This certification course is aimed at IT professionals who are just getting their foot in the door. The aim of this cert is to enable candidates to learn the necessary skills to identify network security risks and implement programs to mitigate these risks.

Why CompTIA Security+ is so popular

The CompTIA Security+ certification is considered as one of the most important foundational security certifications in the industry today. The Security+ certification was created by Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) and is also accredited by ANSI in compliance with the ISO 17024 Standard. One of the reasons for its popularity is that the Security+ certification doesn’t require the candidates to possess any mandatory prerequisites or experience. Although, CompTIA does recommend candidates have around two years of actual work experience related to networking and/or security. The Security+ certification program is not only approved by the U.S. Department of Defense but is their mandated certification as well. Last but not the least; Security+ is vendor-neutral, meaning candidates are not required to focus on security and technology of a specific vendor and instead can focus on the general aspect of it. Because of the knowledge and skills gained from completion of the program, network administrators and security consultants with this certification are often regarded as more valuable that those who don’t.

Average Pay after CompTIA Security+ Certification

The average salary for a professional with CompTIA Security+ certification varies according to the designation. According to PayScale, the average salary range of a network engineer with this cert varies from$42,128 – $95,829..

Not only does job title have an effect on salary, but experience as well. A candidate with over 5 years of experience can expect to earn a salary around $66,887 a year.

What sets CompTIA Security+ certification apart from other security certifications:

The Security+ certification lays emphasis on some of the foundational principles related to managing risk and securing a network. The program addresses security concerns associated with Bring your own device (BYOD), cloud computing, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA).

This certification is perfect starting point for those looking for a networking or security position in a government agency as the Security+ fulfills requirements of DOD 8570- a compliance standard used for highlighting various requirements associated with contractors and government employees at various work levels within the IT field. The icing on the cake is that CompTIA Security+ certification meets the DOD 8570 compliance standards for both management level-1 and technical level-2 positions.

Organizations often look for CompTIA Security+ certified professionals to handle network administration and security tasks. These often include Compliance and Operational Security, Threats and Vulnerabilities, Application, Data and Host Security, Access Control and Identity Management, and Cryptography.

Job titles for CompTIA Security+ certified professionals

The Entry level position for a CompTIA Security+ certified professional is systems administrator while the mid and senior level positions include Network administrator, Information technology specialist, Information technology manager, and Information security analyst.

Information regarding the exam is available for COMPTIA

More information on salary and job opportunities go to PAYSCALE

 

Last modified: Wednesday, April 1, 2015, 2:39 PM