4 Popular Entry-Level Information Security Certifications and Certificates

Entry-level information security certifications demonstrate that you have foundational knowledge of skills in cybersecurity. Many information security analysts earn a bachelor’s degree, but you can sometimes find a job with relevant experience or certifications. As an entry-level information security professional, an entry-level certification communicates to potential employers that you’ve completed a learning experience or passed an exam on the subject. In a global survey conducted in 2024 by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2), 90 percent of respondents stated that earning a cybersecurity certification prior to their first cybersecurity job helped them in their careers [1].

In other cases, an entry-level information security certification can help you specialize within cybersecurity. Cybersecurity professionals may come from related fields in computer science and can use an entry-level cybersecurity program to learn and demonstrate skills without job experience that directly relates to cybersecurity. 

Explore four pathways for entry-level information security certifications or certificates and how to get into cybersecurity without experience. 

4 entry-level information security certifications and certificates online

You can explore four options for entry-level information security certifications online, including Certified in Cybersecurity (CC), CompTIA A+, Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate, and Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate. Each can act as an entry point to cybersecurity or a starting point for your certification path. 

ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) Entry-Level Certification

The Certified in Cybersecurity credential is a certification program that validates your foundational knowledge for a role as an entry-level cybersecurity professional. The ISC2 is a member organization that offers industry research and advocacy for cybersecurity professionals. 

Cost: $199 [2]

Requirements: No work experience required

Who should take this exam? This credential is an entry-level information security certification for individuals preparing for a role as an entry- or junior-level cybersecurity professional. 

What’s on the exam? The CC covers exam topics across five learning domains: security principles, business continuity, access control, network security, and security operations. 

How to prepare for the exam: You can prepare to take the exam with the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity Specialization to demonstrate that you have foundational knowledge of industry terminology, network security, security operations, and policies and procedures. 

How to get into information security with no experience

You can start a career in information security or pivot an unrelated career into cybersecurity by learning the skills you’ll need to be successful, demonstrating those skills with experience or certification, and then finding an entry-level job where you can start building your professional experience in the field. To summarize, you want to acquire the necessary skills through earning certification, participating in volunteer or internship opportunities, learning about cybersecurity through social media and posting your findings, tailoring your resume for cybersecurity jobs, and developing an online portfolio displaying your reports and presentations.

CompTIA A+

CompTIA A+ is an entry-level certification that validates your knowledge of the core technologies that support IT careers, including hardware, networking, cybersecurity, and IT best practices. CompTIA certifications help set the industry benchmarks for the body of knowledge that you’ll want to have as an IT professional.

Cost: $253 [3]

Requirements: You do not need to complete any requirements for A+, but CompTIA does recommend that you have 9 to 12 months of experience with IT concepts, either in a professional or educational environment. 

Who should take this exam? You may want to take CompTIA A+ if you are preparing for a role such as IT specialist, business analyst, or IT server technician. Or you may choose to take CompTIA A+ to qualify for an entry-level role in IT while you gain experience to qualify for other CompTIA certifications, such as Network+ or Security+.

What’s on the exam? CompTIA A+ features topics including hardware, networking, mobile devices, operating systems, cloud computing, security, troubleshooting, and more. 

How to prepare for the exam: You can prepare for CompTIA A+ with the Preparation for CompTIA A+ Certification Specialization, offered by IBM on Coursera. You’ll have the opportunity to learn how to describe and troubleshoot laptop, mobile device, video, resolution, networking, storage, motherboard, CPU, BIOS, and power supply issues; troubleshoot various printer types and settings; and list common features and commands across operating systems. You can demonstrate mastery of CompTIA A+ Core 1 and Core 2 domains by completing mock certification exams.

Is Security+ entry-level?

CompTIA Security+ is not an entry-level certification. To qualify for this certification exam, you will need to earn the CompTIA Network+ certification and have two years working in a role related to security or systems administration. 

Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate from ISACA 

The Cybersecurity Fundamental Certificate from ISACA, formerly known as the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, helps you demonstrate understanding of the foundational skills a security professional uses to keep data safe. ISACA is a membership organization for IT professionals that offers networking, learning, volunteer opportunities, and credentials for its members. You can explore the Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate before moving on to certifications in more advanced subjects. 

Cost: $120 for members and $150 for nonmembers [4]

Requirements: You do not have to complete any prerequisites to take this exam. 

