Pick the right Information Security certification, prep with a mentor who has already passed it, and put it to work in your next role. Updated for 2026.
Anyone can sign up for a certification course. But getting certified – and putting that knowledge to work – takes more than reading slides. A long-term mentor keeps you focused and gets you across the finish line faster.
The best Information Security certification depends on your current role and target job. Most professionals start with a foundational Information Security cert to validate core skills, then move to a role-specific track. Pairing exam prep with a Information Security mentor on MentorCruise cuts study time and turns the cert into real, applied skills.
Last reviewed: June 2026 · Based on 13 Information Security certifications recommended by working mentors.
The 12 industry certs below, plus MentorCruise itself as the 1-on-1 prep path most mentees pair with whichever one they pick. Each cert is paired with prep notes from someone who has already passed it. Not sure which to start with? Talk to a Information Security mentor first – the wrong cert costs you months.
Accelerate your cybersecurity career with the CISSP certification. Earning the CISSP proves you have what it takes to effectively design, implement and manage a best-in-class cybersecurity program. With a CISSP, you validate your expertise and become an ISC2 member, unlocking a broad array of excl…
Consider reaching out to a coach specialized in Information Security certifications. They can help you prepare for your exam, and provide you with the necessary resources to succeed. MentorCruise is the best place to find a coach for your Information Security certification.
This course forms part of a series of courses that offers a good starting point for a career in cybersecurity. It will help you gain knowledge and skills related to Computers and Operating Systems, Enterprise Systems, and Security, including Business Systems Applications. This course gets you one …
This cybersecurity fundamentals program from IBM can help every individual with limited or no experience in IT or cybersecurity, whether you are a developer, a manager, an IT professional, or a digital consumer interested in learning about issues in the field and the measures you can take to ensure…
The security of an organization is of the utmost importance and every member of the organization's staff plays a vital role in defending against cyber threats. One of the best ways to protect the organization is to institute a company-wide security-awareness training initiative. This course is a …
Certified Information Security Manager® (CISM®) affirms your ability to assess risks, implement effective governance, and proactively respond to incidents. With a highlight on emerging technologies such as AI and blockchain, it guarantees your skillset meets evolving security threats and industry r…
Consider joining a workshop specialized in Information Security. Workshops are a great way to learn new skills, and get hands-on experience. MentorCruise is the best place to find a workshop for your Information Security certification.
This course covers a wide variety of IT security concepts, tools, and best practices. It introduces threats and attacks and the many ways they can show up. We’ll give you some background of encryption algorithms and how they’re used to safeguard data. Then, we’ll dive into the three As of informati…
With this intermediate security credential from (ISC)², you can show employers that you have the skills to design, implement, and monitor a secure IT infrastructure. The exam tests expertise in access controls, risk identification and analysis, security administration, incident response, cryptograp…
Ethical hacking, also known as white hat hacking, penetration testing, or red team, involves lawfully hacking organizations to try and uncover vulnerabilities before malicious players do. The EC-Council offers the CEH Certified Ethical Hacker certification. Earn it to demonstrate your skills in pen…
There are a growing number of exciting, well-paying jobs in today’s security industry that do not require a traditional college degree. Forbes estimates that there will be as many as 3.5 million unfilled positions in the industry worldwide by 2021! One position with a severe shortage of skills is …
Certified Information Systems Auditor® (CISA®), world-renowned as the standard of achievement for auditing, monitoring, and assessing IT and business systems, also acknowledges the importance of emerging technologies. Achieving a CISA certification showcases your expertise and asserts your ability …
This course is designed for novice learners wanting to understand the basics of ISO and IEC security standards. Learners will gain understanding how security standards address the challenges facing organizations, how standards provide a comprehensive approach to providing security (including person…
CompTIA Security+ is an entry-level security certification that validates the core skills needed in any cybersecurity role. With this certification, demonstrate your ability to assess the security of an organization, monitor and secure cloud, mobile, and internet of things (IoT) environments, under…
A Information Security cert is a starting point, not a finish line
A certificate proves you can pass an exam. A mentor proves you can apply the work. Most of our mentees pair their Information Security cert with weekly 1-on-1 sessions so the knowledge sticks – and translates into a promotion, a new job, or a real project shipped.
