In the computer security or Information security fields, there are a number of tracks a professional can take to demonstrate qualifications.This article is about the certification and credentialing of individuals. It does not include certification of organizations or classified computer systems by authorizing, accrediting, and approval bodies and authorities as meeting a prescribed set of safeguards. Four sources categorizing these, and many other credentials, licenses, and certifications, are:

Schools and universities Vendor-sponsored credentials (e.g. Microsoft, Cisco) Association- and organization-sponsored credentials Governmental (or quasi-governmental) licenses, certifications, and credentials

Quality and acceptance vary worldwide for IT security credentials, from well-known and high-quality examples like a master's degree in the field from an accredited school, CISSP, and Microsoft certification, to a controversial list of many dozens of lesser-known credentials and organizations.

In addition to certification obtained by taking courses and/or passing exams (and in the case of CISSP and others noted below, demonstrating experience and/or being recommended or given a reference from an existing credential holder), award certificates also are given for winning government, university or industry-sponsored competitions, including team competitions and contests.

Certifying organizations

Vendor-neutral Altered Security ASIS International APMG International Blockchain Council Blockchain Training Alliance Cloud Credential Council (CCC) CertNexus CERTCOP CompTIA CREST Crypto Consortium Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) CWNP CyberDefenders Cyber Struggle EC Council EITCA/IS INE Security EXIN GAQM GIAC HISPI InfoSec Institute IBITGQ TCM Security The IIA IAPP ISACA ISECOM ISC2 Linux Professional Institute (LPI) Lunarline Mile2 Offensive Security Practical DevSecOps PECB The Open Group The SecOps Group SECO-Institute SABSA Star Certification Zero-Point Security EC First 8kSec Hack The Box (HTB) TryHackMe (THM) CyberWarfareLabs (CWL) CNITSEC

Vendor-specific Alibaba (Cloud) AWS Cisco Check Point Fortinet Google IBM Jamf Juniper Microsoft Kali OpenText Palo Alto Red Hat Symantec (since 2012 NortonLifeLock)

List of certifications

Vendor-neutral