Cyber Security Analyst Certifications: Is CompTIA's Certification Worth It?

CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) is a critical workforce certification that focuses on behavioral analytics to enhance network and device security by detecting, preventing, and combating cybersecurity threats. CySA+ is the only intermediate high-stakes cybersecurity analyst certification that incorporates performance-based questions encompassing security analytics, threat detection, and response. It’s the most up-to-date security analyst certification covering advanced persistent threats of today.

The CySA+ Exam

As attackers keep crafting new ways to evade the traditional signature-based solutions like firewalls, there is a need for analytics-based solutions within the cybersecurity industry. CySA+ certification covers behavioral analytics skills that can be used to identify and combat malware as well as advanced persistent threats (APTs). This results in enhanced security visibility across the board. CompTIA CySA+ is designed for IT professionals looking to execute the following tasks:

  • Carry out data analysis, interpret the results, and identify threats, vulnerabilities, and risks to an organization
  • Configure and utilize threat-detection tools
  • Secure and protect systems and applications within an organization

Is Why CySA+ Worthwhile for Organizations?

CySA+ is worth more than what the name suggests – skills for cyber security analysts. Employers continuously seek Information Security professionals who can use a cybersecurity skillset to detect and thwart threats before they happen. Companies with in-house security teams will want at least one team member to earn CySA+ certification, especially the employees that handle cybersecurity-related tasks.

Moreover, it’s the industry standard to have CySA+ certification. Statistics indicate that 96 percent of HR managers use IT certifications as a screening criterion when hiring IT staff. Employees with IT certifications have the capacity to advance their careers from entry-level jobs to senior IT professions. The majority of employers believe that IT certifications are a reliable predictor of successful employees, and that certifications will become even more critical in the coming years.

Benefits of CySA+ to Employees

As an employee, getting certified means better performance and higher pay. Most businesses report that CompTIA certified employees perform better than their non-certified colleagues. In IT Security and IT support, CySA+ certified professionals out-perform their colleagues by up to 53 percent and demonstrate 58 percent more domain knowledge in IT Security and 40 percent in IT Support. Moreover, certified employees are 85 percent more confident in their skills to perform their duties. As a result, certified IT employees are more likely to get promotions and extra job responsibilities.

Benefits of CySA+ for Employers

Employers can benefit from having IT professionals with CySA+ certifications on their rosters. This certification has a straightforward purpose – to certify that the holder has the skills and knowledge to apply behavioral analytics to network and device security.

In other words, the employee can undoubtedly employ high-level cybersecurity skills in the organization and help in detecting, preventing, and combating cybersecurity threats.

Another powerful benefit to employers, specifically those that sponsor their employees to earn this certification, is the relatively low cost and impressive return on investment (ROI). More often, employers only pay for the examination fee, although some cater to boot camps and training courses. This is a minuscule price for an organization to pay in exchange for the boost in skills and knowledge that comes with CySA+ certification.

How Clients View Businesses with a Certified Cybersecurity Analyst

Having a CySA+ certification holder in your organization raises your standards. Your company could look better in its industry. CySA+ helps to establish the use of global security standards in an organization, which in turn, elevates your skillset standards when hiring future Information Security Professionals.

The in-depth knowledge and skills verified by CySA+ can be used as a yardstick to ensure that progressively better-skilled employees come into your organization. Moreover, other companies in the same industry or business partners can take note of this and follow suit.

With the increasing intertwining of business and cyber worlds, companies are faced with lots of cybersecurity issues on a daily basis. From malware to phishing scams, these challenges can eat up productive time and cause businesses huge sums of money. Companies with a CySA+ certified staff on board can make good use of the holder to help tighten cyber security policies and procedures.

More importantly, CySA+ certified IT professionals can offer high-quality cyber security training to other employees and establish an even sharper cybersecurity team. Your customers will rest assured that their sensitive personal data are in safe hands and give you more business.

Are CompTIA Certifications the Right Move for Your Business?

Interested in learning more about Cybersecurity Analyst Certifications? Contact Infotec and take advantage of the available opportunities, both in person and online. We are a nationally recognized leader empowering customers with world-class information technology training and certification. Connect with us today to learn more.

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