Cybersecurity Certifications for Dayton Area Professionals

Cybersecurity certifications for professionals in the Dayton area are becoming more vital every year. With the constantly increasing demand for IT and cybersecurity professionals, finding ways to stand out can be difficult. While networking with fellow leaders in the industry will remain essential, one of the best ways to highlight your knowledge, and hands-on expertise in this arena, is through cybersecurity certifications.

There is an abundance of knowledge to learn, and numerous certification programs that can be perfect for your scenario. If you are in the Dayton, Cincinnati, or Columbus area, and looking to take your next step, this article will serve as a basic guide to some of the best certifications to look into. If you are wanting additional details on what each program can offer, we recommend checking out training centers like Phishbuster Academy. They will have specifics on what the program offers, who the ideal target audience is, and where to get the certifications.

CompTIA Certifications in Dayton

If you are in the Dayton area, and looking to pursue a career in IT, the CompTIA suite of certifications are the way to go. Going into networking? Look into the A+, Network+, and Security+ certifications. Working to become a security analyst? The CompTIA CySA+ is the way to go.  As an IT professional in the Dayton area, these certifications can truly help with proving to industry leaders that you are prepared to hit the ground running.

EC-Council Certifications in Dayton

Looking into the information security side of the industry, EC-Council has some incredible certifications that can truly make you stand out. New to the cybersecurity industry? The EC-Council Certified Cybersecurity Technician (CCT) is an incredible start. This certification will give you a foundational understanding in cybersecurity concepts. If you are a little more experienced, looking into the Certified Network Defender (CND) and Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) programs will truly highlight your experience and desire to make a difference within your organization.

Cybersecurity Leadership Certifications in Dayton

Any Dayton area cybersecurity professionals that are in a leadership role, or desire to be, should take the EC-Council CCISO program seriously. This is one of the best certifications for managing cyber security programs and can serve as one of the top tools to help bridge any communication gaps between the technical professionals and C-Suite leadership.

Cybersecurity Bootcamps or Self-Paced Programs in Dayton

If you are uncertain on which certification to pursue, please feel free to contact us, we can help guide you in the right direction. Once you know the certification roadmap that is best for you, the next step is to start preparing for the exam. There are two ideal routes for exam preparation – self-paced courses and bootcamps.

Self-paced programs are best for professionals that are extremely busy and can only work in an hour or two of studying a day. These programs are designed to provide a learning path, breaking down each topic into small, bite-sized pieces of information. So you can essentially learn around your own schedule.

If you are a Dayton professional looking to accelerate your learning, bootcamps are definitely the way to go. These programs will take hundreds to thousands of pages of information, and compress all of the essential pieces into a 40-hour weeks’ worth of learning. Although the week will be jampacked with information, the goal is to be prepared for the exam by the end of the week.

Additional Information on Cybersecurity Bootcamps

Regardless of the learning path you choose, there are a couple of things you need to be sure of:

• Is the company you are working with accredited by the exam provider (CompTIA or EC-Council)? Both of these organizations partner with training centers to ensure the necessary information is being provided.
• Does the program combine book learning with hands-on labs? Hands-on labs can be essential in retaining some of the information. Yes, you can sit and memorize information in flash cards. But the hands-on labs will help prove that you are applying the knowledge that you have learned.
• Is the training center a large internet-based organization, or do they have a local presence? There are a handful of really great internet-based organizations that provide training. And they can provide some of the essential elements for exam preparation. But from my experience, sometimes having a local presence to where you are living can be extremely helpful. Especially if you have questions. Small, local businesses can often be easier to communicate with when there is an issue. If you are in the Dayton area and looking for CompTIA or EC-Council bootcamps, take a look at Phishbuster Academy.
• Is the price right? This can always be a tough thing to figure out as well. Some companies will charge a much higher price than is necessary. Whereas, if you go with the cheapest price you find, the instructor may not be the most qualified on the topic. Just do your research before pinning down a training center.