CEH vs CCNA Security Certification: Which One to Choose?

Cybersecurity is one of the most sought-after fields. With the rapid expansion of worldwide connection via the Internet, cloud adoption, and smart devices, cyberattacks have also increased, multiplying the need for people with advanced cybersecurity skills to provide the highest level of data safety and security. Companies, from start-ups to well-established corporations, want cybersecurity personnel with hands-on experience. 

Many of you must be familiar with what Certified Ethical Hacking (CEH) and CISCO Certified Network Associate (CCNA) security certification is. It can become quite difficult to choose one between the two since both of them are equally advantageous on their own terms. In this article, we will discuss in detail CEH vs CCNA security certification and which one to choose. 

What is CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)?  

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification is the most comprehensive option available at this time. The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) exam tests a candidate's foundational knowledge of security threats, risks, and countermeasures. The candidate must attend lectures and engage in laboratory exercises for CEH v12 training. If the candidate can give evidence of at least two years of experience in cybersecurity, they are free from having to do any training before taking the exam. 

The EC-Council administers the CEH certification, and one of its key merits is its versatility. Self-study, instructor-led training, and video lectures are all available training options through EC Council. These options are accessible online, and businesses can work with EC-Council trainers who will conduct on-site teaching at their location. 

Likely, earning a CEH certification is not necessarily the best course of action, although most job advertisements for ethical hackers require candidates to possess one. Because CEH emphasizes classroom-style training, most hacking methods do not offer significant practical experience. This is one of the most severe complaints that may be made against the company. 

Commonly, ethical hacking refers to penetrating one's computer(s) or computers to which one has official permission to determine whether or not vulnerabilities exist and to take preventative, corrective, and protective countermeasures before the actual compromise of the system. Sometimes, ethical hacking is referred to as "white hat hacking." 

What is CCNA or Cisco Certified Network Associate?

A CISCO Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification proves that you possess the requisite abilities to flourish in the dynamic information technology industry. The CCNA exam includes networking foundations, IP services, network security fundamentals, automation, and programming.

The CISCO Certified Network Associate Security or CCNA Security certification reflects your ability to manage and optimize the performance of today's most complex computer networks. 

After completing the CCNA training course and exam, you will have the skills essential to advance your career in any direction. When you obtain a Cisco certification, you establish yourself as a living example of the standard and rigor that firms recognize and rely on to achieve and exceed market expectations. 

CEH vs CCNA [Comparison Table]

It can be quite confusing to know the similarities and differences between CEH and CCNA, as both of these are security solutions. Let us have a comparison of CEH vs CCNA. 

Criteria	CEH	CCNA
Scope	It is a macro subject.	It is a micro subject.
Topics Included	It encompasses knowledge of Programming principles, Networking, Linux, Database, and Server	It will cover the configuration of various permission levels, the AAA concept, the fundamentals of RADIUS and TACACS server, etc.
Expertise Required	It requires getting a grip over the basic concepts to crack the exam.	Strong fundamentals of CCNA R&S can help you score good marks.
Certification Vendor	This is a Cisco vendor certificate.	This is an open vendor certificate.
Roles and Responsibilities	This comprises Cisco Security products and some fundamentals, such as threats and their countermeasures, malware, Cisco firewalls, VPN technologies, etc.	In ethical hacking, you must hack a computer to test for vulnerabilities rather than for malevolent or illegal purposes.

Differences Between CEH and CCNA 

Now that we have understood what CEH and CCNA certifications are let’s have a closer look at them and how they differ in certain aspects. 

CEH vs CCNA Security Certification: Prerequisites

What are the Requirements to Sit for the CEH Exam?

Examining CEH certification applications to determine which of these three criteria are met is important. To be eligible to take the examination, a candidate must meet one of the following conditions: 

The applicant must be under 18 years of age. In this case, the person will not be authorized to participate in an official training course or take the certification exam unless they can provide a letter of support from a nationally recognized educational institution and written authorization from a parent or legal guardian. 

