πŸ‘¨β€πŸ’» 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.

CertificationOrganization
🟒 CompTIA Security Awareness Training CertificateCompTIA
🟒 SANS Security Awareness WorkForce CertificateSANS Institute
🟒 Cisco Cybersecurity EssentialsCisco
🟒 Infosec Security Awareness Practitioner (CSAP)Infosec Institute
🟒 KnowBe4 Security Awareness SpecialistKnowBe4
🟒 EC-Council CASE (Developer-Focused Awareness)EC-Council
🟒 ISO/IEC 27002 Foundation (Control & Policy Management)PECB / TÜV / BSI

πŸ’‘ 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 1–2 hours (self-paced) Free or included with CompTIA tools None $60,000 $30,000–$50,000 $45,000–$70,000
SANS Security Awareness WorkForce Certificate 2–3 hours (online modules) $150–$300 None $68,000 $35,000–$55,000 $50,000–$75,000
Cisco Cybersecurity Essentials 6–8 hours (course + quiz) Free via NetAcad None $65,000 $32,000–$52,000 $48,000–$72,000
Infosec IQ Security Awareness Practitioner 3–5 hours (self-paced) $295–$495 Familiarity with basic cyber threats $70,000 $38,000–$58,000 $55,000–$80,000
KnowBe4 Security Awareness Specialist 2–3 hours (interactive videos + test) $0–$200 depending on tier No technical background required $66,000 $34,000–$54,000 $50,000–$75,000
EC-Council CASE (Developer Focused Awareness) 3–4 days (course + assessment) $600–$1,200 Software development experience $90,000 $60,000–$85,000 $75,000–$110,000
ISO/IEC 27002 Foundation 2–3 days (course + exam) $800–$1,200 Basic knowledge of security controls $85,000 $55,000–$80,000 $70,000–$100,000