Satendra K Apr 18, 2025

Top Intermediate Level Cybersecurity Certifications

Intermediate-level cybersecurity certifications serve as stepping stones for cybersecurity professionals aiming to strengthen their expertise and take on higher-level roles. As cyberattacks become more sophisticated, it has become necessary to invest in a continuous learning process. 

The globally recognized intermediate-level cybersecurity certifications serve as a critical tool in the continuous learning process.  The intermediate-level cybersecurity certifications not only validate your technical skills but also give credibility to your knowledge in security principles, threat management, and compliance standards. The following are the top 10 intermediate-level cybersecurity certifications that will upgrade your skills and help you stay competent in the job market.  

  • CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
  • Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Security
  • EC-Council Certified SOC Analyst (CSA)
  • Certified Red Team Professional (CRTP)
  • CHFI (Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator)
  • Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst (CTIA)
  • EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (ECIH)
  • CompTIA Network+
  • CompTIA CySA+ (Cybersecurity Analyst+)
  • CompTIA PenTest+

Top 10 Intermediate-Level  Certifications in Cybersecurity

Let’s take a closer look at the top 10 intermediate-level cybersecurity certifications. 

1. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEHv13) 

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is a globally recognized certification in Ethical Hacking by EC-Council. The CEH v13 Certification exam has a total duration of 10 hours (6 hours Practical exam + 4 hours Theoretical exam). 

A candidate must score 60%-85% separately for the practical and theoretical exams. Joining the CEH v13 Training will help you master commercial-grade ethical hacking tools, which can be used for over 500 types of attacks. The latest version, CEH v13, has incorporated AI-powered tools in all 5 phases of ethical hacking. They are,

  • Reconnaissance: Gathering essential information about your target for hacking. 
  • Vulnerability Scanning: Identifying weaknesses in the target system.  
  • Gaining Access: Exploiting the identified vulnerabilities and gaining access to the system. 
  • Maintaining Access: Maintaining continued access to the target systems. 
  • Clearing Tracks: Master the art of erasing any trace of your activities in the system. 

Prerequisites for CEH Certification: 

The candidate should have a minimum of 2 years of experience in information security to sit for the CEH exam.  

Job Roles After Getting CEH Certification: 

You can pursue the following job roles after getting the CEH Certification,

  • Ethical Hacker
  • Penetration Tester
  • Vulnerability Assessment Analyst
  • Security Analyst

Average Salary of a CEH Certification Holder:   

The average salaries of CEH Certification holders in the USA, UAE, and UK are given below. 

Country
Average Annual Salary
USA $113,046
UAE AED 300,000
UK £61,000

Do you want to become a Certified Ethical Hacker?

Join Edoxi’s CEHv13 Certification Training 

 

2. Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Security: 

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Security Certification validates your skills in implementing network security.  The CCNP Security exam is conducted in a multiple-choice question (MCQ) format and lasts 120 minutes. The CCNP Security exam evaluates your knowledge in,

  • Analyzing the network activity and techniques to redirect and capture web traffic.
  • Techniques to securely manage cloud applications through data encryption and network segmentation. 
  • Implementing network security solutions like firewalls and a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
  • Implementing Intrusion Detection & Prevention System (IDS/IPS) in the Network environment.   

Prerequisites for CCNP Security Certification: 

Candidates should have at least 3-5 years of experience in implementing security solutions. 

Job Roles for CCNP Security Professionals: 

You can pursue the following job roles after getting the CCNP Security Certification,

  • Security Engineer
  • Network Security Specialist
  • Network Security Analyst

Average Salary of a CCNP Security Certification Holder:   

Let’s look into the average salary of CCNP Security Certification holders in the USA, UAE, and UK. 

Country
Average Annual Salary
USA $101,804
UAE AED 274,590
UK £57,500

 

3. EC-Council Certified SOC Analyst (CSA)

Certified SOC (Security Operations Center) Analyst is a globally recognized certification that validates your skills in Security Information and Enterprise Management (SIEM) and incident detection to act as the front-line defenders for the SOC team. 

The CSA exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, and the candidates are given 3 hours to complete the test. Joining the Certified SOC Analyst (CSA) Course will strengthen your skills and knowledge in the following areas,  

  • Log management and correlation
  • Network flow monitoring
  • Vulnerability management
  • Incident response  

Prerequisites for Certified SOC Analyst (CSA) Exam

Candidates should have at least 1 year of experience in the cybersecurity job role. 

Job Roles for Certified SOC Analysts

  • Tier-I SOC Analyst 
  • Tier-II SOC Analyst 
  • Network Defense Analyst

Average Salary of Certified SOC Analysts:

The table below provides the details of the average salaries of Certified SOC Analysts in the USA, UAE, and UK. 

Country
Average Annual Salary
USA $100,147
UAE AED 200,980
UK £54,000
 

4. Certified Red Team Professional (CRTP):

Red team hackers assess the organization’s security posture by emulating the Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTP) used by real cyberattackers. The Certified Red Team Professional (CRTP) Certification Training emphasizes Active Directory attacks, enumeration, and post-exploitation techniques from a red-team perspective. 

