So, you earned CompTIA Security+ certification. Congratulations! The Sec+ certification is widely recognized by employers all around the world. The modules of Sec+ certification — including Threats, Attacks, and Vulnerabilities; IAM (Identity and Access Management); Architecture and Design; and Risk Management — prepare you for a career in information security. Now, you may be wondering what’s next.
You could certainly start applying for cyber security jobs. Sec+ is a well-known and respected certification. It can open doors to entry-level positions such as security specialist, analyst, or administrator. But if you really want to stand out from the crowd, you can take a step ahead and build up your technical skills. The Certified Cybersecurity Technician (C|CT) program is perfect for those who just earned Sec+ certification because it adds to your cyber security technical skills.
Understanding the Significance of Cyber Security Technical Skills
While a Sec+ certification is an excellent step toward the cyber security career of your dreams, it is just one step. According to a report, 83% of IT decision-makers hope to add more security staff next year (Fortinet, 2023). Employers are looking for skills and talent. But for every cyber security position posted, they’ll review hundreds of applicants. In the modern cyber security market, you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd. And one of the best ways to distinguish yourself is to add to your technical skill set.
Put yourself in a hiring manager’s shoes. Imagine you’ve got several candidates with Sec+ certification. How do you choose the right person for the job? You’d probably lean toward applicants with more training and extra skills. Think of the versatile candidate who could be an IT support specialist, network engineer, facility administrator, and qualify as a cyber security technician.
What are the Different Avenues to Build Technical Skills
There are many ways to build new technical skills. Sec+ certification is one way, but there are other avenues. You can find practical, hands-on labs online that simulate real-world security scenarios. This can be an excellent way to work with new tools and learn new
concepts. Labs look at the issues that information security professionals work with daily, learning by trial and error.
Capture the Flag (CTF) events are competitions designed to test participants’ ability to solve cyber security challenges. You might compete to find a web app’s vulnerabilities or try to solve cryptography puzzles. CTFs are usually time-bound, so they can be a great way to see what it’s like to work under pressure when every second counts. Team-based CTFs tell you what working as part of an IT security team is like.
Most people add to their technical skills through specialized training. Much like when you pursued your Sec+ certification, cyber security pros at all levels add to their toolbox with training. That could be earning an additional certificate, attending workshops, or even learning new things from a trusted mentor. Out of all these avenues to build technical skills, gaining a new certification may be best. Completing a new course and adding an industry-recognized cert lets employers know exactly what skills you now have.
Enhance Your Cyber Security Technical Skills With the C|CT Certification
As you consider another course after Sec+ certification, you’ll want to look for one that will bring you a wide range of foundational skills. The Certified Cybersecurity Technician (C|CT) course is a good choice, especially with your Sec+ certification already in hand. The skills you gain while pursuing a C|CT will expand on the concepts you learned in Sec+ while adding many new tools to your IT tool belt.
You’ll learn about information security vulnerabilities, threats, and attacks in a practical manner and gain real-world skills in cyber security assessment techniques. This goes way beyond the introductory concepts covered in the Sec+ course.
EC-Council’s Cyber Range is a live environment that gives you practical experience with real-world scenarios. Instead of strictly studying theoretical concepts, Cyber Range training lets you see them play out in real-world scenarios. The Cyber Range enhances your cyber security technical skills by giving you practice in computer forensics, programming, and other essential IT skills.
Benefits of the C|CT After Sec+ Certification
Although Sec+ certification is a widely recognized entry-level achievement, there are many benefits to furthering your education and earning a C|CT certification. Since the C|CT course features more than 85 in-depth labs, you gain a wider range of skills that help you stand out in the job market. That includes penetration testing, ethical hacking, digital forensics, and other roles beyond entry-level security positions.
By practicing these skills on EC-Council’s Cyber Range, the C|CT certification can provide you with valuable practical experience that may not be available to other entry-level candidates. While both the Sec+ certification and the C|CT offer practical training, the latter provides a more hands-on experience in real-world scenarios.
If you have your sights set on being a systems administrator, network engineer, IT manager, or even chief information security officer someday, the C|CT is a perfect addition to your Sec+ certification. It gives you the foundation to pursue a successful cyber security career.
How to Apply for the C|CT Certification
To apply, simply fill out the form on the course overview page. EC-Council has pledged $7 million toward C|CT scholarships. The normal retail cost of the program is $999, but with the C|CT scholarship, you only have to pay for the exam proctoring and technology fees of $199. You can read more about this on the website and register to apply for a C|CT scholarship.