Who should take this exam? This exam is an appropriate credential for recent graduates or for professionals who want to expand their skills. 

What’s on the exam? The exam for this certificate covers topics including the cyber threat landscape, security operations and response, information security fundamentals, and securing assets. 

How to prepare for the exam: Prepare for the ISACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate with the IT Fundamentals for Cybersecurity Specialization, where you can learn skills including networking basics, cybersecurity, database vulnerabilities, operating system security, cyberattacks, and more. 

Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate

The Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate demonstrates your knowledge of the skills you’ll need to be successful as a cybersecurity analyst. You can learn skills in networking, Python, and cloud computing. 

Cost: $59 a month with a subscription to Coursera Plus

Requirements: You do not have to complete any requirements before taking this Professional Certificate program. 

Who should take this exam? The Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate can help you prepare for careers such as security analyst, SOC analyst, or IT security analyst. 

What’s in the course? This program spans eight courses covering topics like cybersecurity fundamentals, managing security risks, networks and network security, Linux, SQL, threats and vulnerabilities, detection and response, and automating cybersecurity with Python. 

How to prepare for the exam: You can begin today by signing up for a free seven-day trial of Coursera Plus. 

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Entry-level information security jobs

Entry-level information security certifications can help you find a role where you can start gaining job experience in the field. The entry-level credentials from ISACA, ISC2, Google, and CompTIA can help you prepare for different roles in IT security. Explore some potential career titles along with their average salaries in the United States. 

*All base salaries come from Glassdoor as of April 2025 and do not include additional pay such as bonuses, commission, or profit-sharing. 

• Junior cybersecurity analyst: $109,561 

• IT specialist: $78,937

• IT server technician: $57,547

• Data support technician: $49,615

• Field service technician: $58,635

• Cybersecurity analyst: $101,936

• IT security analyst: $105,112

• SOC analyst: $77,928

Intermediate-level certifications

After you gain some professional experience, you can qualify for additional certifications from ISC2, CompTIA, and ISACA. Explore some of the certifications you can work towards and the number of years of experience you’ll need to qualify. 

ISC2

ISC2 offers many certifications for security professionals that allow you to add specialized skills in areas like cloud security, risk and compliance, or security in software development. As you gain experience, you may consider earning another ISC2 certification: 

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): Requires five years work experience 

• Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP): Requires five years work experience

• Governance, Risk, and Compliance Certification (CGRC): Requires two years work experience

• Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (ISSAP): Requires two years work experience and CISSP certification or seven years cumulative

• Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP): Requires two years work experience and CISSP certification or seven years cumulative

• Information Systems Security Management Professional (ISSMP): Requires two years work experience and CISSP certification or seven years cumulative

• Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP): Requires four years of work experience

• Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP): Requires one year work experience

CompTIA

CompTIA offers certifications in role-based learning paths, including core skills, cybersecurity, infrastructure, data and analytics, and professional skills. Once you complete certifications like A+ and start to gain experience, you may decide to earn a more advanced CompTIA cybersecurity certification, such as: 

• Network+: Requires nine to twelve months of work experience; requires CompTIA A+ certification

• Security+: Requires two years work experience; requires CompTIA Network+ certification

• PenTest+: Requires three to four years work experience; requires CompTIA Network+ and Security+ certifications

• CySA+: Requires four years work experience; requires CompTIA Network+ and Security+ certifications

• SecurityX: Requires 10 years of general IT experience, five years working in security; requires Network+, Security+, CySA+, Cloud+, and PenTest+ or equivalent knowledge

ISACA

ISACA offers several more certificates and certifications you may consider after gaining some cybersecurity experience. A few examples of certifications you can earn through ISACA include: 

• Certified Information Security Manager (CISM): Requires five years work experience. You may be able to waive up to two years

• Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC): Requires three years work experience

• Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE): Requires three years work experience

• Certified Cybersecurity Operations Analyst (CCOA): Requires two to three years work experience

Prepare for an information security certification on Coursera

Entry-level information security certifications can help you learn and demonstrate the skills you need to find a cybersecurity role and earn professional experience in the field. You can find programs to help you learn cybersecurity skills, prepare for new careers, and review the concepts you’ll cover in your certification exam. For example, you can enroll in the Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate to prepare for a new career in the high-growth field of cybersecurity and get professional training designed and delivered by subject matter experts at Google.