CRTP Certification validates your skills to identify and analyze threats in an Active Directory Environment. CRTP Certification will validate your skills in using the following cybersecurity tools,

  • PowerView
  • BloodHound
  • Mimikatz
  • Impacket
  • CrackMapExec
  • Rubeus   

Prerequisites for CRTP Exam

Candidates should have at least 1 year of experience in cybersecurity. 

Job Roles After Getting CRTP Certification 

  • Adversary Simulation Specialist 
  • Red Team Lead/ Operator
  • Penetration Tester

Average Salary of CRTP Certification Holders:

The details of the average salaries of CRTP Certificate Holders in the USA, UAE, and UK are given below. 

Country
Average Annual Salary
USA $148,130
UAE AED 240,810
UK £47,600
 

5. CHFI (Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator):

The CHFI (Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator) is a vendor-neutral certification by EC-Council that validates your skills to lead digital forensics investigations. CHFI Certification gives you credibility in handling standard digital forensics tools to detect cybercrimes and handle digital evidence.

The CHFI Certification exam has a duration of 4 hours and consists of 150 multiple-choice questions. CHFI Certification Training helps you learn a methodological approach to computer forensics, covering the acquisition, preservation, analysis, and reporting of digital evidence. The CHFI Certification exam syllabus includes the following areas of digital forensics 

  • Windows Forensics
  • Linux and Mac Forensics
  • Network Forensics
  • Dark Web Forensics
  • Database Forensics
  • IoT Forensics
  • Malware Forensics
  • Mobile Forensics

Prerequisites for the CHFI Certification Exam

Candidates should have 1-3 years of experience in cybersecurity. 

Job Roles After Getting CHFI Certification 

  • Digital Forensics Analyst
  • Cybercrime Investigator
  • Digital Crime Specialist
  • Mobile Forensic Expert

Average Salary of CHFI Certification Holders:

Check out the average annual salaries of professionals with CHFI Certifications in the USA, UAE, and UK. 

Country
Average Annual Salary
USA $107,284
UAE AED 301,674
UK £68,750

 

6. Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst (CTIA):

Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst (CTIA) is an in-demand certification by EC-Council, which validates your skills in using threat intelligence tools and techniques to prevent, monitor, and detect cyber attacks.  CTIA Certification gives you credibility in threat intelligence and dissemination.  You will master how to disseminate Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) in various formats and perform threat intelligence through Python Scripting. 

CTIA is a 2-hour exam with 50 multiple-choice questions. Joining CTIA Training will help you learn about various types of cyber threats and attack frameworks like Advanced Persistent Threat (APT), Cyber Kill Chain Methodology, and  MITRE ATT&CK Framework. You will  gain proficiency in collecting data from multiple sources using

  • Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) 
  • Human Intelligence (HUMINT)
  • Cyber Counterintelligence (CCI)

Prerequisites for CTIA Certification Exam

The candidate should be a mid-level cybersecurity professional with 3+ years of experience in cybersecurity. 

Job Roles After Getting CTIA Certification 

  • Digital Forensics Analyst
  • Cyber Threat Intelligence Analyst 
  • Cyber Threat Hunter
  • Threat Intelligence Specialist

Average Salary of CTIA Certification Holders:

Let’s explore the average salaries of cybersecurity professionals with CTIA Certifications in the USA, UAE, and UK. 

Country
Average Annual Salary
USA $130,400
UAE AED 315,000
UK £71,500

 

7. EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (ECIH):

The EC-Council Certified Incident Handler (ECIH) Certification equips you with effective strategies to address cyber incidents. The ECIH certification exam consists of 100 questions, and the candidates are given 3 hours to complete the test. The ECIH exam evaluates your ability to handle different types of cybersecurity incidents, like email security incidents, network security incidents, web application security incidents, cloud security incidents, and endpoint security incidents.  

The ECIH Training will help you learn about post-incident and countermeasures to ensure the incident is not repeated. You will gain in-depth knowledge of the 9 stages of the Incident Handling & Response (IH&R) process 

  • Preparation
  • Incident Triage
  • Evidence Gathering & Forensic Analysis
  • Recovery
  • Containment
  • Incident Recording & Assignment
  • Notification
  • Eradication
  • Post-Incident Activities

Prerequisites for ECIH Certification Exam

The candidate should be a cybersecurity professional with 1-2 years of experience in cybersecurity. 

Job Roles After Getting ECIH Certification 

  • Incident Handler
  • Incident Response Manager
  • Cyber Defense Security Associate 
  • Cyber Vulnerability Risk Analyst 
  • Incident Response Team Lead

Average Salary of ECIH Certification Holders:

Let’s learn about the average salaries earned by ECIH-certified cybersecurity professionals in the USA, UAE, and UK. 

Country
Average Annual Salary
USA $146,260
UAE AED 295,000
UK £77,200

8. CompTIA Network+: 

CompTIA Network+ prepares you for a rewarding career in Network Security. CompTIA Network+ validates your core skills in establishing, maintaining, troubleshooting, and securing networks in any environment. The important details of the CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam are given below.  

