Top 10 Security Coordinator Certifications

Certifications are important for security coordinators in the job market because they demonstrate a certain level of expertise and knowledge. They can be used to set an individual apart from others in the field, as employers look for candidates that have taken the initiative to learn about their profession and stay up-to-date on industry trends. Certifications also provide a way for security coordinators to show potential employers that they understand the importance of security and are committed to maintaining high standards. Additionally, certifications can help security coordinators understand their responsibilities and how best to meet them.

This article reviews the top certifications for Security Coordinators and explains how they can help to advance a security coordinator's career.

What are Security Coordinator Certifications?

Security coordinator certification is a program designed to help organizations develop and maintain effective security policies and procedures. The certification demonstrates that the individual has obtained specialized knowledge and skills in the areas of security risk assessment, security planning, incident response, training, and auditing. It also ensures that the individual understands how to apply best practices in order to protect an organization’s assets.

The certification helps organizations maintain compliance with applicable laws and regulations by providing a comprehensive understanding of their obligations for protecting confidential information and other sensitive data. By having an employee with this certification on staff, organizations can ensure that they are taking all necessary steps to protect their systems from potential threats. Furthermore, by having someone with this certification on staff, organizations can demonstrate to customers, partners, and other stakeholders that they have taken the necessary steps to ensure their safety.

Pro Tip: When pursuing security coordinator certification, make sure to research the specific requirements of the certification program and ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered in the program. Additionally, look for a program that offers hands-on experience and real-world scenarios to help you develop your skills and knowledge.

Related: What does a Security Coordinator do?

Top 10 Security Coordinator Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Security Coordinators today.

1. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is an internationally recognized certification program for information security professionals. It is designed to demonstrate an individual’s knowledge and skills in the areas of information security, risk management, and business continuity. The CISSP credential is administered by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)².

The CISSP exam consists of 250 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 6 hours. To become certified, a candidate must pass both the written exam and a practical experience requirement. The exam fee is $699 USD for ISC² members or $999 USD for non-members.

In order to qualify to sit for the CISSP exam, individuals must have at least five years of cumulative paid work experience in two or more of the eight domains of the CISSP Common Body of Knowledge (CBK). Alternatively, if you have a four-year college degree or an approved equivalent credential from ISC², you can qualify with only four years of paid work experience in two or more CBK domains.

Once you have met all eligibility requirements and passed the exam, you will receive your official CISSP certification from ISC². You will then need to renew your certification every three years by completing 120 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits and paying an annual maintenance fee of $125 USD for ISC² members or $145 USD for non-members.

2. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is a professional certification offered by the International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants (EC-Council). It is designed to certify individuals in the specific network security discipline of ethical hacking from a vendor-neutral perspective.

The CEH exam consists of 125 multiple choice questions and requires a minimum score of 70% to pass. The exam must be taken at an approved testing center and takes approximately four hours to complete.

To get the CEH certification, you must first become an EC-Council member, which requires an application fee of $100. After becoming a member, you can purchase the CEH course for $950 and take the exam at any Pearson VUE or Prometric testing center. The total cost for obtaining the CEH certification is approximately $1,050.

3. CompTIA Security+

CompTIA Security+ is an industry-leading certification that proves a candidate’s competency in the field of information security. It is an internationally recognized certification that validates knowledge and skills in areas such as network security, compliance and operational security, threats and vulnerabilities, application and data security, access control and identity management.

The CompTIA Security+ exam consists of 90 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 90 minutes. The passing score for the exam is 750 out of 900 points. To obtain the Security+ certification, candidates must pass the exam with a minimum score of 750 or higher.

The cost of taking the CompTIA Security+ exam varies depending on location and other factors. Generally speaking, it costs around $320 USD to take the exam.

In order to become certified in CompTIA Security+, you must first meet certain prerequisites including having at least two years of experience in IT administration with a focus on security or having achieved another qualifying certification such as Network+. Once these requirements are met, you can register for the exam through CompTIA’s website or through one of their authorized testing centers.

Once you have successfully passed the exam, you will receive your official CompTIA Security+ certification. This certificate is valid for three years from the date it was issued and can be renewed by taking continuing education courses or re-taking the exam every three years.

4. Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge and experience in cloud security. It is designed to validate the expertise of IT professionals who are responsible for designing, managing, and securing cloud environments. The CCSP certification is administered by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), an organization dedicated to promoting best practices for cloud computing security.

To obtain the CCSP certification, individuals must pass a rigorous exam that covers topics such as secure cloud architecture, secure application development, identity and access management, data protection, compliance and auditing, and incident response. The exam consists of 150 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately four hours to complete.

In order to be eligible for the CCSP exam, applicants must have at least five years of cumulative paid work experience in information technology or related fields. Applicants must also have three years of experience in one or more of the six domains covered by the exam: cloud architecture; secure application development; identity and access management; data protection; compliance and auditing; or incident response.

The cost of taking the CCSP exam varies depending on location but generally ranges from $600-$700 USD.

5. GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC)

GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC) is a certification program developed by the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC). It is designed to validate an individual's knowledge and skills in information security. The GSEC certification is intended for individuals who have at least one year of experience working in information security and are looking to demonstrate their expertise.

The GSEC exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions, which must be completed within three hours. To pass the exam, candidates must achieve a score of 74% or higher. The cost of taking the exam varies depending on the testing center, but it typically ranges between $1,000 and $1,500 USD.

In order to become certified, candidates must first register for the exam through GIAC's website. After registering, they will receive instructions on how to schedule their exam with a Pearson VUE testing center. Once they have passed the exam and received their certificate, they will need to renew their certification every four years by taking an approved continuing education course or passing another GIAC certification exam.

The cost of obtaining GSEC certification can vary depending on what type of training material you use and whether you choose to take an instructor-led course or self-study for the exam. Generally speaking, however, it is estimated that it will cost around $2,000 USD for all materials and fees associated with getting your GSEC certification.

6. ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

The ISACA Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) is a professional certification program designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of expertise in the field of information security management. The CISM certification is widely accepted as the standard for information security professionals and provides recognition that an individual has demonstrated the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to effectively design, implement, and manage an enterprise-wide information security program.

To become certified as a CISM, applicants must meet certain prerequisites such as having five years of experience in information security management, pass a four-hour exam administered by ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association), agree to abide by the Code of Professional Ethics established by ISACA, and pay a fee.

The exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions covering topics such as risk management and compliance; information security governance; information asset protection; access control; application development and operations; business continuity planning; incident management; cryptography; legal regulations and investigations; and physical security. Candidates must score at least 450 out of 800 points on the exam in order to pass.

The cost for taking the CISM exam is currently $575 for members of ISACA or $760 for non-members. The cost includes registration fees, study materials, access to practice exams, and other resources related to preparing for the test.

In addition to passing the exam, candidates must also demonstrate their commitment to continuing education through annual recertification requirements. This involves earning at least 120 continuing professional education credits over three years from activities such as attending conferences or seminars related to information security or taking courses from accredited institutions.

7. SANS/GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH)

SANS/GIAC Certified Incident Handler (GCIH) is a certification designed to demonstrate an individual’s knowledge and skills in incident response and computer forensics. The certification is offered by the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) organization, which is part of the SANS Institute.

The GCIH certification focuses on identifying, containing, and eradicating malicious activity from networks and systems. It covers topics such as malware analysis, network security monitoring, log analysis, intrusion detection systems, incident response processes, digital forensics techniques, and more.

It typically takes between two to three months to prepare for the GCIH exam. Candidates must have at least one year of experience working in a security operations center or incident response team before they can take the exam.

In order to become certified as a GCIH professional, candidates must pass a four-hour proctored exam that consists of 125 multiple-choice questions. The exam fee is $699 USD per attempt. Once certified, professionals must renew their certifications every four years by passing either a new version of the same exam or an approved continuing education program.

8. EC-Council Certified Network Defender (CND)

EC-Council Certified Network Defender (CND) is a certification designed to provide IT professionals with the knowledge and skills required to protect, detect, and respond to network security threats. The program focuses on developing the ability to create secure network systems, as well as the ability to identify and respond to network security breaches.

The CND program consists of two courses: Network Defense Fundamentals and Advanced Network Defense. The first course covers topics such as basic networking concepts, security policy development, risk management, intrusion detection systems, firewalls, wireless security, virtual private networks (VPNs), and incident response. The second course covers more advanced topics such as malware analysis, digital forensics, honeypots and honeynets, cryptography basics, secure coding practices, log analysis techniques, application layer attacks prevention methods.