There is no better source of accountability and motivation than having a personal mentor who has already passed the cert you're studying for. All mentors are vetted, certified, and hands-on.
Explore a curated network of vetted mentors – engineers, designers, founders, and more. Find someone who matches your goals, skills, and budget.
Choose a flexible plan that fits your pace – whether it's Q&A chats, regular calls, or something in between, your mentor will help you build a personalized roadmap.
Get ongoing support through regular calls, check-ins, and feedback. Your mentor stays with you for the long haul.
Mentees who stick with their mentor for 3+ months reach their goals 2x faster than they would on their own. Fewer dead ends, more breakthroughs.
A mentor who has already passed the Information Security cert can spot weak areas in your prep, point you at the exam topics that actually matter, and save you a re-sit fee.
Cut down on failed attempts, abandoned courses, and bootcamp upsells. Work directly with someone who knows what worked and what didn't.
Self-paced learning is easy to drop. Mentorship adds structure and momentum, so you actually finish the cert you started.
Mentors help with more than the exam – they review portfolios, coach for interviews, and translate the cert into a promotion or new role.
Frequently asked
The questions Information Security mentees ask most before picking a certification and starting prep.
Start with a foundational Information Security certification if you're new to the field – it validates core concepts and is recognized everywhere. If you already have hands-on experience, jump to a role-specific or associate-level track. A Information Security mentor can look at your background in one session and tell you which cert is the right starting point.
Most Information Security certifications take 6 to 16 weeks of structured prep, depending on your starting point and the cert level. Foundational exams are closer to 6 weeks. Professional and specialty exams run longer. Mentees with weekly mentor sessions typically finish in the lower half of that range.
Yes, when paired with applied work. A Information Security certification opens recruiter pipelines and signals baseline competence – hiring managers still look for evidence you can use the skill on real projects. That's why mentees who get certified alongside mentor-led portfolio work move into roles faster than those who only have the cert.
MentorCruise plans start at $120/month, which is roughly 70% less than most cert bootcamps. You get weekly 1-on-1 sessions with a Information Security expert plus async messaging between sessions. Cancel anytime – you're not locked into a multi-month bootcamp contract.
Courses give you a curriculum. A mentor gives you a curriculum, accountability, and a feedback loop on the gaps you didn't know you had. Most mentees pair both – they consume a self-paced course and meet with a mentor weekly to debug their understanding. Pure self-study works for some, but completion rates are much lower.
Yes. Most MentorCruise mentors do production Information Security work day-to-day. They'll guide you through portfolio projects, code reviews, architecture decisions, and the kind of real-world judgment calls that an exam can't test for. This is what closes the gap between "certified" and "actually employable".
A failed attempt is information, not a verdict. Most cert programs let you re-sit after a short waiting period. Your mentor will help you read the score report, identify which knowledge domains you missed, and rebuild the prep plan around those gaps. Mentees who fail once and re-sit with a mentor usually pass the second time.
Weekly 1-hour sessions are the sweet spot for most Information Security certification tracks. It's frequent enough to stay accountable and unblock confusion early, but not so frequent that you don't have time to study between sessions. Bi-weekly works for longer prep cycles or part-time learners.
Cyber Security Manager
Cyber Leader
Founder & CEO (1x Exit) | CISO & vCISO at Fifth Wave Security
Senior Cybersecurity Consultant
Senior Azure DevOps, DevSecOps & Team Lead, Microsoft Trainer and Azu… at ABN AMRO
Principal Security Researcher at Oracle
Cyber Security Manager
Cyber Leader
Founder & CEO (1x Exit) | CISO & vCISO at Fifth Wave Security
Senior Cybersecurity Consultant
Senior Azure DevOps, DevSecOps & Team Lead, Microsoft Trainer and Azu… at ABN AMRO
Principal Security Researcher at Oracle
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