I’ve been asked this question more times than I can count, “Do I really need certifications to grow in cybersecurity?” and the answer is not a simple yes or no. It depends on where you are in your journey, what you want to specialise in, and what kind of doors you’re trying to open.
I still remember the early days of my career when cybersecurity felt like this giant ocean and I was standing at the shore with a paper boat. Coming from a development background, I didn’t have formal security training. I started attending community sessions and OWASP chapter meets and asking a lot of questions.
One day, I stumbled upon CEH. At first, I was in a dilemma, would a certification really matter? But once I started studying, I realised it gave me the vocabulary and foundation I was missing. My first certification wasn’t for the resume. It was for me. It gave me the structure I needed to connect the dots. And honestly, it gave me something more powerful — a sense of belonging.
When I passed, I didn’t feel like I suddenly became an expert. But I stopped doubting myself every time I spoke in meetings. I stopped second-guessing if I had the “right to be here”.
Certifications can kickstart your career, validate your expertise, and help you grow. But they don’t replace passion, practice, and persistence.
If you’re wondering whether to pursue a certification, don’t ask, “Do I need this to be valid?”
Ask:
- “Will this help me grow?”
- “Is this something I want to learn more deeply?”
- “Will this give me the courage to apply for that job, or speak up in that meeting?”
Why Are Cybersecurity Certifications a Big Deal?
✅ Resume Booster
✅ Knowledge Validation
✅ HR Filters
✅ Career Switching
✅ Client/Compliance Needs
✅ Credibility & Community
I had been working in cybersecurity for years — leading teams, building programs, and advising clients. Honestly, I felt I didn’t “need” the CISSP. But then I started getting invited to strategic meetings. High-level conversations where risk, compliance, and business alignment were the main focus not just tools or alerts. In those rooms, CISSP mattered. It wasn’t about technical depth. It was about speaking the language of leadership, of trust.
After getting certified, I noticed the difference. I got pulled into conversations earlier in the decision-making process. That changed everything. Certifications, at that level, become less about learning and more about signaling. Signaling that you can connect business, security, and strategy.
Tips Before Choosing Any Certification
- Ask: Is it respected in your region or industry?
- Will it teach you something new or just test your memory?
- Does your employer reimburse for it or require it?
- Can you show off the skills in labs, GitHub, or bug bounties instead?
🛑 When NOT to Chase Certs
Here’s when certifications might not be worth it:
- Just to collect badges (recruiters see through that).
- If you’re deep in hands-on work and gaining real-world experience that speaks louder than theory. I’ve seen people with five certifications and zero community involvement — and others with no certs, but deep contributions to open source and knowledge sharing.
- If it doesn’t align with your actual role or desired path.
Cybersecurity is a skills-first field. You can’t bluff your way through a real-world incident response, threat hunt, or pentest. That said, certifications:
- Open doors 📂
- Build confidence 🔐
- Help with career transitions or promotion 📈
When I started helping others through InfoSecGirls and community initiatives, I wasn’t thinking about certifications or recognition. I just wanted more women, more diverse voices, in security. But what I didn’t expect was how much I would grow from mentoring. Helping someone else prepare for their CEH or OSCP, seeing them land their first job that gives me more fulfilment than any exam I’ve passed.
Leadership isn’t a title or a badge. It’s showing up for others. Certifications helped me reach the door, and giving back helped me open it for someone else.
Let me be honest. I haven’t passed every certification I ever attempted.
There was one I won’t name it that I was sure I’d ace. I had the experience, had been doing the work for years, and still… I failed. I was embarrassed. Frustrated. I thought, “How can I not pass this exam? What if people think I’m not good enough?” But here’s the thing: failing a certification doesn’t mean you’re a failure. It means you’re human. Now, I talk about it. Because someone out there is quietly struggling, thinking they’re the only one who didn’t pass. You’re not. Pick yourself up. Try again — or don’t. Either way, you’re still growing.
❤️ But Let’s Not Pretend Certs Fix Everything
- They don’t erase imposter syndrome.
- They don’t magically get you hired.
- They don’t replace experience, empathy, or the ability to work with a team under pressure at 2 a.m. during an incident.
- But they do give you something to hold onto when you’re doubting yourself. They give you a direction. A milestone. A nudge.
If the answer is yes, then go for it. But if you’re just chasing titles to fill a void or fit in.. Pause. You’re already enough. Certifications can help, but you are the one doing the real work and remember: no one path is the same. Your story is uniquely yours. Own it. I’m cheering for you every step of the way.Do it to grow, to learn, to open a path for yourself or for someone else. In the end, it’s not about the letters after your name. It’s about the impact you make with what you learn. Certifications are tools not trophies.