It typically takes about 6 months for an individual to complete both courses in order to obtain the CND certification. To get certified one must pass both exams with a minimum score of 70%.

In order to get certified one must register for the EC-Council’s Certified Network Defender Program which costs $1125 USD. This fee includes access to the online training materials and practice exams needed for the certification process.

9. ISACA Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC)

ISACA Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) is a certification program offered by ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association). It is designed for IT professionals who have experience in risk management, information systems control, and IT governance. The CRISC certification recognizes an individual’s knowledge and experience in the areas of risk identification, assessment, response, monitoring, and reporting.

It typically takes 3-6 months to prepare for the CRISC exam. To get certified, you must pass the CRISC exam administered by ISACA. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions that test your knowledge on various topics such as enterprise risk management, information system control design and implementation, business continuity planning, IT governance framework development, etc.

The cost of taking the CRISC exam varies depending on whether you are a member or non-member of ISACA. For members of ISACA, it costs $575 USD while for non-members it costs $760 USD.

10. CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+)

CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) is an advanced certification in information security. It is designed to validate the knowledge and skills of IT professionals who specialize in enterprise security. It is an internationally recognized certification that demonstrates a practitioner’s ability to design, implement, and manage a secure business environment using industry best practices.

The CASP+ exam typically takes about 90 minutes to complete and consists of 90 multiple-choice questions. The exam covers topics such as risk management, research and analysis, integration of computing, communications, and business disciplines, enterprise security architecture and design, enterprise security operations, incident response and recovery, cryptography, software development security, cloud computing concepts and virtualization technologies.

To become certified as a CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+), you must pass the CASP+ exam with a score of 750 or higher on a scale of 100-900. The cost for the exam varies depending on your location but generally ranges from $320-$400 USD. You can register for the exam through Pearson VUE or CompTIA Marketplace.

Do You Really Need a Security Coordinator Certificate?

The short answer is yes. A Security Coordinator Certificate is an important credential to have if you want to work as a security coordinator or any other related job in the security field. It shows that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively coordinate, manage, and supervise security operations.

Having a Security Coordinator Certificate means that you are knowledgeable in the areas of physical security, access control systems, emergency management, risk assessment and mitigation, personnel management, training and development for security teams, as well as other relevant topics. Earning this certificate can also provide potential employers with an assurance that you have been properly trained and certified in the field of security coordination.

In addition to formal education or training courses related to the position of a Security Coordinator, having this certificate also demonstrates your commitment to the profession by taking extra steps towards becoming qualified for it. It also shows that you have taken the time to learn about the industry and its regulations so that you can do your job effectively.

Finally, having a Security Coordinator Certificate can open up more opportunities for advancement within your current organization or help you find better paying jobs elsewhere. Having this certification can demonstrate your expertise in security coordination as well as your dedication towards continuing professional development in order to stay current on industry trends and best practices.

Related: Security Coordinator Resume Examples

FAQs About Security Coordinator Certifications

1. What is a Security Coordinator Certification?

Answer: A Security Coordinator Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge and expertise in the area of security coordination and management. It shows that the holder is proficient in the fundamentals of developing, implementing, and managing security plans, policies, processes, and procedures.

2. Who should pursue a Security Coordinator Certification?

Answer: Individuals who work in security or risk management roles or have experience in emergency planning should consider obtaining a Security Coordinator Certification. Professionals such as law enforcement officers, emergency responders, IT professionals, auditors, and physical security specialists may also benefit from this certification.

3. How long does it take to get certified?

Answer: The amount of time needed to become certified varies depending on the level of certification being pursued. Generally speaking, it takes between 6-12 months to complete all requirements for a basic certification while more advanced certifications can take up to 18 months or longer to complete.

4. What are the prerequisites for getting certified?

Answer: Prerequisites vary depending on the certification being pursued but typically include a combination of education and/or experience in security-related fields as well as successful completion of an exam or series of exams administered by an accredited certifying body.

5. Are there any continuing education requirements for maintaining my certification?

Answer: Yes, many certifying bodies require that holders maintain their certifications through regular continuing education activities such as attending seminars or taking online courses related to security coordination and management topics.