As per the market research, information technology and networking security are expected to show growth of 28% from 2016 to 2026, and this factor is making network security an attractive field for IT professionals. Today, various IT professionals are taking Security+ certification courses to gain an additional career advantage.
Here we discuss in detail the potential of CompTIA Security+ certification. Is it really worthy?
What is CompTIA Security+?
CompTIA is one of the biggest and globally recognized IT trade associations. It has been awarded more than 20 lacs certifications since its foundation in 1993. At Present, CompTIA offers more than 14 vendor-neutral certifications focused on four primary areas: cybersecurity, network core skills, infrastructure, and other professional skills.
CompTIA Security+ is one of the most popular and advanced certifications, which includes IT's fundamentals and network security. This certification is essential for IT professionals seeking a new career option in cyber security, cloud computing, or security-focused administration. CompTIA offers A+ and network+ certifications, which are highly recommended for Security+ credentials.
This is an entry-level certification ideal for professionals who want to establish themselves as IT security professionals because this certification targets the IT professionals who have a core interest in troubleshooting, configuration, and network management. CompTIA Security+ certified professionals have a remarkable ability to recognize security-related issues and solve them without affecting the current system.
CompTIA Security+: a salary overview of certification professionals
Security+ is an entry-level certification that proved one of the first and top-class certifications, highly recommended for IT security professionals. It shows that candidates with this certification have high knowledge and skills to fulfill versatile entry-level security-based job profiles, such as junior IT auditor, penetration tester, system network administrator, and cybersecurity manager.
As per the May 2017 report published by BSL occupation employment and wages, the national average salary for a security analyst is $99,690, which is growing to earn more than 153000 us dollars. There are various factors that affect the salary range, like specific job profiles, years of experience, industry sectors, demographic Location, etc. The report noted that network and IT security employment rates are highest in some locations like Virginia, California, Texas, New York, and Florida.
The BSL report also mentioned that the top 5 highest paying industries for IT professionals are:
- Wholesale electronic market, agents, and brokers
- Securities, commodity contracts, and other financial investments and related activities
- Scientific research and development services
- Utility system construction
- Legal services
CompTIA Security+ certification is helpful to make a career in various security-related job profiles as follows.
● Junior IT Auditor ● Penetration Tester ● System Administrator ● Network Administrator ● Security Administrator ● Security Specialist ● Security Engineer ● Security Consultant
The salary and wages vary from a low salary of $55k to $160K, depending on job role, experience, Location, etc. Security consultants have the highest paid role in any IT sector.
Is CompTIA Security+ certification worth it?
Does Security+ credential make any impact on salary? The answer is YES! CompTIA's Market research shows that approximately 96% of HR managers seek Security+ certification while screening candidates for the job profile. According to data in the global knowledge 2018-19, IT professionals with a Security+ skill set have fair and high chances of receiving a salary hike right after the probation period of employment, plus IT professionals with this certification earn 22% more than traditional and non-certification candidates who make a significant impact in favor of earning Security+ certifications.
Are employers looking for Security+ professionals?
Yes, the CompTIA Security+ certification is quite famous among job seekers and HR managers. You can search for a suitable candidate for a role by simply searching "CompTIA Security+" on SimplyHired, which has produced more than 5800 job postings in which thousands of employers and HR are interested in hiring qualified candidates with Security+ certification.
What about earning potential?
According to the global knowledge list of highest paying roles, the CompTIA Security+ credential ranks 10 out of 20 highest paying certifications. Some other job roles like certified information systems security professional (CISSP) and certified information security manager (CISM) from ISACA rank in the top 10 list of reports.
The final verdict
Certifications play a vital role in the selection of dream IT professional roles. So it is better to choose the proper certification with huge potential and growth. CompTIA Security+ professionals gain security skills that enable them to perform more efficiently and confidently.
So if you want to move your career toward security-related roles, you must obtain the CompTIA Security+ certification that will add an extra layer of excellence to your resume and certification portfolio.
On the other hand, IT professionals have the option to select Security+ certification by reviewing other certifications such as CISM or CISSP by comparing them with CompTIA Security+ certification.
