Top 5 Moneymaking Security Certifications For 2015

Time To Get Certified

This year's ranking of top moneymaking certifications highlighted the value of security professionals in the marketplace. In a salary survey conducted by Global Knowledge and Windows IT Pro, security certifications held the top three spots for most valuable certifications overall, and five of the top 15 spots. The certifications validated the technical and management qualifications of the security professionals and helped them earn an average yearly income of between $95,155 and $119,227.

Take a look at which five security certifications will make IT professionals the most money this year.

5. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

Coming in fifth place is the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification, put forward by the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants. The certification recognizes those who can successfully find vulnerabilities in a network, imitating the path a hacker could take to infiltrate a network and possibly cause massive damage. Given the importance of this kind of skill set as attacks continue to grow, a CEH-certified professional averages $95,155.

4. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

The Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification is geared toward information security professionals who handle auditing, controls or security, showing off their ability to manage vulnerabilities, compliance, and processes and policies. The certification, which first launched in 1978, lands a security professional an average of $106,181 a year.

3. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Taking the third spot on top moneymaking certifications for security professionals, and third top moneymaking certification overall, is the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium. The certification, which lands a professional an average salary of $110,603, covers a broad range of security concerns, including risk analysis, cloud computing, application development, mobile, cryptography, physical security, business continuity, disaster recovery and compliance. In order to be certified, professionals need at least five years of experience in more than one of those areas.

2. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

More of a management certification than a technical one, the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification lands at No. 2 on the top moneymaking security certifications with an average annual salary of $118,348. It is held by some 24,000 security professionals, certifying their abilities in security strategy, and system and policy assessment. In order to gain the certification, IT professionals need at least three years of experience as a security manager and five years of experience total.

1. Certified In Risk And Information Systems Control (CRISC)

Landing in the No. 1 spot for both security and overall moneymaking certifications is the Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) certification, which is offered by the nonprofit group ISACA. The certification extends from the design, implementation and maintenance of Information Systems, including identifying and managing risk and controls. The certification pays an average of $119,227 a year. It has only 17,000 professionals certified, as it requires at least three years of experience in at least three different areas.