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Certifications

Choosing your cyber certification

Price, exam format, required experience, maintenance: everything you need to know about the certifications that matter, checked against official sites. Plus a frank opinion from Belinda or Nestor.

Nestor guides two participants through a cybersecurity workshop.
KrakenShield certifications

Three badges to prove your cyber skills

Learn, test yourself, then put it into practice: each step unlocks a badge anyone can verify online, ready for your LinkedIn profile.

  1. Step 1Available
    KRAKENSHIELD CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS

    KrakenShield Cybersecurity Awareness

    The right reflexes, every day

    Complete the KrakenShield Academy awareness training and pass its final exam.

    • Valid for 12 months
    • 1 Kredit, on your own or through your company
    Discover the Academy
  2. Step 2Available
    KRAKENSHIELD CYBERSECURITY ASSOCIATE

    KrakenShield Cybersecurity Associate

    A solid cyber culture

    Pass the certification exam, in English: 60 questions across the 8 domains taught by the KrakenShield Academy (human factor, threats, identity, networks, encryption and cloud, applications, detection and response, governance), 40 seconds per question, 80% correct answers.

    • Valid for 5 years
    • 2 Kredits per attempt
    Take the exam
  3. Step 3Available
    KRAKENSHIELD CYBERSECURITY MASTER

    KrakenShield Cybersecurity Master

    From theory to practice

    Hold the Associate badge and run the four KrakenShield audits: surface, privacy, code and penetration test.

    • Valid for 12 months, extended as long as you keep auditing
    • From 11 Kredits of audits
    Run an audit
  • Verifiable online with a unique identifier
  • Added in one click to the “Licenses & certifications” section of LinkedIn
  • Your full name is shown only if you agree

Vendor certifications issued by KrakenShield, not registered with the French national qualifications registers (RNCP, Répertoire spécifique): they attest a path completed on the KrakenShield platform, not a state-recognised professional qualification.

Our pick

The must-knows

CCBeginner

ISC2

Certified in Cybersecurity

Exam price
$199
Format
Adaptive multiple choice
Security+Beginner

CompTIA

CompTIA Security+

Exam price
$439
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on
CEHIntermediate

EC-Council

Certified Ethical Hacker

Exam price
$950
Format
Multiple choice
ISO 27001 Lead AuditorIntermediate

PECB

PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor

Exam price
$1,000
Format
Multiple choice
OSCP (OSCP+)Intermediate

OffSec

OffSec Certified Professional (OSCP and OSCP+)

Exam price
$1,699
Format
Hands-on
CISAAdvanced

ISACA

Certified Information Systems Auditor

Exam price
$575
Format
Multiple choice
CISMAdvanced

ISACA

Certified Information Security Manager

Exam price
$575
Format
Multiple choice
CISSPAdvanced

ISC2

Certified Information Systems Security Professional

Exam price
$749
Format
Adaptive multiple choice
47 certifications

The catalogue

Domain

Level

47 certifications

CC

Beginner

ISC2 · Certified in Cybersecurity

Fundamentals
Exam price
$199
Format
Adaptive multiple choice

eJPT

Beginner

INE · INE Junior Penetration Tester

Offensive
Exam price
$250
Format
Hands-on

GSEC

Beginner

GIAC · GIAC Security Essentials

FundamentalsDefence and SOC
Exam price
$999
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

Security+

Beginner

CompTIA · CompTIA Security+

FundamentalsDefence and SOC
Exam price
$439
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

CCSK

Intermediate

Cloud Security Alliance · Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge

Cloud
Exam price
$445
Format
Multiple choice

CDPSE

Intermediate

ISACA · Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer

PrivacyGovernance and risk
Exam price
$575
Format
Multiple choice

CEH

Intermediate

EC-Council · Certified Ethical Hacker

Offensive
Exam price
$950
Format
Multiple choice

CGRC

Intermediate

ISC2 · Certified in Governance, Risk and Compliance

Governance and riskAudit
Exam price
$599
Format
Multiple choice

CHFI

Intermediate

EC-Council · Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator

Forensics
Exam price
$650
Format
Multiple choice

CPTS

Intermediate

Hack The Box · HTB Certified Penetration Testing Specialist

Offensive
Exam price
$210
Format
Hands-on

CySA+

Intermediate

CompTIA · CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst

Defence and SOC
Exam price
$439
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

eCPPT

Intermediate

INE · INE Certified Professional Penetration Tester

Offensive
Exam price
$450
Format
Hands-on

GCIH

Intermediate

GIAC · GIAC Certified Incident Handler

Defence and SOCForensics
Exam price
$999
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

GPEN

Intermediate

GIAC · GIAC Penetration Tester

Offensive
Exam price
$999
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

GWAPT

Intermediate

GIAC · GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester

OffensiveSecure development
Exam price
$999
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

ISO 27001 Lead Auditor

Intermediate

PECB · PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor

AuditGovernance and risk
Exam price
$1,000
Format
Multiple choice

ISO 27001 Lead Implementer

Intermediate

PECB · PECB Certified ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Implementer

Governance and risk
Exam price
$1,000
Format
Multiple choice

OSCP (OSCP+)

Intermediate

OffSec · OffSec Certified Professional (OSCP and OSCP+)