CEH certification requirements are less stringent than several other popular professional certifications in the cybersecurity industry. This is why the CEH Certified Ethical Hacker certification is sometimes viewed as a certification for novices, even though it is undoubtedly required for anyone seeking employment with offensive components. 

What Prerequisites Must be Satisfied to Obtain a CCNA Certification? 

The Cisco Certified Network Associate Security exam is the foundation for all subsequent Cisco certification examinations. This signifies that you do not need to have certifications or previously completed other studies to take the CCNA exam. 

Before taking the examination, participants must know a few essential prerequisites and restrictions. The first restriction relates to a person's age: 

Students below 13 years of age are not permitted to take the exam, even with parental consent. 

Candidates who lie between the age range of 13 to 17 may take the exam and, if successful, earn certification only with the agreement of their parents or legal guardians. 

There are no age criteria or restrictions for participants; thus, anyone older than 18 can take the examination. 

CCNA vs CEH: Scope

Scope of CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) 

CEH carries huge opportunities in terms of professional as well as personal growth. Some of its highlighting advantages are as follows: 

1. Your Awareness Of Dangers And Dangerous Situations Increases 

Hackers are innovators constantly exploring new strategies to attack people who exploit IT infrastructure flaws. If you are unaware of the risks and vulnerabilities associated with your computer systems, it will be difficult for you to assure their continuous security. 

By acquiring the EC-Council CEH certification, you will learn how hackers examine a network to identify if it contains exploitable vulnerabilities. If you take the CEH exam syllabus, you will be qualified for this method for applying the information to your firm. 

2. The CEH Certification is Not Exclusively For Pen Testers 

The CEH certification is not limited to only security assessments such as penetration tests. In addition, this accreditation is adaptable. The CEH Certified Ethical Hacker credential applies to a broader range of activities than only penetration tests. This credential is also perfect for IT professionals who work in network and data protection because of its versatility. 

Those in the networking business who have acquired the CEH certification will have the most satisfactory possible basis for developing their cybersecurity knowledge. Consequently, the real-world information created by the Certified Ethical Hacker curriculum would be advantageous for defending your network against cybercriminals, both personally and in your organization. 

3. With A CEH certification, Developers Can Learn To Think Like Hackers

CEH certification allows IT professionals to understand the mentality of cybercriminals. Even though responding to threats and events as they occur will always be a crucial component of combating cybercriminals, it is far more critical to understand how these criminals conduct their attacks and build a plan to oppose them. 

Learning to think like a criminal hacker will equip you with the abilities required to adopt a systematic approach when discovering sections of a network that may be vulnerable to cybercriminal attack. This will enable you to anticipate future security plans and procedures. 

4. Make Professional Progression

Suppose you have a solid foundation in information technology and an understanding of how networks operate within organizations. In that case, the Certified Ethical Hacker program will educate you on improving your IT security skills by providing a fresh viewpoint. Consider acquiring your CEH certification if you already hold this profession and are interested in transitioning to a more rewarding role within the cybersecurity arena. 

Scope of CCNA Security (Cisco Certified Network Associate)

The CCNA certification unlocks several lucrative job opportunities. The scope of CCNA is outlined as below: 

1. Boost in Career

The certifications are considered while calculating the extent of security pertaining to a particular network system. If you obtain this certification, you can develop your career as a potential networking specialist faster than your colleagues. 

2. Accessible Certification Course

Networking professionals frequently debate whether Microsoft or CISCO's operating system is superior. Because of the complexity of the CISCO certification programs' outlines, it is considerably more accessible for a desirable candidate to complete the training and obtain certification.

In addition to your CCNA training sessions, you can pursue Microsoft certification programs concurrently. After receiving your CCNA Cyber Security certification, you will be better prepared to pursue subsequent professional-level networking qualifications. Obtaining the initial certification is always a challenging and time-consuming process. Still, once you've taken the first step, you'll be able to manage expectations based on your new level of knowledge. 

