Why accredited certification and lifelong learning are a window to your future

Ask any Super Bowl or World Cup advertiser. It takes a lot to hold the attention of sports fanatics stepping away from the TV to grab a slice before a few crusty crumbs are all that’s left in the pizza box. The commercials have to hook their audience in an instant — especially when there’s $6 million riding on 30 seconds.

The same holds true when you’re starting out in cybersecurity. To get noticed by employers, you need a strong play book. And once you’ve got their attention, you need to hold it to score an offer. So what’s the winning play when you’re starting out in the field?

Excellence. Just like the best coaches, organizations need qualified cybersecurity professionals on their teams when there’s so much at stake. They need top talent to defend their critical assets – and that starts with ISC2, the world’s leading cybersecurity professional organization.

Accredited + In Demand
When you hold an ISC2 certification, you’re part of a global cybersecurity professional community, more than 500,000 members, associates and candidates strong. Our certifications are the industry’s most widely recognized and sought-after achievements at every career stage, from entry-level to advanced.

ISC2 certifications carry real clout. They are accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) for meeting ANSI/ISO/IEC Standard 17024, a prestigious and globally recognized benchmark for certifying qualified professionals.

And that includes our entry-level certification, Certified in Cybersecurity (CC). CC puts you on the path to advanced certifications and future leadership roles — including our gold standard, the CISSP, the No. 1 most required security certification by employers on LinkedIn.

Right now, as part of our pledge to help close the cybersecurity workforce gap and answer the need for 3.4 million more cyber professionals worldwide, ISC2 is offering free CC online self-paced training and an exam.

When you’re CC-certified, employers are assured you understand fundamental cybersecurity principles and operations and have the skills to meet and exceed performance standards on their teams. They know that, as a highly regarded, accredited credential, CC certification requires continuing professional education (CPE) to stay current on industry best practices.

Once you’ve passed the CC exam and become a member of our nonprofit membership organization, you are required to pay a U.S. $50 Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF) and earn CPE credits each year. Your AMF covers a wide range of opportunities to earn your CPE credits, and because cybersecurity skills are in such hot demand, many employers will pay for it.

Cybersecurity is always evolving and requires lifelong learning to stay ahead of cyberthreats and the latest trends. CC certification isn’t the end of your journey, it’s a window to your future. And ISC2 is here for you every step of the way.

Learn more about ISC2 member benefits.

CC won the 2023 Best Professional Certification Award from SC Media

CC ranks #3 on The Next Big Thing list as the certification survey respondents plan to earn in 2023 – Certification Magazine