Compare Cybersecurity Certifications
Four certifications, four different career stages. Security+ gets you in the door. CRISC and CISM go deep on risk and security management. CISSP covers the full spectrum at a senior level. They're not interchangeable, and the right choice depends on where you are now and where you're headed.
This page puts them side by side so you can see the differences that actually matter: what each exam tests, what experience you need, and which roles each one unlocks.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Security+ | CRISC | CISM | CISSP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full Name | CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) | Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control | Certified Information Security Manager | Certified Information Systems Security Professional |
| Exam Body | CompTIA | ISACA | ISACA | ISC2 |
| Focus Area | Foundational security concepts, threats, architecture, and operations | IT risk identification, assessment, response, and monitoring | Information security program development, management, and governance | Security engineering, architecture, operations, and management across 8 domains |
| Domains | 5 (General Security Concepts, Threats & Vulnerabilities, Security Architecture, Security Operations, Program Management) | 4 (Governance, IT Risk Assessment, Risk Response & Reporting, IT and Technology) | 4 (Information Security Governance, Risk Management, Program Development & Management, Incident Management) | 8 (Security & Risk Management, Asset Security, Security Architecture, Network Security, IAM, Security Assessment, Security Operations, Software Development Security) |
| Exam Format | Up to 90 questions (multiple-choice + performance-based), 90 minutes | 150 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours | 150 multiple-choice questions, 4 hours | 100–150 questions (CAT adaptive), 3 hours |
| Passing Score | 750 / 900 | 450 / 800 | 450 / 800 | 700 / 1000 |
| Exam Cost | $404 | $575 (member) / $760 (non-member) | $575 (member) / $760 (non-member) | $749 |
| Experience Required | 2+ years recommended (not required) | 3+ years in IT risk management | 5+ years in infosec management (waivers available) | 5+ years in 2+ domains (or 4 years + degree/cert) |
| Career Level | Entry to mid-level | Mid-level to senior | Senior to executive | Senior to executive |
| Average Salary (US) | $75,000 – $105,000 | $107,000 – $151,000 | $120,000 – $162,000 | $125,000 – $175,000 |
| Best For | Security analysts, systems admins, SOC analysts, help desk moving into security | Risk analysts, IT auditors, compliance officers, GRC professionals | Security managers, CISOs, security program leads, directors of security | Security architects, CISOs, security directors, senior engineers |
Security+ — The Foundation
Security+ is where most cybersecurity careers start. CompTIA designed it as a vendor-neutral baseline that proves you understand security fundamentals: threats, vulnerabilities, cryptography, identity management, and security operations. It's the only cert on this list with no mandatory experience requirement, which makes it accessible to people transitioning into security from IT support, networking, or development roles.
The exam is shorter and more technical than the others here. You'll see performance-based questions that ask you to configure a firewall rule, analyze a log, or identify a vulnerability in a network diagram. It's less about management judgment and more about demonstrating that you know how security works at a hands-on level.
Security+ also meets DoD 8570/8140 requirements for IAT Level II positions, which makes it a requirement for a lot of government and defense contractor roles. If you're aiming for federal work, this is often non-negotiable regardless of what other certs you hold.
CRISC — The Risk Specialist
CRISC is for people who spend their days thinking about what could go wrong and how to prevent it. If your job involves risk assessments, control frameworks, risk registers, or compliance audits, CRISC is probably the most directly relevant credential you can get. ISACA designed it for IT risk professionals specifically — not security generalists, not managers, but the people who actually identify, evaluate, and respond to IT risk.
In practical terms, that means risk analysts, IT auditors moving into risk, GRC consultants, and compliance officers. If you regularly work with COBIT, NIST RMF, ISO 31000, or internal audit teams, this exam will feel like an extension of your job. The questions are scenario-based and expect you to think in terms of risk appetite, risk tolerance, and control effectiveness — not just know what those terms mean, but apply them to realistic situations where multiple answers look reasonable.
CRISC requires 3 years of relevant experience, and ISACA gives you up to 10 years after passing to meet the requirement. If you're earlier in your career and already working in risk or audit, CRISC is often the smarter first move before CISM.
CISM — The Security Leader
CISM is built for the people who run security programs, not the people who execute individual controls. If your job title has "manager," "director," or "CISO" in it — or that's where you're headed — CISM is the cert that matches. It tests your ability to build, manage, and govern an information security program at an organizational level. Less "which control mitigates this risk" and more "how do you align security strategy with business objectives."
