π¨βπ» 6 – Intermediate End-User / Awareness Certifications
(Non-Technical / Governance)
Intermediate-level security awareness and governance certifications are geared toward non-technical professionals, compliance officers, developers, and managers who influence organizational security but may not be directly responsible for configuring security systems.
These credentials emphasize topics such as security policies, human risk management, secure behavior reinforcement, identity and access management principles, and understanding of organizational controls. Some also support developers or IT managers who work in secure coding or compliance frameworks.
These certifications are particularly valuable in enterprise environments where human behavior, compliance mandates, and business process alignment are key elements of a successful cybersecurity posture.
Certification | Organization |
π’ CompTIA Security Awareness Training Certificate | CompTIA |
π’ SANS Security Awareness WorkForce Certificate | SANS Institute |
π’ Cisco Cybersecurity Essentials | Cisco |
π’ Infosec Security Awareness Practitioner (CSAP) | Infosec Institute |
π’ KnowBe4 Security Awareness Specialist | KnowBe4 |
π’ EC-Council CASE (Developer-Focused Awareness) | EC-Council |
π’ ISO/IEC 27002 Foundation (Control & Policy Management) | PECB / TΓV / BSI |
π‘ Tip: These certifications are excellent for onboarding non-technical staff, reinforcing organization-wide security culture, and supporting roles in GRC, compliance, secure development, and training program management.
Certification | Duration | Cost | Prerequisites | Avg. Salary (USD) | Europe Salary Range | USA Salary Range |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CompTIA Security Awareness Training Certificate | 1β2 hours (self-paced) | Free or included with CompTIA tools | None | $60,000 | $30,000β$50,000 | $45,000β$70,000 |
SANS Security Awareness WorkForce Certificate | 2β3 hours (online modules) | $150β$300 | None | $68,000 | $35,000β$55,000 | $50,000β$75,000 |
Cisco Cybersecurity Essentials | 6β8 hours (course + quiz) | Free via NetAcad | None | $65,000 | $32,000β$52,000 | $48,000β$72,000 |
Infosec IQ Security Awareness Practitioner | 3β5 hours (self-paced) | $295β$495 | Familiarity with basic cyber threats | $70,000 | $38,000β$58,000 | $55,000β$80,000 |
KnowBe4 Security Awareness Specialist | 2β3 hours (interactive videos + test) | $0β$200 depending on tier | No technical background required | $66,000 | $34,000β$54,000 | $50,000β$75,000 |
EC-Council CASE (Developer Focused Awareness) | 3β4 days (course + assessment) | $600β$1,200 | Software development experience | $90,000 | $60,000β$85,000 | $75,000β$110,000 |
ISO/IEC 27002 Foundation | 2β3 days (course + exam) | $800β$1,200 | Basic knowledge of security controls | $85,000 | $55,000β$80,000 | $70,000β$100,000 |