Professional Hackers

Earning an information security certification is important for career success. Those who are certified have more industry knowledge and better opportunities for promotion than those who are not, and may have higher salaries.

One popular certification is the certified ethical hacker credential, which is available from the EC-Council. To receive it, applicants must have two years of experience in the computer security industry and pass an examination. The EC-Council offers many other certifications, including certified network defender, certified threat intelligence analyst, security analyst, licensed penetration tester, incident handler, forensic investigator, encryption specialist, and network defense architect. Here are some other organizations and companies that provide popular certification programs:

• Cisco: certified network professional, certified security professional
• CompTIA: security+ and many more
• Global Information Assurance Certification: cyber defense, penetration testing, incident response and forensics, and many more
• ISACA: Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC), Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT), CSX Cybersecurity Practitioner Certification (CSX-P), and Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE)
• (ISC)²: CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional, SSCP Systems Security Certified Practitioner, CCSP Certified Cloud Security Professional, CAP Certified Authorization Professional, CSSLP Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional, HCISPP HealthCare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner, CISSP - ISSAP Information Systems Security Architecture Professional, CISSP - ISSEP Information Systems Security Engineering Professional, CISSP - ISSMP Information Systems Security Management Professional, and Associate of (ISC)²

Other Requirements

Many employers conduct a background check, which may include a drug test, for new hires. Some require hackers to be U.S. citizens.