The exam expects you to think like a security leader. That means understanding governance structures, making risk-based decisions with incomplete information, managing incident response programs (not just responding to incidents), and communicating security posture to executives and board members. The questions are heavy on strategy, policy, and organizational dynamics.
CISM requires 5 years of information security management experience, with at least 3 years in one of the four domains. That's a higher bar than CRISC, and it's intentional — ISACA positions CISM as a senior-level cert. CISM holders consistently report some of the highest salaries in cybersecurity, and it shows up on job requirements for director and VP-level security roles more than almost any other cert.
CISSP — The Broad Authority
CISSP is the widest certification on this list. Where CRISC goes deep on risk and CISM goes deep on management, CISSP covers eight domains that span nearly every aspect of information security — from cryptography and network security to software development and physical security. ISC2 designed it for experienced security professionals who need to demonstrate breadth across the entire discipline.
The exam is adaptive (CAT format), which means the difficulty adjusts as you go. You can finish in as few as 100 questions or go up to 150, and the test ends when it's confident in your pass/fail status. The questions think at the managerial level — you're expected to make risk-based decisions, not recite technical details. Cross-domain thinking is essential; a question about incident response might require you to consider legal implications, evidence handling, and business continuity all at once.
CISSP requires 5 years of cumulative experience across at least two of the eight domains (4 years if you have a relevant degree or approved cert). It's often considered the gold standard for senior security roles and is frequently listed as a requirement for security architect, principal engineer, and CISO positions. If CISM says "I can run a security program," CISSP says "I understand the full picture."
Choosing Your Path
There's no single "right" order, but there are patterns that work. Most people follow a progression that matches their experience level and career trajectory:
Just starting out? Security+ is the clear first step. No experience required, widely recognized, and it builds the vocabulary you'll need for everything else. A lot of people pass Security+ and then land their first dedicated security role.
Working in risk, audit, or compliance? CRISC is your natural next cert. The 3-year experience requirement is reachable, and the content maps directly to what you're already doing. It's also a strong differentiator in GRC roles where Security+ alone doesn't carry enough weight.
Moving into security leadership? CISM signals that transition. If you're managing a team, building a security program, or reporting to executives about security posture, CISM validates that skillset. The CISM + CRISC combination is particularly strong for people who want to lead security programs with deep risk fluency.
Ready to prove breadth? CISSP covers the widest ground and carries weight across the industry. It pairs well with any of the other three — CISSP + CISM is a common combination for CISOs, and CISSP + CRISC shows both breadth and risk depth. Some people go straight to CISSP after Security+ if they've accumulated enough cross-domain experience.
Stacking Certifications
Holding multiple certs from this list isn't unusual — in fact, the combinations tell a story about your capabilities. Here are the most common stacks and what they signal:
Security+ → CISSP: The generalist track. You proved foundational knowledge, got experience, then demonstrated senior-level breadth. This is the most common path for security engineers and architects.
Security+ → CRISC: The risk track. You started in security, then specialized in risk management and controls. Common for people moving from SOC or audit work into GRC.
CRISC + CISM: The ISACA power pair. You can speak to risk at a technical level and translate it into strategic decisions at the leadership level. Both exams share question style and overlapping concepts, so the second one goes faster.
CISM + CISSP: The executive track. CISM shows you can run a program, CISSP shows you understand the technical foundations underneath. This combination shows up on nearly every CISO job description.
All four: Not common, but it exists. Typically seen in consultants, vCISOs, or people who've spent 15+ years across different security functions. Each cert fills a different gap.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Dive deeper into any two certifications.
CRISC vs CISM
Both ISACA, different careers. Risk specialist or security leader?
Compare →CISSP vs CISM
The two certs on every CISO job posting. Breadth vs management depth.
Compare →CRISC vs CISSP
Risk specialist vs full-spectrum security. Focused depth or broad authority?
Compare →Security+ vs CISSP
Entry-level vs senior-level. Foundation first, or jump to the top?
Compare →Security+ vs CISM
Technical foundations vs management leadership. Where are you headed?
Compare →Security+ vs CRISC
General security vs risk specialization. Starting out or going deep?
Compare →Ready to Start?
Pick your track and start prepping.
Security+
Foundational security — for analysts, admins, and career changers entering cybersecurity.
Start Security+ →CRISC
IT risk management — for risk analysts, auditors, and compliance professionals.
Start CRISC →CISM
Information security management — for security managers, CISOs, and program leads.
Start CISM →CISSP
Full-spectrum security — for architects, senior engineers, and executive-level professionals.
Start CISSP →