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Secure Systems Administration

Harden and operate Linux, Windows and cloud infrastructure securely.

Typical roles: Systems Engineer · Infrastructure Security

Plan this path in the app Track details

The track, phase by phase

  1. Foundation

  2. Core

    • Red Hat Certified System Administrator
    • Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
    • Linux Professional Institute LPIC-1
    • CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Specialist

  3. Advanced

  4. Mastery

    • Cloud Native Computing Foundation Certified Kubernetes Security Specialist
    • Red Hat Certified Architect in Enterprise Linux
    • CompTIA Secure Infrastructure Expert

A suggestion, not a set of prerequisites: one or two certifications per phase is plenty. One certification is on another industry's map (or retired), so it is listed here only, with a link to its map.

Secure Systems Administration on the Cybersecurity map

Verified against issuers' official pages · updated · 695 active certifications (4 upcoming not counted)

How to read the map
  • Each tile is one certification: its abbreviation and, when the issuer publishes one, a listed-cost band. Hover (or open) a tile for the full name and issuer.
  • Within each level the most recognised certifications come first (industry recognition, and how many career tracks use them); "+N more" lists the rest.
  • under $300
  • $300 to $999
  • $1,000 to $2,999
  • $3,000 or more
  • No sign: price not published by the issuer
  • Upcoming Announced by the issuer but not yet available: not counted
  • Solid border and a phase number: on this track
  • Dashed border, greyed: not on this track

Communication & Network Security 36 certifications1 on this track

Beginner, 10 certifications

Intermediate, 19 certifications

Expert, 7 certifications

Identity & Access Management 18 certificationsnot on this track

Beginner, 4 certifications

Intermediate, 12 certifications

Expert, 2 certifications

Security Architecture & Engineering 107 certifications12 on this track

Beginner, 31 certifications

Intermediate, 67 certifications

Expert, 9 certifications

Asset Security 29 certificationsnot on this track

Beginner, 12 certifications

Intermediate, 13 certifications

Expert, 4 certifications

Security & Risk Management 170 certificationsnot on this track

Beginner, 41 certifications

Intermediate, 105 certifications

Expert, 24 certifications

Security Assessment & Testing 32 certificationsnot on this track

Beginner, 4 certifications

Intermediate, 27 certifications

Expert, 1 certification

Software Security 32 certificationsnot on this track

Beginner, 9 certifications

Intermediate, 21 certifications

Expert, 2 certifications

Security Operations 271 certificationsnot on this track

Beginner, 50 certifications

Intermediate, 180 certifications

Expert, 41 certifications

Other Cybersecurity career tracks (19)
Retired / replaced (76)

No longer offered by their issuers, so not on the map. Holders keep them; each page says what replaced it, where anything did.

