Top 5 GRC Certifications for Cybersecurity Professionals

Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) certifications have become crucial for professionals keen on securing cybersecurity and risk management roles. These certifications validate one's skills and expertise, opening the door to new career opportunities in a dynamically changing environment. 

With the increase in the demand for skilled GRC professionals, choosing the proper certification that aligns with your career goals and ambitions is crucial. This article explores the growing demand for GRC certifications and their key benefits and compares the top five certifications to help you make an informed decision.    

The Growing Demand for GRC Certifications: Statistics

Today, organizations require optimum GRC solutions to address the complexity of risks they face in a dynamic environment. GRC certifications are valuable for roles that address such needs, such as IT security analysts, information assurance program managers, security engineer architects, and senior IT auditors, among many others in the industry.

The following statistics show why GRC certifications are in high demand worldwide:

• 44% of organizations plan to upgrade their existing GRC tools. 
• Only 6% of organizations' board directors believe their establishment effectively manages emerging compliance risks.
• Employers value their employees' GRC certifications because they help them demonstrate competence and confidence to clients (over 32%).

Critical Benefits of GRC Certifications for Professionals 

Acquiring a GRC certification demonstrates your continued commitment to learning and upskilling. Employers find that various governance, risk, and compliance aspects are highly dynamic and constantly evolving. A GRC certification will enable you to understand GRC concepts and practices and become acquainted with the GRC architecture.

GRC certifications are considered as the standards or the benchmarks for domain expertise and practical experience throughout the security world. Below is a list of their key benefits:

Enhanced Career Opportunities

Employers globally recognize GRC certifications. When certified, you can apply for promotions to high-level roles, such as CISO, Director of Compliance, and Compliance Officer. 

Increased Earning Potential

The demand for GRC-certified professionals is bound to rise per statistical predictions, so investing in an in-demand GRC certification will not go in vain. It will help you get equipped with future-ready solutions. Professionals, once certified, can expect and demand higher domestic and international salaries across various markets. Entry-level jobs will earn you USD 103,000 or more annually, while experienced professionals can make more than USD 165,000 annually, as per Talent.com.

Improved Skillset

GRC certifications fill knowledge gaps and help you adapt to the latest trends. They will enable you to help businesses with ethical conduct, risk mitigation, and best security practices. You will gain confidence while dealing with tasks such as ensuring compliance with international laws. A GRC certification validates your skills in ethical hacking, information security audits, cloud application, and security, operations, and service orchestration.

Credibility and Trust

GRC certifications prove you have hands-on experience and high-level knowledge of cloud security architecture. They are evidence of your expertise in security and compliance management, network security communications, security testing, and more. Certifications also help ensure you are professionally qualified to secure organizations from cyber attacks and data breaches.

Keeping Pace with Industry Trends

Any organization's long-term future heavily relies on its compliance with EGRC (Enterprise Governance, Risk and Compliance) guidelines. Today, businesses increasingly depend on third and fourth parties to deliver mission-critical and highly sensitive or confidential data-handling services. 

After acquiring GRC certifications, professionals can implement continuous risk management and monitoring practices:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of security controls
• Acquire a single source of truth across the entire third-party lifecycle
• Automate end-to-end information-gathering processes
• Calculate resource allocations and conduct stress tests

Comparison of the Top 5 GRC Certifications 

Pursuing GRC certifications can be an excellent way to boost the prospects of anyone striving for a compliance career. The below descriptions show how you can advance your skills by acquiring the top five GRC certifications.

1. CISM (Certified Information Security Manager)

The CISM certification provides you with the necessary skills required to build an enterprise security information program. It is an advanced credential that assures mastery over leadership, technical, managerial, and decision-making skills. You need at least five years of work experience before being eligible to apply for the certificate. You will be tested for four key domains: infosec governance, infosec risk management, infosec programs, and incident management.

2. CRISC (Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control)

This certification covers developing, implementing, and maintaining information system (IS) controls for mitigating and managing cybersecurity risks. It also goes in-depth into IT risk identification, mitigation, and risk and control monitoring and reporting. CRISC exam fees cost $575 for Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) members and $760 for non-members.

3. CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor)

CISA is primarily an audit certification, but if you are an internal auditor or in a senior-level audit role, it is the best cert that can help you build robust and improved audit governance within an organization. This certification will make you a capable auditor with high-risk awareness and conversant with emerging technologies for solving problems. According to ISACA, 22% of professionals got a raise, and 70% experienced job improvement after acquiring the CISA GRC certification. The world's most qualified information systems professionals hold this credential.

4. CGEIT (Certified in the Governance of Enterprise IT)

Meant for executive-level professionals, the CGEIT certification encompasses risk optimization, IT resources, enterprise-level IT governance, and benefits realization. The certification will provide you with management experience in IT governance. One may find relevant study materials, resources, information on the exam, and more details on the ISACA website. 

5. GRCP (Governance, Risk, and Compliance Professional)

To acquire this certification, you must apply to join the Open Compliance and Ethics Group (OCEG). The two-day training covers basic GRC principles, GRC implementation strategies, and the four elements of the GRCP capability model. There are no prerequisites to qualify for the GRCP exam, and the exam fee is $499 for an all-access pass.

How to Choose the Right GRC Certification 

Determining which GRC certification to apply for is the first step to moving forward in your cybersecurity career. It starts with selecting the proper framework. Not all GRC certifications require extensive work experience. Some can help you start a new job and advance in your current role.

Here are a few considerations for choosing the proper GRC certifications.

1. Assess Your Career Path

Find out where you are in your career path right now. Assess the requirements to get promoted to the next role and see which areas you need to gain expertise in, and select the proper certification accordingly.

2. Consider Industry Needs

Some compliance requirements, such as SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and CPRA, may require you to get new GRC certifications. The type of program you need will also depend on your location and your organization's niche. 

3. Evaluate Certification Requirements

A security, risk, performance, or IT background can be helpful before you pursue these certifications. Every GRC certification has different eligibility requirements, so carefully review them before applying.

4. Look at Recertification and Continuing Education

You may need to participate in regular professional development activities to keep some certification status active. Usually, eight continuing professional education (CPE) credits are required each year to maintain your current certification and stay updated.

5. Consult Peers and Mentors

You can reach out to peers and mentors who currently hold the certification you aim for. It will give you insights into their benefits, uses, and potential career opportunities. It's an excellent way to network with like-minded specialists and learn about the latest trends and developments. 

Final Words

GRC certifications are some of the most respected cyber and cloud security credentials. Employers highly seek GRC-certified professionals who are committed to continued education and training. As you think about the next steps in your career, you can plan how to complement your practical experience with these certifications. By acquiring the proper certificates, you will have the tools to stand apart in your industry and beat the competition effortlessly.