As cyber threats evolve and adversaries become more sophisticated, staying ahead in the cybersecurity field requires continuous learning and upskilling. For professionals already in the industry, earning the right certifications can enhance your expertise, sharpen your skills, and give you a competitive edge in an increasingly high-stakes landscape.
TAC’s Chief Information Officer, Monty Mills, shares his expert insights on the top cybersecurity certifications that can keep you at the forefront of the field.
Certifications for Artificial Intelligence Literacy in Cyber
“Up front, every person in the cyber workforce has to become AI literate and be able to speak fluently in AI. Pick any AI-centric vendor or academic-provided cert available and go learn. On the technical side, we offer the “CertNexus Certified Artificial Intelligence Practitioner (CAIP)” or “Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals (AI-900)” courses as good starting points. This area is so important to us, we are developing AI certification paths for general technologists and leaders for future release.”
Certs to Broaden Your Understanding of Key Technology Spaces in Cyber
“Next, cloud, zero trust, and software defined networks (SDN) are all key technology knowledge spaces. For example, we offer the “AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials” or the “Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)” courses. The Cloud Security Alliance offers the “Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT)”. The point here is to acquire certifications that help you solidify your knowledge about industry defining technology related to your position.”
Certs Supporting Cyber Auditing for Mid-Tier Staff
“Lastly, I personally believe all mid-tier technology staff need to understand cyber auditing. How systems are categorized, controls defined and implemented, and operations-centric assurance is achieved is essential to all leadership positions. Gaining basic knowledge of how auditing is done provides the toolbox any person can use to define and manage technology-based risks. And, aside from the knowledge benefit, getting a cert like the “ISACA Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)” may be a good differentiator for anyone in the competitive cyber workforce.”
Whether you’re looking to deepen your technical knowledge, advance into leadership, or stay ahead of emerging threats, these certifications will ensure you remain a vital asset in today’s cyber workforce.
Monty Mills
CIO of Technology Advancement Center