Offensive Security Certified Expert (OSCE): OffSec’s Offensive Security Certified Expert consists of three courses: Advanced Web Attacks and Exploitation, Advanced Evasion Techniques and Breaching Defenses, and Windows User Mode Exploit Development. The format for each course exam is the same: Candidates have 48 hours to compromise a given target using various techniques. No formal prerequisites exist for any of the three courses, though OffSec makes specific knowledge and skill recommendations for each. Candidates who complete the three courses and earn the OSCE also get a challenge coin symbolizing their expertise in offensive security.Training and exam fees: OffSec bundles each course with a certification exam for US$1,649, so the total cost for OSCE is US$4,947.Average pay premium: 11%Market value increase: 22.2%
GIAC Cloud Security Automation (GCSA): The GIAC Cloud Security Automation certification is ideal for professionals working with public-hosted clouds, such as developers, software architects, systems administrators, risk managers, and security consultants. The program covers fundamental DevOps and DevSecOps domains, such as configuration management, continuous security monitoring, data protection, and compliance. Like the GIAC GNFA, candidates can take the proctored exam onsite or online. The two-hour exam consists of 75 questions across 15 topical areas, such as automated remediation and container security, with a passing of 66%. As with other GIAC certifications, certificate holders must complete 36 CPE credits over four years to renew.Training fees: GIAC offers on-demand and in-person options priced at local rates.Exam fees: US$999; retakes, US$899Average pay premium: 10%Market value increase: 25%
GIAC Network Forensic Analyst (GNFA): The credential is aimed at forensic analysts, threat hunters, network defenders and engineers, and other security and IT professionals. The program focuses on network architecture, protocols, reverse engineering, and analysis, as well as encryption, encoding, and other forensic skills and tools. The proctored exam is available remotely from ProctorU or onsite through PearsonVUE and consists of 66 questions over three hours. Candidates must score 70%, and certificate holders must complete 36 continuing professional education (CPE) credits through activities such as work experience, community participation, and hands-on cyber ranges over four years to renew it.Training fees: GIAC offers on-demand and in-person options priced at local rates.Exam fees: US$999; retakes, US$899Average pay premium: 10%Market value increase: 25%
GIAC Reverse Engineering Malware (GREM): GIAC offers a Reverse Engineering Malware Certification that covers malware analysis, including malicious executables, code, document files, and executables, and malware characteristics. GREM is aimed toward technologists who need to examine or reverse-engineer malware to protect these organizations through incident response, forensic examination, and Windows system administration. This target audience includes auditors, security managers and consultants, and network administrators. To obtain the GREM, professionals must pass a proctored exam of 66 to 75 questions that lasts between 2 to 3 hours. To keep the GREM certification active, professionals must take 36 continuing education credits over four years.Training fees: GIAC offers live training for GREM in various cities around the world starting at US$8,525.Exam fees: The GREM exam costs US$979 for every attempt.Average pay premium: 10%Market value increase: 25%
Offensive Security Web Expert (OSWE): OffSec offers the Offensive Security Web Expert certification, which focuses on penetration testing and exploit development of web applications. As part of the curriculum, candidates will learn web security tools and methodologies, source code analysis, session hijacking, remote code execution, data exfiltration, and more. The certification is designed for candidates with experience in cybersecurity or penetration testing but who want to pursue higher-level roles as a security architect, vulnerability researcher, or product security engineer. The OWSE exam is hands-on: Candidates will be provided a test environment and tasked with compromising a web application using techniques they learned from the course. Candidates who fail the exam must observe a cooling-off period before retaking it, with the duration depending on the number of previous attempts. While there are no enforced prerequisites, OffSec strongly recommends that candidates know at least one coding language, can write simple scripts, have a background in web proxies, have familiarity with Linux, and have a general understanding of cyberattacks.Exam and training fees: OffSec offers three bundles: The most basic includes 90 days of lab access, the OWSE course, and one exam attempt for a US$1,749 one-time payment. The next bundle extends lab access to a full year and allows for two exam attempts for a US$2,749 annual subscription. Finally, the highest-level bundle is a US$6,099 annual subscription that includes all OffSec courses and unlimited retakes. Average pay premium: 10%Market value increase: 25%
