CCSP vs Cisco Certifications: Which one to Take?

These days, organizations actively seek candidates who hold the CCSP and Cisco Certifications. There are many training options, but these programs effectively demonstrate a candidate’s expertise in Cloud and IT security, validating their skills. Public clouds are dynamic and constantly changing, with many organizations shifting to multi-cloud environments. There is an ever-growing need for professionals who acquire these certifications, and these programs always keep up with the latest trends in the technology industry. Most candidates start by earning the Cisco CCNA Certification and then studying for the CCSP. 

According to an ESG Research Report by The Life and Times of Cybersecurity Professionals 2020, experts said that the best way to improve the overall quality of cybersecurity professionals and address skills shortage was to focus on commitment to training. There are so many competitive advantages enjoyed upon acquiring the CCSP and Cisco Certifications, but it may seem like a tough choice when you're comparing the two. Many cyber security professionals continue developing their skills to secure cloud environments. The dominant certification options are CCSP, Cisco, and Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Data Center.

Furthermore, by acquiring these certifications, you get exclusive membership to the (ISC)² community, which means you become a part of a global network of professionals. 

CCSP (Certified Cloud Security Professional) is a vendor-neutral certification, and acquiring this demonstrates the depth of successfully being able to secure Cloud premises. It also proves that individuals have the necessary Cloud security architecture, design, operations, controls, and compliance skills. Cisco and CCSP certifications are limited to Cisco platforms and issued by the globally recognized (ISC)² body.

Trend of Vendor-Neutral Certification

According to a 2022 Cloud Computing study done by Foundry, it was revealed that more than 69% of organizations had accelerated their digital transformation strategy, emphasizing switching to multi-cloud environments. The top drivers of requiring vendor-neutral certifications were business challenges, growth areas, migration of services and applications to the Cloud, and achieving sustainable and scalable long-term revenue. 

Organizations plan to spend over USD 78 million on their Cloud Computing strategy in the next 12 months, a considerable jump from ump from USD 73 million in 202020. Companies are seeking higher levels of security, and professionals who hold the CCSP or Cisco certifications are quickly becoming in huge demand. Whether you’re thinking of signing up for a CCSP certification prep course or any of the other Cisco certs online, this post will guide you. 

CCSP vs. Cisco Certs - Emphasis on Cloud Security

• Domains

CCSP’s emphasis lies on six Cloud security domains. The certification focuses on Cloud security design, managing data, and how to secure applications in environments. It also follows the best industry standards outlined by the (ISC)² organization but doesn’t focus on network elements. Other Cisco cyber security online courses like the Cisco CCNA and Cisco CCNP Data Center lay emphasis on network fundamentals and ignore Cloud security. Storage networks, IP connectivity, automation, programmability, and security fundamentals are what the Cisco CCNA and Cisco CCNP focus on, respectively. 

• Level of professional experience required

At least three years of experience in data center solutions are needed for CCNA candidates. Cisco CCNP candidates require a year’s experience with computer networking solutions and handling Cisco equipment. It is expected that CCSP professionals have at least five years of work experience. Three years of paid work experience should be from information security technology, while one year has to belong to one of the six Cisco CCSP (ISC)² domains. 

A candidate who has yet to complete their required cumulative work experience can become an associate member of the (ISC)² body and apply for the KnowledgeHut’s CCSP certification prep Course. But they will have to gain the necessary work experience before they get fully certified and recognized by the (ISC)² committee.

• Earning potential

CCSP has been listed as one of the highest-earning credentials in the 2021 salary survey conducted by Certification Magazine. The average annual salary starts at USD 150,400 in the United States, while in non-US countries, the median wage is USD 96,820. 

CCNA also makes the list, offering salaries starting at USD 118,050 in the U.S. and beyond. The CCNP Data Center Certification is not ranked among the top and is not considered to be a credential that offers high earning potential.

• Maintaining certifications

CCSP Certifications require individuals to earn CPE credits every three years to maintain its validity status. The general rule is to acquire and submit a minimum of 30 CPEs every year, accumulating into a total of 90 CPE credits. 

The CCNA and CCNP certifications do not have any credits involved. Individuals can apply for recertification after expiry and sit for the exams to renew those two certifications. Individuals can earn CPE credits for the CCSP Certification by completing Group A and Group B domain activities. These can take the form of video conferences, webinars, attending conferences, publishing whitepapers, participating in educational activities, etc. 

• Certification and Maintenance Details 

(ISC)² CCSP	Cisco CCNA	Cisco CCNP Data Center
3 hours exam (125 MCQ questions)	2 hours exam (120 MCQ questions)	2 hours exam (100 MCQ questions)
A minimum passing score of 700/1000 required	Undisclosed passing score	Undisclosed passing score
Exam fee is USD 599	Exam fee is USD 300	Exam fee is USD 400
Annual maintenance fee is USD 125	No annual maintenance fee	No annual maintenance fee
90 CPE credits in 3 years to be acquired	No CPE credits	No CPE credits

How CCSP Certification Can Help You Succeed

If you’re thinking of becoming a CCSP Certified professional, there is no better time than now. Here is how getting CISCO CCSP certified will benefit you: 

High Demand 

A Cisco CCSP certification will greatly improve your chances of employment in the cybersecurity industry. With an increasing number of cyber threats on the rise on the Cloud, CCSP professionals are in high demand. Companies are actively seeking skilled professionals to protect their assets from data breaches and optimize Cloud performance. More than 65% of Cloud errors happen due to misconfigurations, and these professionals excel at designing and setting up a strong, cyber-secure Cloud presence. 

Understanding Regulatory Frameworks 

Regulatory frameworks standardize Cloud security processes, and getting CCSP certified helps in understanding how to develop and define security policies, including how to track data, protect it, and store it online. 

Grow Your Career 

If you are interested in starting your own business or pursuing customized career paths, then there’s no debate about the CCSP or Cisco certification. Organizations won’t question your professional skills when you have these certifications, and the industry widely recognizes them.

Conclusion

Earning the CCSP certification shows your commitment and dedication to the cyber security field. It proves your track record for success and establishes credibility as a professional. ISC² is a non-profit global organization with over 150,000 members and one of the leading authorities in the cyber security world that offers professional development courses and multiple opportunities for earning CPE credits. 

Passing the Cisco certification exams provides several career opportunities for professionals. The Cisco CCNA Certification proves that you’re a well-rounded professional with expertise in network routing & switching, network engineering, and other network security fundamentals. Many companies that screen candidates during the hiring process look for these certifications, and Cisco certified specialists get 100% more job opportunities and salary hikes worldwide.

Cisco has over 280,000 channels globally, and when you acquire their certifications, you become a part of their huge partnership network. All your skills get validated by their partners, and you also acquire comprehensive knowledge about enterprise network security. But the biggest main advantage of acquiring the CCSP and Cisco certifications is that you stay up-to-date with the latest industry knowledge in your chosen field of specialization. The technology world is fast evolving, and it doesn’t matter how big or small companies are; Cisco and CCSP certifications are forever a part of global career pathways in the cybersecurity and IT industries.