Prepare for In Demand Industry Certifications

Third-party certifications are key to upskilling and advancing your career. They're often recognized by employers globally, so you'll be recognized as a professional whenever you choose to work. George Mason offers coursework that prepares you for the following certifications.

AWS Certified Security – Specialty

The AWS Certified Security – Specialty certification validates your expertise in securing data and workloads in the AWS Cloud. Employers will recognize you as the professional they need to keep their data safe.

Cisco® Certified Networking Associate (CCNA)

The CCNA credential ensures you have the essential skills necessary to launch a rewarding career in IT.  With CCNA after your name, employers immediately recognize you understand network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services, security fundamentals, automation, and programmability.

CompTIA™ A+ Certification

The CompTIA A+ Certification is the top credential for associate-level IT professionals and the industry standard for establishing a career in IT.  They're recognized as proven problem solvers and support today’s core technologies from security to cloud to data management and more. 

CompTIA's Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP+) Certification

CASP+ is an advanced-level cybersecurity certification for security architects and senior security engineers who lead and improve an enterprise’s cybersecurity readiness. It's widely considered the industry standard for cybersecurity practitioners who create systems that prevent, detect and repel cybersecurity attacks. 

CompTIA Network+ Certification

CompTIA Network+ Certification helps you to develop a career in IT infrastructure. It validates you have the technical skills needed to securely establish, maintain and troubleshoot the essential networks that businesses rely on. 

CompTIA Security+ Certification

The CompTIA Security+ Certification opens the door to your cybersecurity career. It's considered the global standard to validate you have the baseline skills necessary to perform core security functions and is the most widely-used obtained certification to meet the U.S. Department of Defense's DoD 8570 compliance standard.

(ISC)2 Certified Information Security Professional (CISSP)

Earning the CISSP proves you have what it takes to effectively design, implement and manage a best-in-class cybersecurity program.

ISACA's Certified Information Systems Auditor, (CISA)

CISA is world-renowned as the standard of achievement for those who audit, control, monitor and assess an organization’s information technology and business systems.

ISACA's Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

ISACA’s Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification indicates expertise in information security governance, program development and management, incident management and risk management.

Explore Cybersecurity Courses

Choose the programs below that are most beneficial to your position right now and take a look at others that may help you advance your career. Go to our Information Technology & Security career field page to find the course that's right for you!

Choose Your Level of Learning

George Mason offers different ways to learn new skill sets that enhance your current role and help you step into new career opportunities. 

• Individual courses focus on a specific set of skills or industry knowledge but can vary widely in terms of contact hours. You can spend a week completing a course, or more than a year.
• Bootcamps, like individual courses, usually focus on mastering a specific technical skill that can directly impact your current position or project or help you transition to a new career in a brief amount of time, typically three to four months.
• Professional Certificates can vary widely in terms of contact hours. They can consist of a single course with a multitude of topics or include a series of courses. Some certificates also offer a digital badge that can verify the specific industry skills learned. When you successfully complete the Professional Certificate program, you'll receive a certificate that speaks to your new skill set.

Strengthen Your Career Opportunities

Jack Blount, CEO of Intrusion, reports, “There is a business breached every 39 seconds of the day, 24/7/365. Cybercrime is out of control.”¹

Cybersecurity is a leading market driver in the IT sector — revenue in 2020 was reported at $149.7 billion, but it's expected to more than double by 2027 with a forecast of reaching $346 billion.² 

The cause for this demand? Cybercrime. It's predicted to cost the global economy $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. This makes it more profitable than the global trade of all major illegal drugs combined, and more damaging than a year of natural disasters.³ Cybercriminals have become extraordinarily efficient — organized entities are joining forces, and their likelihood of detection and prosecution is as low as .05% in the U.S.3, which is where 64% of the total stolen data statistics happen.²  

It should be no surprise then, that the most in-demand cybersecurity skills in 2020 belonged to solutions — 71% of the market share² was dedicated to threat intelligence and management, encryption, data loss prevention, firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention, disaster recovery, and more. 

Career Titles in Cybersecurity

Lack of expertise and skills gap is one of the main reasons companies falter in their security efforts. Get the skills you need to join the cybersecurity industry in one of these in-demand roles.

Information Security Analysts

Information security analysts take measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. This includes researching trends, developing security standards, checking for vulnerabilities, monitors networks and conducting investigations and maintaining software to protect sensitive information. Information security analysts earn a median salary of $103,590 a year and the role is listed as one of the fastest-growing occupations with a growth rate of 33% expected from 2020 to 2030.⁴

Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers

Software developers work with stakeholders to identify needs and then design computer applications or programs to meet those goals. Software quality assurance analysts and testers find and report problems with applications or programs. Software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers earn a median salary of $110,140 a year and has an expected job growth rate of 22% from 2020-to 2030.⁴

1. https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/tech/cybercrime-to-top-6-trillion-in-2021-north-texas-security-firm-says/2636083/
2. https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/infographic/cybersecurity-market
3. https://cybersecurityventures.com/cybercrime-damage-costs-10-trillion-by-2025/
4. BLS.gov

As the largest public research university in Virginia, we keep our finger on the pulse of skills gaps across industries — and nowhere is it wider than in the IT industry. A combination of all tech occupations is expected to grow at about twice the rate of overall employment across the economy, but many roles will grow at 4-5 times the national rate.³

We're ready to help you upskill your staff quickly with continuing education opportunities customized specifically for your organization's needs.

This valuable option gives your top performers the industry certifications you need them to have to step into roles you need to fill while attracting and retaining top talent.

To discover more about how we can bring critical IT training and certification preparation to your team, complete the form below and we will contact you:

3. CompTIA Cyberstate 2021 Report