Offensive
Exam price
$1,699
Format
Hands-on

OSWA

Intermediate

OffSec · OffSec Web Assessor

OffensiveSecure development
Exam price
Sold with the training
Format
Hands-on

PenTest+

Intermediate

CompTIA · CompTIA PenTest+

Offensive
Exam price
$439
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

PNPT

Intermediate

TCM Security · Practical Network Penetration Tester

Offensive
Exam price
$499
Format
Hands-on

SC-200

Intermediate

Microsoft · Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate (exam SC-200)

Defence and SOCCloud
Exam price
$165
Format
Multiple choice

SC-500

Intermediate

Microsoft · Microsoft Certified: Cloud and AI Security Engineer Associate (exam SC-500)

CloudDefence and SOCAI
Exam price
$165
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

SecAI+

Intermediate

CompTIA · CompTIA SecAI+

AIDefence and SOC
Exam price
$298
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

SSCP

Intermediate

ISC2 · Systems Security Certified Practitioner

Defence and SOCFundamentals
Exam price
$249
Format
Adaptive multiple choice

AWS Security Specialty

Advanced

AWS · AWS Certified Security - Specialty

Cloud
Exam price
$300
Format
Multiple choice

CCSP

Advanced

ISC2 · Certified Cloud Security Professional

CloudGovernance and risk
Exam price
$599
Format
Adaptive multiple choice

CISA

Advanced

ISACA · Certified Information Systems Auditor

AuditGovernance and risk
Exam price
$575
Format
Multiple choice

CISM

Advanced

ISACA · Certified Information Security Manager

Governance and risk
Exam price
$575
Format
Multiple choice

CISSP

Advanced

ISC2 · Certified Information Systems Security Professional

Governance and riskDefence and SOCSecure development
Exam price
$749
Format
Adaptive multiple choice

CPENT

Advanced

EC-Council · Certified Penetration Testing Professional

Offensive
Exam price
$999
Format
Hands-on

CRISC

Advanced

ISACA · Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control

Governance and risk
Exam price
$575
Format
Multiple choice

CSSLP

Advanced

ISC2 · Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional

Secure development
Exam price
$599
Format
Multiple choice

Google Cloud PCSE

Advanced

Google Cloud · Google Cloud Professional Cloud Security Engineer

Cloud
Exam price
$200
Format
Multiple choice

GREM

Advanced

GIAC · GIAC Reverse Engineering Malware

ForensicsDefence and SOC
Exam price
$999
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

OSED

Advanced

OffSec · OffSec Exploit Developer

Offensive
Exam price
Sold with the training
Format
Hands-on

OSEP

Advanced

OffSec · OffSec Experienced Penetration Tester

Offensive
Exam price
Sold with the training
Format
Hands-on

OSWE

Advanced

OffSec · OffSec Web Expert

Secure developmentOffensive
Exam price
Sold with the training
Format
Hands-on

SecurityX

Advanced

CompTIA · CompTIA SecurityX (formerly CASP+)

Defence and SOCGovernance and riskCloud
Exam price
$544
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

AAIA

Expert

ISACA · ISACA Advanced in AI Audit

AIAudit
Exam price
$459
Format
Multiple choice

AAIR

Expert

ISACA · ISACA Advanced in AI Risk

AIGovernance and risk
Exam price
$459
Format
Multiple choice

AAISM

Expert

ISACA · ISACA Advanced in AI Security Management

AIGovernance and risk
Exam price
$459
Format
Multiple choice

CGEIT

Expert

ISACA · Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT

Governance and risk
Exam price
$575
Format
Multiple choice

CISSP concentrations

Expert

ISC2 · CISSP-ISSAP, CISSP-ISSEP and CISSP-ISSMP (architecture, engineering and management concentrations)

Governance and riskDefence and SOC
Exam price
$599
Format
Multiple choice

GSE

Expert

GIAC · GIAC Security Expert

Defence and SOCOffensiveForensics
Exam price
$1,299
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

GXPN

Expert

GIAC · GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration Tester

Offensive
Exam price
$999
Format
Multiple choice and hands-on

SC-100

Expert

Microsoft · Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert (exam SC-100)

CloudGovernance and riskDefence and SOC
Exam price
$165
Format
Multiple choice
Career paths

Four typical paths

In what order to take certifications, depending on the job you are aiming for.

In France, also worth knowing

PASSI qualification

Awarded by ANSSI, the French cybersecurity agency, to audit providers (not to individuals) across five scopes, including penetration testing. Auditors sit exams tied to their employer.

SecNumedu labels

ANSSI labels for initial and continuing cybersecurity training programmes. They label courses, not people.

SecNumacadémie

ANSSI’s free online course to learn the basics, with a certificate of completion.

RNCP titles

State-recognised qualifications (France Compétences), such as “Cybersecurity expert”. Eligibility for personal training accounts (CPF) is checked title by title.

The certification names mentioned are trademarks of their respective owners. KrakenShield is not affiliated with any certification body and does not reproduce any exam question.

From theory to practice

So how does your system measure up?

Create your account and get an A+ to F grade for your domains’ encryption in minutes, with every finding explained and the fix to apply.

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