Cybersecurity Certifications 2025

Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing career fields in the world, with global job demand expected to reach 3.5 million unfilled roles in 2025.
If you’re a beginner hoping to enter the industry, choosing the right certification can give you a major advantage.

But with so many certification paths, which ones are actually worth your time?

This guide breaks down the Top 10 Cybersecurity Certifications for Beginners in 2025, written in simple, practical, and non-technical language — perfect for students, IT newcomers, and global beginners.

⭐ Why Certifications Matter in Cybersecurity Link to heading

You don’t need a degree to start in cybersecurity.
But certifications help you:

✔ Build foundational knowledge
✔ Become visible to recruiters
✔ Qualify for entry-level jobs
✔ Prove your skills globally
✔ Boost your career confidence

For beginners, certifications create a structured roadmap so you know exactly what to learn and in what order.

🔥 Top 10 Cybersecurity Certifications for Beginners (2025) Link to heading

Below is a list of beginner-friendly, internationally recognized certifications.

1. Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate Link to heading

Difficulty: Easy
Cost: ~$39/month (Coursera)
Time: 3–6 months
Best For: Absolute beginners

Why it’s great:

  • No prior IT experience needed
  • Hands-on labs with real tools
  • Recognized by global employers
  • Builds strong fundamentals

Perfect as your first certification.

2. CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Link to heading

Difficulty: Medium
Cost: ~$349
Best For: Starting a cybersecurity career

What you learn:

  • Network security
  • Threat detection
  • Incident response
  • Identity & access management

Security+ is widely accepted as the gold standard beginner cert.

3. ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) Link to heading

Difficulty: Easy–Medium
Cost: FREE exam + FREE training
Best For: Students & career changers

Why it’s popular:

  • Globally recognized
  • Official free training
  • Entry-level friendly

Perfect for building foundational security knowledge.

4. IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Certificate Link to heading

Difficulty: Medium
Cost: ~$39/month
Platform: Coursera

Covers:

  • SIEM tools
  • Threat hunting
  • Incident response

Good for beginners aiming for SOC analyst roles.

5. Microsoft Cybersecurity Analyst (SC-900 / SC-200 Path) Link to heading

Difficulty: Easy
Cost: ~$99 per exam

Teaches Microsoft-focused skills:

  • Cloud security
  • Identity management
  • Zero Trust basics

Great for people already working in Microsoft environments.

6. Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate Link to heading

Difficulty: Medium
Cost: ~$300

What you learn:

  • SOC operations
  • Network security
  • Security monitoring

Ideal for people wanting to work in Security Operations Centers.

7. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) — Practical Track Link to heading

Difficulty: Medium–High
Cost: ~$500–$1200

Covers:

  • Ethical hacking tools
  • Vulnerability analysis
  • Penetration testing

Best for those curious about offensive security.

8. Fortinet NSE 1, 2, 3 Certifications Link to heading

Difficulty: Easy
Cost: FREE

These certs introduce:

  • Basic cybersecurity concepts
  • Practical real-world examples

Perfect as a free beginner series.

9. AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Link to heading

Difficulty: Easy
Cost: ~$100

Why it matters:

  • Cloud security is the future
  • Prepares you for AWS Security certs
  • Extremely high global job demand

Ideal for cloud beginners.

10. TryHackMe Jr Penetration Tester Path (Unofficial Certification) Link to heading

Difficulty: Medium
Cost: FREE or $10/month

Not a formal certification, but:

  • Highly practical
  • Hands-on labs
  • Builds real hacking skills

Great supplement to other certifications.

🎯 Suggested Learning Order (Beginner → Pro) Link to heading

Here is the globally recommended path:

1️⃣ Google Cybersecurity / IBM Cybersecurity
2️⃣ ISC2 CC
3️⃣ CompTIA Security+
4️⃣ Cisco CyberOps or Microsoft Security
5️⃣ Specialize:

  • PenTesting → CEH
  • Cloud Security → AWS / Azure
  • SOC → CyberOps + SIEM learning

Following this order helps avoid confusion and burnout.

💼 What Jobs Can You Get After These Certifications? Link to heading

Certifications can help you land:

  • Cybersecurity Analyst
  • SOC Analyst Level 1
  • IT Security Technician
  • Network Support Technician
  • Incident Response Trainee
  • Junior Penetration Tester (with labs)
  • Cloud Security Trainee

Entry-level salary ranges (global):

🌍 $40,000 – $72,000/year
🇮🇳 India: ₹5 – 12 LPA
🇵🇰 Pakistan: 90k – 250k PKR/month
🇺🇸 USA: $55k – $85k/year
🇪🇺 Europe: €35k – €65k/year

🔚 Final Thoughts Link to heading

Cybersecurity is one of the few industries where beginners can start from zero and grow quickly, thanks to accessible certifications and hands-on labs.

If you’re entering cybersecurity in 2025:
➡️ Start small
➡️ Build consistently
➡️ Choose beginner-friendly certifications
➡️ Practice through real labs

If you need help choosing the right path or want professional guidance:

  • Skill roadmap
  • Certification advice
  • Career planning
  • SOC analyst preparation
  • Hands-on practice options

I’m here to help you get started in cybersecurity the right way.

Written by Shayan Anique Akhtar — IT Consultant & Cybersecurity Specialist