Ultimate Guide to CISSP, CISA, CISM & CEH Certifications (2025): Cost, Requirements, Salary, Exam Details & Training Path
Cybersecurity is one of the fastest-growing fields in the world, and certifications like CISSP, CISA, CISM, and CEH have become essential for professionals who want to advance their careers. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced cybersecurity analyst, choosing the right certification can significantly impact your salary, job role, and career growth.
This comprehensive 4000+ word SEO article covers everything you need to know — certification requirements, exam costs, skills required, online training programs, career paths, salaries, and which certification is best for you.
Table of Contents
- Introduction to Cybersecurity Certifications
- Overview of the Four Major Certifications: CISSP, CISA, CISM & CEH
- CISSP Certification Deep Dive
- CISA Certification Deep Dive
- CISM Certification Deep Dive
- CEH Certification Deep Dive
- Comparison: CISSP vs CISA vs CISM vs CEH
- Salary Comparison of Cybersecurity Certifications
- Certification Cost Breakdown
- Training & Course Requirements
- How to Choose the Right Certification
- Final Verdict
1. Introduction to Cybersecurity Certifications (2025)
Cyber threats have increased rapidly, creating a massive demand for certified professionals in information security, ethical hacking, auditing, and risk management. Top companies worldwide now prefer candidates who hold reputable credentials such as:
- CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional)
- CISA (Certified Information Systems Auditor)
- CISM (Certified Information Security Manager)
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
These certifications validate your skills, increase your earning potential, and help you secure roles in IT security, governance, penetration testing, auditing, and management.
2. Overview of the Four Major Cybersecurity Certifications
Here is a quick understanding of each certification:
| Certification | Focus Area | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
| CISSP | Security architecture, risk management, governance, operations | Senior security professionals, architects, managers |
| CISA | IT auditing, compliance, information systems | Auditors, risk professionals, governance analysts |
| CISM | Security governance & management | Security managers, leaders, senior IT security roles |
| CEH | Ethical hacking, penetration testing | Hackers, penetration testers, red-team analysts |
These four certifications represent the pillars of cybersecurity — defense, auditing, management, and offense.
3. CISSP Certification: Complete Guide (Requirements, Cost, Salary, Training)
What is CISSP?
CISSP stands for Certified Information Systems Security Professional. It is one of the most respected information security certifications in the world.
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CISSP Requirements
To get CISSP certified, you must meet the following:
- 5 years of full-time experience in 2 or more CISSP domains
- OR 4 years of experience + college degree
- Pass the CISSP exam
- Endorsement from an (ISC)² certified professional
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CISSP Exam Details
- Duration: 4 hours
- Format: Adaptive testing (CAT)
- Number of questions: 125–175
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CISSP Certification Cost
The cost varies by region but typically includes:
- CISSP Exam Cost: $749
- Training Costs: $1500–$3500
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Best CISSP Training Online
Some popular online CISSP courses include:
- (ISC)² Official CISSP Training
- Coursera CISSP Online Course
- Udemy CISSP Bootcamp
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CISSP Salary (2025)
CISSP is one of the highest-paying cybersecurity certifications.
- Average CISSP salary: $110,000 – $160,000
- Senior roles may earn $180,000+
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4. CISA Certification: Certified Information Systems Auditor
What is CISA?
CISA stands for Certified Information Systems Auditor, issued by ISACA. It focuses on auditing, governance, risk, and compliance.
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CISA Certification Requirements
- 5 years of auditing or IT experience
- Pass the CISA exam
- Adhere to ISACA’s code of ethics
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CISA Exam & Cost
- CISA Exam Cost: $575–$760
- Duration: 4 hours
- Questions: 150 multiple-choice
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Who Should Choose CISA?
- IT auditors
- Compliance officers
- Governance & risk professionals
5. CISM Certification: Certified Information Security Manager
What is CISM?
CISM stands for Certified Information Security Manager. Unlike CISSP, which focuses on technical knowledge, CISM emphasizes security governance, policy creation, and leadership.
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CISM Exam & Cost
- CISM Exam Cost: $575–$760
- Duration: 4 hours
- Questions: 150 MCQs
Who Should Choose CISM?
- Security managers
- IT leaders
- Governance professionals
6. CEH Certification: Certified Ethical Hacker
What is CEH?
CEH stands for Certified Ethical Hacker. It validates skills in penetration testing, vulnerability analysis, and ethical hacking.
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CEH Certificate Requirements
There are two ways to qualify:
- Take the official EC-Council CEH training
- Have at least 2 years of cybersecurity experience
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CEH Exam Cost
- CEH Exam Fee: $1199
- CEH Training Cost: $1500–$2500
7. CISSP vs CISA vs CISM vs CEH — Detailed Comparison (2025)
| Feature | CISSP | CISA | CISM | CEH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Difficulty | High | Medium | High | Medium |
| Field | Security architecture & operations | IT auditing | Security management | Ethical hacking |
| Salary | Very high | High | High | Medium–high |
| Audience | Security pros & managers | Auditors | Security leaders | Hackers & testers |
| Recognition | Global | Global | Global | Global |
8. Salary Comparison (2025 Updated)
| Certification | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| CISSP | $110,000 – $160,000 |
| CISA | $95,000 – $135,000 |
| CISM | $110,000 – $150,000 |
| CEH | $80,000 – $125,000 |
CISSP and CISM are the highest-paying due to leadership and architecture focus.
9. Certification Cost Comparison
| Certification | Exam Cost | Training Cost |
|---|---|---|
| CISSP | ~$749 | $1500–$3500 |
| CISA | $575–$760 | $800–$2000 |
| CISM | $575–$760 | $800–$2000 |
| CEH | $1199 | $1500–$2500 |
10. Training Requirements for Each Certification
CISSP
- 5 years experience
- Formal training recommended
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CISA
- IT audit experience
- Governance knowledge
CISM
- 5 years experience
- Management background
CEH
- Security or networking experience
11. How to Choose the Right Certification
Choose CISSP if you want:
✔ Senior cybersecurity job
✔ High salary
✔ Leadership roles
Choose CISA if you want:
✔ IT auditing career
✔ Compliance and governance roles
Choose CISM if you want:
✔ Management-oriented job
✔ Leadership in cybersecurity governance
Choose CEH if you want:
✔ Ethical hacking
✔ Penetration testing roles
12. Final Verdict: Which Certification Is Best?
There is no universal “best” certification—it depends on your career goal:
- CISSP → Best for senior cybersecurity & architecture roles
- CISA → Best for auditing & compliance
- CISM → Best for managers & governance
- CEH → Best for hacking & penetration testing
In 2025, cybersecurity is growing exponentially, so having one of these certifications will significantly boost your career, salary, and job prospects.