Exam Code
N10-008/ N10-009
No. of Questions 90
Exam Format
Multiple choice questions and performance-based questions
Duration 90 minutes
Passing Score
720 (on a scale of 100-900)
 

Joining the CompTIA Network+ Course will help you learn

  • Establishing network connectivity by deploying wired and wireless devices. 
  • Network hardening techniques to protect networks against threats.
  • Configuring switching technologies and wireless devices. 
  • Optimizing networks to ensure business continuity.

Prerequisites for the CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam

The candidates should have CompTIA A+ Certification and at least 1 year of experience as a network support technician. 

Job Roles After Getting CompTIA Network+ Certification 

  • Systems Administrator
  • IT Security Manager
  • Network Administrator

Average Salary of CompTIA Network+ Certification Holders:

Let’s look into the average salaries earned by professionals certified in CompTIA Network+ in the USA, UAE, and UK. 

Country
Average Annual Salary
USA $105,200
UAE AED 198,000
UK £51,700

9. CompTIA CySA+: 

The CompTIA Cybersecurity Analyst (CySA+) certification validates your skills to respond to attacks and vulnerabilities. CompTIA CySA+ Certification gives you credibility in implementing industry-best practices to mitigate malicious attacks. The essential details of the CompTIA CySA+ exam are provided in the table below. 

Exam Code CS0-003
No. of Questions 85
Exam Format
Multiple choice questions and performance-based questions
Duration 165 minutes
Passing Score
750 (on a scale of 100-900)

 

Enrolling in CompTIA CySA+ Training will give you in-depth knowledge of 

  • Incident Management Life Cycle
  • Extended Detection & Response (XDR)
  • Indicators of Malicious Activities
  • Threat Hunting Concepts 

Prerequisites for the CompTIA CySA+ Certification Exam

The candidates should have CompTIA Network+ / Security+ Certification and at least 4 years of experience in cybersecurity. 

Job Roles After Getting CompTIA CySA+ Certification 

  • Application Security Analyst
  • Cybersecurity Engineer
  • Security Control Assessor
  • Security Architect 

Average Salary of CompTIA CySA+ Certification Holders:

Let’s look into the average salaries of CompTIA CySA+ certified professionals in the USA, UAE, and UK. 

Country
Average Annual Salary
USA $111,000
UAE AED 280,000
UK £65,000
 

10. CompTIA PenTest+:

CompTIA PenTest+ validates your skills in using the latest tools for Penetration Testing. You will become proficient in performing penetration testing on web applications, Internet of Things (IoTs), cloud, and hybrid network environments.  Let’s look at the details of the CompTIA PenTest+ Certification exam.

Exam Code
PT0-002/PT0-003
No. of Questions 85-90 Questions
Exam Format
Multiple choice questions and performance-based questions
Duration 165 minutes
Passing Score
750 (on a scale of 100-900)
 

By joining the CompTIA PenTest+ Training, you will master the 5 stages of penetration testing

  • Reconnaissance
  • Scanning
  • Vulnerability Assessment
  • Exploitation
  • Reporting

Prerequisites for the CompTIA PenTest+ Certification Exam

The candidates should have CompTIA Network+ / Security+ Certification and at least 3 years of experience in cybersecurity. 

Job Roles After Getting CompTIA PenTest+ Certification 

  • Cybersecurity Analyst
  • Cybersecurity Consultant
  • Penetration Tester
  • Security Architect 

Average Salary of CompTIA PenTest+ Certification Holders:

Let’s explore the average salaries of CompTIA PenTest+ certified professionals in the USA, UAE, and UK. 

Country
Average Annual Salary
USA $126,000
UAE AED 293,700
UK £69,035

 

Final Words: 

Intermediate-level cybersecurity certification serves as a vital bridge between foundational knowledge and advanced expertise. Investing in cybersecurity certification training makes you capable of addressing the challenges in the ever-evolving threat landscape. Pursuing the right cybersecurity certification course will not only boost your career prospects but also improve the security posture of the organisation. 

Additionally, you can pursue certifications like ISC² Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP), GIAC Web Application Penetration Tester (GWAPT), Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity (SC-100), and eLearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester (eJPT) to strengthen your skills. 

Do you want to upgrade your cybersecurity skills?

Join Edoxi’s Cybersecurity Certification Training 

 

Locations Where Edoxi Offers Cyber Security Courses

Here is the list of other major locations where Edoxi offers Cyber Security Courses

Cyber Security Courses in Qatar | Cyber Security Courses in Muscat|Cyber Security Courses in Bahrain | Cyber Security Courses in Riyadh | Cyber Security Courses in Kuwait  | Cyber Security Courses in Muscat | 

 

Chief Technology Officer & Cyber Security Expert Trainer

Satendra K is the Chief Technology Officer at Edoxi Training Institute. A cyber security program leader with more than ten years of experience, he possesses a deep level understanding of state-of-the-art security technologies. His polished communication skills play an influential role in his career as a trainer. As a core member of our cyber security courses team, he oversees the development of cutting-edge curriculum and novel modes of course delivery.

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