with the core knowledge required to serve an IT security job role.

The CompTIA security+ course focuses on the best risk management and mitigation practices, emphasizing the practical approach to identifying and addressing security threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities. Candidates successfully passing this exam and gaining the certification will have the following skills:

• Install and configure wireless security settings and implement the public key infrastructure.
  
• Install, configure, and deploy network components.
  
• Troubleshoot issues about organizational security
  
• Implement secure network architecture and systems design.
  
• Implement the best risk management practices to maximize business impact and minimize threats. 

Benefits of CompTIA certifications

A CompTIA security+ certification helps IT professionals gain an edge over their peers still considering a certification. The significant benefits of the CompTIA security+ course are elaborated below:

1. Lay the foundation for IT knowledge and skills

The CompTIA security+ certification course helps you build a rock-solid foundation of IT knowledge and skills, enabling you to advance at every career stage. Many professionals underestimate the importance of this basic-level certification and head straight for advanced-level courses. The result is that it requires more time and effort since the basics are not firmly established.

2. Increase your credibility

Leading tech companies regard such industry-recognized certifications as highly valuable. Besides, some specific colleges and universities give extra credit to students with CompTIA security+ certification while they pursue some of the best cybersecurity certificate courses. 

3. Increase your salary packages

Industry surveys indicate that individuals with CompTIA certificates can negotiate for higher salaries than non-certified professionals competing for the same job role. Besides, some organizations have made it mandatory to have CompTIA security+ certification for specific IT security positions as it indicates your capabilities to fulfill the job role.

4. Explore new career opportunities

The IT industry is constantly evolving, and career growth opportunities are expanding at a rapid pace. With a CompTIA security+ course or certification, you can access multiple opportunities and get hands-on experience in different cybersecurity functions. 

5. Boost your confidence in the professional cadre

You gain enough confidence to tackle challenges and deliver better results with sufficient knowledge about your industry’s systems, tools, technologies, and working methodologies. A CompTIA security+ course equips you with industry-relevant knowledge and enhances your capabilities to take on even more challenging tasks and roles, leading to consistent career growth.

Career opportunities for certified CompTIA candidates 

If you have CompTIA certificates, you are eligible to apply for any of the following cybersecurity roles.

Systems Administrator

A systems administrator manages and maintains the information systems infrastructure and enterprise application systems. You should be skilled at installing, configuring, upgrading, or debugging networks, wireless technologies, and enterprise applications.

Security Administrator

This role involves focusing on security-related issues when developing secure systems to protect organizational data. A CompTIA security+ certification trains you in the skills needed to think like a security administrator and create a robust defense system against harmful security threats.

Junior Penetration Tester

If you like ethical hacking, then the role of a Junior Penetration tester is ideal for you. He is a cyber security expert whose job is to identify the weaknesses in a network within an organization. The job entails performing social engineering tests and reviewing physical security wherever appropriate.

Network Administrator

A network administrator is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the network within the organization. They are the ones who maintain network security, analyze network performance and develop strategies to optimize it, manage users on a network, and grant security permissions. The Architecture and Design domain of the CompTIA security+ exam trains students with a practical approach to implementing cybersecurity resilience on a network. 

Cybersecurity Specialist

A cybersecurity specialist continually analyses risks and develops mitigation strategies to prevent data breaches. Their job involves monitoring, detecting, analyzing, and responding to security breaches or cyber threats. The skills of a cybersecurity specialist are critical to secure organizational information systems. 

Other common job roles you can apply for with CompTIA certificates include computer technician, technical support representative, network technician, network security engineer, and security analyst.

Conclusion

A CompTIA security+ certification ensures that IT professionals have the necessary skills to identify and implement the best security solutions for a particular wired network, cloud infrastructure, mobile setting, or wireless network. Regardless of your career goals, if you want to thrive in the IT industry, having a firm grasp of the basics will help you go a long way. Certification indicates the potential employers that you are keen on learning more about your profession and committed to your career growth.