The ever-evolving technological landscape has ushered in a new era of innovation, transforming the way we interact with technology daily. However, the potential for malicious intent has also increased. Organizations now face a multitude of security challenges that can result in significant losses. To address this, more organizations are adopting a proactive approach by implementing DevSecOps practices into their product or software development lifecycle. DevSecOps involves integrating security into the development and operations pipeline of DevOps. However, finding skilled DevSecOps professionals has proven difficult for many organizations, leading to an increased demand for DevSecOps certifications. These certifications serve as a roadmap for building skilled DevSecOps professionals who can help organizations address their security needs. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the top DevSecOps certifications that can help individuals build a successful career in this exciting field.

Best DevSecOps Certification

Choosing the best DevSecOps certification is an important decision for anyone looking to build their skills and advance their career in this field. It’s important to consider several factors when making this decision, including:

• Mentorship
• Practical, project-based learning
• Good, legitimate reviews
• Transparency
• A solid and credible presence
• Proof that it works
• Certificate Prerequisites
• Resources provided
• Nature of Exam
• Certification Validity

You can carefully evaluate and compare the best DevSecOps certifications with the help of the table given below-

 

Certified DevSecOps Professionals (CDP) by Practical DevSecOps 

The Certified DevSecOps Professional Certification course by Practical DevSecOps is a Hands-on program that includes 100+ guided exercises which can be accessed through the browser without the need to install any software. No prior experience with DevOps to take up the course but participants should have basic knowledge of running Linux commands and OWASP Top 10 application security Best practices. The course also comes with 24/7 Slack support by the instructors themselves to mentor the students. Upon completion of the course, participants will attempt a 12-hour practical exam to earn the Certified DevSecOps Professional certification, which demonstrates their practical understanding of DevSecOps and Secure SDLC to potential employers and peers. The course fee is $899 USD, and there is no expiry date for the certification validity. 

Pros:

• The course includes 100+ guided hands-on exercises in their virtual labs, which is great for practical experience.
• Exposure to multiple CI/CD Systems 
• Vendor-neutral learning
• A dedicated slack channel provides 24/7 support from instructors. No other institution provides that.
• Browser-based labs
• No certification or exam prerequisites.
• The certification has no expiry date, which means it is valid indefinitely.
• The course fee is relatively affordable 
• Certification is among the preferred certification for DevSecOps roles by global organizations. Only certification to have a task-oriented examination. Gives employees confidence in their ability in DevSecOps. 

Cons:

 Since the exam is task-oriented, clearing the exam may not be easy

 

Cloud Security and DevSecOps Automation Certification (GCSA) by SANS (GIAC)

The Cloud Security and DevSecOps Automation Certification by SANS (GIAC) is a certification program focused on cloud security and DevSecOps automation. The course prerequisites require the completion of SANS SEC488 or practical experience with AWS and Azure Cloud. A basic understanding of OWASP Top 10, Linux command shells, and Git is necessary. Hands-on experience with Git and  Jenkins is recommended. The certification exam is multiple-choice and scenario-based and is valid for four years. The fee is $8,275 USD, with an additional $949 USD for GCSA certification. Practical training is provided through online classes and hands-on training, with additional resources available such as Cloud Ace Podcast and cheat sheets.

Pros:

The SANS GIAC Certification body has a long-established history and is quite well-known in the industry.

Cons:

• The SANS Cloud Security and DevSecOps Automation GIAC Certification can be quite expensive. The cost of the exam itself can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars
• There are a lot of system requirements for attending the virtual lab associated with the course. 
• Certification is pretty expensive for someone to enroll independently and upskill themselves without organizational support.
• Does not provide mentorship post the 5-day training.
• The exam is MCQ Based on and does not validate the student’s hands-on skills 

 

EC Council Certified DevSecOps Engineer (CDE)

The EC Council Certified DevSecOps Engineer (CDE) course is a pretty new course and is designed for students with an understanding of application security concepts and a minimum of two years of work experience in application security.  The course includes lab training and has a 4-hour exam consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions. The certification is valid for three years; a minimum of two years of prior work experience in application security is a prerequisite.

Pros:

• EC Council is popular for many other security certifications- this gives this certification reputation

Cons:

• To be eligible to take the EC Council Certified DevSecOps Engineer exam, you need a minimum of 2 years of work experience in application security, which may be a barrier for some aspiring candidates.
• There is an annual membership fee of $80 USD for maintaining the ECDE certification, which may be a recurring cost for professionals.
• No mentoring support provided during the student’s learning phase.
• The exam is MCQ Based on and does not validate the student’s hands-on skills 
• The course lacks experience in the field: The course was launched in 2023. This gives it less experience and credibility in the industry

 

DevSecOps Practitioner by DevOps Institute

The DevSecOps Practitioner certification by DevOps Institute is an advanced-level certification that strongly recommends the DevSecOps foundation certificate as a prerequisite. The exam is 90 minutes long and consists of 40 multiple-choice questions with an open-book policy. The passing score is 65%, and the certification is valid for two years.

Pros:

• Certification is easy to pass since the MCQ Exam is based on video lectures.

Cons:

• The certification strongly advises having the DevSecOps foundation certificate as a prerequisite, which means individuals have to invest time and money to complete another certification before pursuing the DevSecOps Practitioner certification. 
• While the CEU requirement of DevOps Institute certifications is intended to promote ongoing learning and development, it may not be suitable for everyone and may limit an individual’s flexibility in pursuing professional development opportunities.
• The Course is not in-depth, or hands-on, and may not provide an individual with the required skills to implement DevSecOps.

Also Read Best Kubernetes Certifications

Summary

DevSecOps certifications are in high demand, and they can add value to your resume if you are someone working in Security. But it’s hard to choose when multiple  DevSecOps certifications are promising the best upskilling results. Therefore certifications need to be compared taking into consideration their prerequisites, mentorship, resources, hands-on training, Exam process, fees, and certification validity. I hope the comparison of the Top 4 Best DevSecOps certifications that we provided you above gave you good insights to choose better.

Also, are you looking for Best Security certification in Kubernetes?