AWS Certified Security Specialty: Given the popularity of AWS, the AWS Certified Security Specialty may be a wise investment. This vendor-specific certification focuses on data classifications, protection mechanisms, encryption methods, and secure internet protocols within the context of AWS Cloud. The certification is geared toward professionals who need AWS security expertise for roles in cloud architecture, networking, DevSecOps, and other areas. The 170-minute exam consists of 65 questions proctored online or onsite. Amazon recommends five years of IT security experience, two of which involving securing AWS workloads. Many candidates will have already completed AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate or AWS Certified Solutions Architect before AWS Certified Security Speciality, according to AWS.Training fees: AWS offers an official practice questions, practice exam, and exam guide for free.Exam fees: US$300Average pay premium: 10%Market value increase: 11.1%
Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC): Administered by ISACA, the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control certification provides candidates with training across four domains: corporate IT governance, IT risk assessment, risk response and reporting, and information technology and security. CRISC is ideal for candidates who want to enhance and optimize business resilience and risk management across their organization. The exam consists of 150 questions across the four domains, but the content outline will be updated again Nov. 3, 2025. Since ISACA began offering CRISC in 2010, more than 23,000 people have obtained the certification. ISACA claims 52% of certificate holders experienced on-the-job improvement, and CRISC is the “4th top-paying certification worldwide.” To qualify for CRISC, candidates must adhere to a code of professional ethics and have three years of work experience in at least two of the four CRISC domains. On passing the exam, candidates must submit 120 continuing professional education (CPE) hours every three years to maintain their CRISC.Training fees: ISACA offers three resources: an online review course, US$895; a review manual in print or digital, US$139; and an annual subscription to a 600-question test bank, US$399. Discounts are available for ISACA members. Exam fees: US$575, ISACA members; US$760 for non-membersAverage pay premium: 10%Market value increase: 11.1%
EC-Council Certified Cloud Security Engineer (C|CSE): Candidates for the EC-Council’s Certified Cloud Security Engineer will learn cloud platform security, including modules on cloud storage threats, pen testing, forensics, incident response, and business continuity planning. The program is cloud-agnostic, covering major providers such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform, and will detail 44 of the latest technologies. C|CSE is targeted for professionals who deal with cloud administration, management, and operations who must also contribute to its security, such as network analysts, cybersecurity engineers, and cloud administrators. The four-hour C|CSE exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions, with a 70% pass rate. To qualify for the exam, you must have two years of experience in InfoSec or take the EC-Council’s official training course. Training fees: C|CSE has a video course for US$718 and an on-demand course with a virtual lab environment for US$749.Exam fees: US$100 application feeAverage pay premium: 10%Market value increase: 11.1%
EC-Council Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst (C|TIA): EC-Council’s Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst takes a holistic approach to addressing cyber threats, enabling candidates to identify threats, report on them, mitigate business risks, and implement advanced strategies. It is ideal for those who deal with cyber threats, such as cybersecurity engineers and analysts. The two-hour exam consists of 50 questions across eight domains, including threat intelligence, data analysis, and threat hunting and detection; candidates must score 70% to pass. To qualify, you must be an adult as defined by your local jurisdiction and have two years of experience in InfoSec or take EC-Council’s official training. Minors must have a letter of parental support and be enrolled in an accredited school.Training fees: C|TIA offers a video course for US$388 and an on-demand course with lab manual tools for US$250.Exam fees: US$100 application feeAverage pay premium: 10%Market value increase: 11.1%
Fortinet Certified Expert in Cybersecurity (FCX): The Fortinet Certified Expert in Cybersecurity credential covers network security design, configuration, and troubleshooting from a vendor-specific lens. Certification consists of two components: a two-hour exam proctored online or onsite composed of 60 questions that assess Fortinet product knowledge across design scenarios, troubleshooting, and more; and a practical exam, in which candidates must complete 30 tasks across two sessions totaling nine hours. For either component, candidates only receive notification of passing or failure, with no further details. The FCX must be renewed every three years by passing both the written and practical exams. To qualify, you must have professional experience, but Fortinet Training Institute does not specify a minimum number of years.Training fees: FCX offers sample questions from the FCX written exam (candidates must log in for pricing details) and immersion through partners at different rates.Exam fees: US$400, written examAverage pay premium: 10%Market value increase: 11.1%
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