3. Enhanced Gradient of the Learning Curve

While pursuing your CCNA certification, you will have the chance to increase your knowledge and develop a beneficial method for mastering the core Cisco networking principles. Even though you have worked in the networking sector for many years, you must continue to increase your skill sets to keep ahead of the competition. 

Certifications are essential for keeping a candidate abreast of the most recent technological advances in the information technology industry. Although nothing can replace experience, as the adage goes, credentials are pretty necessary. 

4. Recognition

When you pass the CCNA exam, you are granted the perfect qualification and recognition you may list on your resume when seeking a job in the currently available Cisco networking domain. Because this certification is valid for three years, you will enjoy the benefits of your CCNA certification for an extended time. 

• Compensation Enhancement 

Your assessment may be due soon. Therefore, you would benefit from adding CCNA to your list of accomplishments. You can anticipate a wage raise comparable to that of the preceding level. 

• Respect for One Another Among Employees 

Obtaining CCNA certification provides you with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that other employees in your organization will respect and admire you. This advances you along the path of your career. 

Similarities Between CEH and CCNA

• Certificates can be achieved by enrolling in one of these training programs in order to acquire expertise regarding the safety of computer networks and information systems. 
• In addition to the other elements, students in the CEH course will learn about Intrusion Detection, Policy Creation, Social Engineering, Open Source Intelligence, and Incident Handling. 
• The CCNA Security certification is an internationally recognized credential offered by Cisco. This certification is awarded to professionals who can demonstrate the skills required to design a security architecture, identify and mitigate threats. The certification emphasizes essential security technologies and systems. 
• These certifications actually have a larger range of applications inside the infrastructure industry. 
• If you are currently seeking employment, you should obtain both credentials. While the CEH provides a wide and basic understanding of security, the CCNA Security exam focuses more on the execution of security measures. 

CEH or CCNA Security Certification: What to Choose?

Many of you might be confused about whether to take the certified ethical hacker or CCNA security exam. Both of them are the best certifications for Cyber Security. Penetration testing, management and leadership, development, digital forensics and incident response, industrial control systems (ICS), and cyber defense are just a few of the specializations covered by GIAC's credentials, the leader in cybersecurity certifications.

The GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) certification is an intermediate-level certification within GIAC's portfolio of cyber defense credentials. It is intended for IT workers who can perform hands-on, practical security activities. To obtain the certification, candidates must do well on a five-hour, rigorous exam. Besides, every four years, the certification must be renewed. 

The EC-Council offers the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification as part of its core program. This certification is for cybersecurity professionals with advanced technical expertise. Those who have acquired the CEH certification have demonstrated a thorough comprehension of the methodologies and software used by hackers to cause damage.

CEH-holders do not use their skills for malicious purposes; instead, they hunt for system vulnerabilities and other network system faults to beat hackers at their own games. The official CEH training is not required but is strongly recommended; it covers more than 340 prevalent cyberattack techniques and technologies. Not only is the CEH an expert-level certification for those with exceptional technical skills, but it is also designed particularly for security professionals who engage in ethical hacking. It would be best if you enrolled yourself in KnowledgeHut's CEH v12 training. As we have seen, the Security+ certification is intended for junior-level security team members with an essential awareness of technical topics.

Wrapping Up 

We hope that this article has made everything clear about certified ethical hackers vs CCNA. Security certification is appropriate for you regardless of where you are in your professional development. Consider the CompTIA Security+ certification if you are searching for a credential that will assist you in establishing yourself as a cybersecurity specialist.

The Security+ accreditation, which is vendor-neutral, provides a complete body of valuable knowledge in various contexts. Cisco Certified Network, Associate Security certification, is typically regarded as an entry-level credential; however, its emphasis on Cisco systems makes it most relevant for Cisco security specialists. Those with extensive experience in the cybersecurity field are eligible to undertake the GSEC and SSCP exams.