By Brad Haynes | 55 Min Video

Cybersecurity remains one of the fastest-growing and most critical areas in IT, and there are certification paths that provide a clear way to build the expertise organizations need today. This in-depth video explores cybersecurity training and certification tracks, including CompTIA’s Security+ and the new Cisco cybersecurity credentials coming early 2026.

After watching this video, you will:

• Gain an overview of cybersecurity fundamentals and why they matter for today’s IT professionals.
• Explore the tools and technologies that power secure enterprise networks.
• Understand the career paths available through cybersecurity certifications.
• Learn about the associated courses designed to help you prepare for and achieve success with Cybersecurity certifications.

Whether you’re just starting your cybersecurity journey or advancing to the professional level, this video provides clarity on the right path for you, the skills you’ll gain, and how cybersecurity training positions you for long-term success in the field.

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Certification Landscape

• CompTIA Security+ and Cisco Cybersecurity certifications are top choices for cybersecurity professionals, covering basics to advanced topics in network security, vulnerability management, and incident response.
• The CompTIA Security+ certification is one of the most requested in the cybersecurity field, according to the Cyber Seek tool.
• Cisco CCNA Cyber Security certification is ideal for those with a networking background, providing foundational knowledge and leading to advanced practitioner skills.

Frameworks and Tools

• The MITRE ATT&CK Framework is a globally accessible knowledge base of adversary tactics and techniques used to understand and prevent cyberattacks.
• The NIST Cybersecurity Framework, widely adopted across industries and governments in North America, is based on five core functions: identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover.
• The Cyber Kill Chain framework, developed by Lockheed Martin, identifies seven stages of a cyberattack: reconnaissance, weaponization, delivery, exploitation, installation, command and control, and action on objective.

Practical Skills and Tools

• Kali Linux and Security Onion are popular Linux distributions used in cybersecurity training for network scanning, password cracking, and intrusion detection.
• Metasploit is a framework for safely simulating cyberattacks on networks, switches, and components, used in CompTIA Security+ and Cisco CCNA Cyber courses for hands-on training.
• Wireshark captures and analyzes network traffic in real-time, allowing for password cracking and intrusion detection in cybersecurity courses.
• AirCrack-ng, included in Kali Linux, evaluates Wi-Fi network security by capturing wireless packets and attempting to crack passwords.

Training Approach

• CompTIA Security+ and Cisco CCNA Cyber courses offer a balance of lecture and lab exercises for hands-on training and real-world examples, designed to provide skills-based training and demonstrate practical skills to employers.