  • ACE AccessData Certified Examiner
  • Apple ACSP Apple Certified Support Professional
  • AZ-220 Microsoft Certified: Azure IoT Developer Specialty
  • AZ-500 Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate → replaced by SC-500
  • C)ISCAP Mile2 Information Systems Certification and Accreditation Professional
  • C)ISSA Mile2 Certified Information Systems Security Auditor
  • CCSM Check Point Certified Security Master
  • CDRP Infosec Institute Certified Data Recovery Professional
  • CET ISACA Certified in Emerging Technology
  • CIISec ICSF CIISec Information and Cybersecurity Fundamentals
  • CITGP IBITGQ Certified in Implementing IT Governance - Foundation & Principles
  • Cloud Essentials CompTIA Cloud Essentials
  • CNDA EC-Council Certified Network Defense Architect
  • CREST CCHIA CREST Certified Host Intrusion Analyst → replaced by CREST CCIM
  • CREST CCNIA CREST Certified Network Intrusion Analyst → replaced by CREST CCIM
  • CREST CRTSA CREST Registered Technical Security Architect
  • CSA CCAK Cloud Security Alliance / ISACA Certificate of Cloud Auditing Knowledge
  • CSA CGC Cloud Security Alliance Cloud Governance & Compliance → replaced by CSA CCSK
  • CSSA Infosec Institute Certified SCADA Security Architect
  • CSX-P ISACA CSX Cybersecurity Practitioner → replaced by CCOA
  • DV AOPH Dark Vortex Adversary Operations & Proactive Hunting
  • DV MILF Dark Vortex Malware Incident & Log Forensics
  • DV MoS Dark Vortex Malware On Steroids
  • EEHF EXIN Ethical Hacking Foundation
  • EEXIN ISM EXIN Information Security Management Expert
  • eNDP eLearnSecurity Network Defense Professional
  • EPDPP EXIN Privacy and Data Protection Practitioner
  • EXIN 27001E EXIN ISO/IEC 27001 Expert
  • EXIN PCA EXIN Professional Cloud Administrator
  • EXIN PCD EXIN Professional Cloud Developer
  • EXIN PCSA EXIN Professional Cloud Solution Architect
  • EXIN PCSerM EXIN Professional Cloud Service Manager
  • EXIN PCSM EXIN Professional Cloud Security Manager
  • Fair Fdn FAIR Institute Analysis Fundamentals
  • FCA Fortinet Certified Associate Cybersecurity
  • FCF Fortinet Certified Fundamentals Cybersecurity
  • FCP NS Fortinet Certified Professional - Network Security
  • FCP PCS Fortinet Certified Professional - Public Cloud Security
  • FCP SO Fortinet Certified Professional - Security Operations
  • FCSS NS Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist Network Security
  • FCSS OT Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - OT Security
  • FCSS PCS Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - Public Cloud Security
  • FCSS SASE Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - Secure Access Service Edge
  • FCSS SO Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - Security Operations
  • FCSS ZTA Fortinet Certified Solution Specialist - Zero Trust Access
  • FCX Fortinet Certified Expert Cybersecurity
  • GCPM GIAC Certified Project Manager
  • GCWN GIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator
  • GEVA GIAC Enterprise Vulnerability Assessor
  • GLEG GIAC Law of Data Security & Investigations
  • GSNA GIAC Systems and Network Auditor
  • HCISPP ISC2 HealthCare Information Security and Privacy Practitioner
  • ITCA ISACA Information Technology Certified Associate
  • MAD CTI MITRE ATT&CK Defender Cyber Threat Intelligence
  • MAD SOCA MITRE ATT&CK Defender Security Operations Center Assessment
  • MASE Mosse Institute Certified Application Security Engineer
  • MCD Mosse Institute Certified Code Deobfuscation Specialist Certification
  • MCL Mosse Institute Cybersecurity Leadership
  • MESE Mosse Institute Enterprise Security Engineer
  • MNSE Mosse Institute Network Security Essentials
  • NCSC CCPLP NCSC Certified Cyber Professional (CCP) – Lead Practitioner
  • NCSC CCPP NCSC Certified Cyber Professional (CCP) – Practitioner
  • NCSC CCPSP NCSC Certified Cyber Professional (CCP) – Senior Practitioner
  • OSMR OffSec macOS Researcher
  • PCCET Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician → replaced by PAN Cyber Practitioner
  • PCCSE Prisma Certified Cloud Security Engineer → replaced by PAN Cloud Sec Eng
  • PCDRA Palo Alto Networks Certified Detection and Remediation Analyst → replaced by PAN XDR Analyst
  • PCNSA Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator → replaced by PAN NetSec Analyst
  • PCNSE Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer → replaced by PAN NGFW Engineer
  • PCSAE Palo Alto Certified Cloud Security Automation Engineer
  • SC-400 Microsoft Certified: Information Protection and Compliance Administrator Associate → replaced by SC-401
  • TUV Auditor IT Security Auditor (TÜV)
  • TUV MSA Mobile Security Analyst with TÜV Rheinland Certified Qualification
  • VCIX DCV VMware Certified Implementation Expert in Datacenter Virtualization
  • VCIX NV VMware Certified Implementation Expert in Network Virtualization
  • Zach EAPro Zachman Enterprise Architect Professional (Level 3)

About this map

Based on Paul Jerimy's Security Certification Roadmap (CC BY-SA 4.0), expanded and re-verified by CertAscent; derived data shared under the same license. Changes made: restructured into a dataset, extended with new, retired and renamed certifications, and prices, requirements and renewal rules re-verified against each issuer's official site.

Not affiliated with the issuers; certification names are trademarks of their owners. Prices, requirements and availability change: confirm on the issuer's official page (linked from every certification page) before you register or pay.

Roadmaps for other industries All roadmaps