It is needless to say how important cybersecurity is for an organization. Especially in the current times where everything is digital, organizations rely on digital infrastructure such as cloud computing, and interconnected devices, and have to handle huge and huge amounts of data whose security is paramount for them.

Almost every organization is under some or other kind of cyberattack. It is highly concerning that in 2024 the mean time to identify a data breach in the organization is 258 days. This is a very long time and, in this period, hackers can do a lot of damage. Even more surprising is the fact that only 42% of the attacks were identified by the security teams or tools and 24% of organizations knew they were under attack only after disclosure from attackers.

This is why it has become necessary for them to get essential cybersecurity certifications that enhance their security as well as ensure consumer trust. In this article, we will understand various cybersecurity certifications for businesses and every organization must get one.

Why Should Businesses Get Cybersecurity Certifications?

A cybersecurity certification has become an important element in modern-day business. It offers several advantages including:

• Enhances trust and credibility – through certifications organizations can display their commitment to security and gain trust from their customers, partners, and stakeholders.
• Compliance with regulations and standards – several industries require compliance with strict security standards and regulations to protect their customer data and cybersecurity certifications are testaments to such compliance.
• Eliminate risk – Cybersecurity certifications are granted only after the organizations adhere to required security measures. This ensures they are free from risk and have proper mitigation strategies, tools, and technologies in place.
• Competitive advantage – when organizations are cybersecurity certified, they automatically gain a competitive edge over their competitors as they are more secure and have customer trust.

If you are looking to make a career in cybersecurity in 2025, it is recommended to be aware of the important cybersecurity certifications for businesses so that you can adhere to mandatory security controls and measures.

Important Cybersecurity Certifications Businesses Should Aim For

Here are some of the widely recognized cybersecurity certifications that business organizations must get:

1.     ISO 27001 Certification

This certification is recognized globally and serves as a standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).  It helps with the necessary framework organizations need to design and implement information security and having this certification means organizations have implemented the necessary security measures to safeguard their digital assets.

Requirements:

• Organizations should establish an ISMS
• Conduct a thorough risk assessment and find out potential risks
• Implement required security measures

How to get this certification?

• Analyze gaps within the organization’s security systems
• Implement ISMS
• Do an internal audit
• Make necessary changes as required
• Audit for certification
• Certification decision by the issuing body.

It is recommended that professionals enroll in the best cybersecurity certification programs to be aware of the latest cybersecurity trends and enhance their cybersecurity skills to implement security measures required to earn these certifications for businesses.

2.     Cyber Essentials Certification

This cybersecurity certification is backed by the UK government and helps organizations with the framework required to protect against common threats. It offers them the minimum-security controls and best practices that they must implement to improve their overall security posture.

Requirements:

• Implement boundary firewalls and internet gateways
• Configure networks and systems properly to protect against various risks
• Ensure effective control measures for user access rights
• Check necessary antivirus and anti-malware software are installed
• Ensure all the software is up-to-date with latest security patches

How to get this certification?

• Do a self-assessment and see if the organization meets essential security requirements
• Submit required proof to display that the organization has the necessary security measures in place
• Get it verified with certification bodies
• Get certification issued if all the requirements are met and security is up to the mark

3.     SOC2 Certification

This is another important cybersecurity framework that helps organizations achieve the maximum level of security for their networks, data, and devices. This is mostly used by vendors dealing with cloud computing or data centers.

Requirements:

• Organizations should first establish trust service criteria according to the services they provide
• Implement the necessary security measures
• Assess the risk, identify areas of improvement, and apply necessary steps to eliminate risks

How to get this certification?

• Conduct self-assessment to ensure compliance with SOC2 requirements
• Implement necessary control measures as and when required to minimize the security gap
• Prepare a security report highlighting all security controls are in place and support it with proper evidence
• SOC2 audit will be conducted to assess your organization’s security
• Upon successful audit the auditor will issue a SOC2 report and certificate.

Apart from these, cybersecurity leaders should ensure their organizations achieve the security controls as per NIST Cybersecurity Framework guidelines, and comply with necessary standards and regulations like GDPR and CCPA. This will help their customers rest assured about their data’s security and privacy. This in turn will help improve customer trust and brand loyalty and offer a competitive advantage.

Certified Senior Cybersecurity Specialist (CSCS®) offered by the United States Cybersecurity Institute (USCSI®) is one of the top cybersecurity certification programs for leaders. This certification program is designed for senior cybersecurity professionals and covers essential topics on how they can strategize and implement effective security controls and measures and help get their organization certified with such recognized frameworks.

Security isn’t an optional business operation but a mandatory business element.

Earning these cybersecurity certifications for business will ensure your organization is fully compliant with necessary frameworks, standards, and regulations, and demonstrate the organization has all the required security controls and measures implemented to protect the organization's critical assets and sensitive information. Cybersecurity leaders have an important role to play in ensuring these. So, they must take the initiative and get their organizations certified now.