2025 SC Awards Finalists: Best Professional Certification Program

Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) is a finalist in the Best Professional Certification Program category for its Certificate of Competence in Zero Trust (CCZT). Recognizing the growing importance of Zero Trust (ZT) for securing the cloud, CSA created the first authoritative ZT training and credential to address the skills gap in the industry. CCZT covers core ZT concepts, the Software Defined Perimeter, industry best practices—including guidance from CISA and NIST. CCZT’s vendor-neutral framework ensures that skills are applicable across platforms, making it a vital tool for security engineers, architects, C-suite leaders, and compliance managers. The CCZT has already gained momentum, with over 3,300 exam tokens purchased and recognition from the U.S. General Services Administration. CSA’s program not only validates essential Zero Trust expertise but also underscores an organization’s commitment to maintaining strong security postures as cyberthreats evolve.

Cybersecurity skills gaps continue to challenge enterprises, and Fortinet’s NSE (Network Security Expert) Certification Program is designed to bridge that divide. As a Best Professional Certification Program finalist, NSE offers a structured, multi-level approach to cybersecurity education, covering everything from foundational networking security to advanced threat intelligence and automation. The program includes hands-on labs, real-world attack simulations, and vendor-specific security training, making it particularly valuable for security professionals working in enterprise environments that rely on Fortinet technologies. With industry-leading training resources and global accessibility, NSE is empowering IT teams to proactively defend against evolving threats.

For professionals aiming to master the intersection of cybersecurity and business strategy, ISACA’s Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification is a globally recognized benchmark. Named a finalist for Best Professional Certification Program, CISM is designed for security leaders, risk managers, and compliance professionals seeking to advance their careers. This certification goes beyond technical expertise — it focuses on developing governance strategies, incident management skills, and enterprise-wide risk assessments. Organizations worldwide recognize CISM as a gold standard for security leadership, equipping professionals with the knowledge to build and manage resilient cybersecurity programs.

ISACA’s Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification program stands out as a finalist in the Best Professional Certification Program category by equipping professionals with essential skills in IT audit, control, and assurance. Its rigorous curriculum and ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 accreditation ensure that certified individuals maintain high international standards.

ISACA, which leverages the expertise of its 180,000 members, built the CISA certification program for IS audit, control and assurance professionals. As testament to CISA’s value it is widely utilized by organizations across both the public and private sectors—including major institutions like the US Department of Defense, US DEA, and the Reserve Bank of India—to validate expertise in managing regulatory compliance, mitigating risks, and securing information systems. CISA is a trusted credential that not only bolsters career advancement for professionals but also reinforces organizational resilience by ensuring that leaders in IT security are well-prepared to address today’s challenges.

Recognized as one of the fastest-growing certifications in ISC2’s portfolio, the Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) stands out for its vendor-neutral, real-world approach to cloud security. As organizations rapidly expand into cloud environments, the CCSP equips cybersecurity professionals with practical, globally relevant expertise across six key domains—including compliance, architecture, and technical implementation. Developed with input from cloud security experts, the program prepares individuals to apply advanced security principles in complex, modern infrastructures. Backed by ISC2’s broader mission to educate, empower, and foster a diverse global cybersecurity workforce, the CCSP addresses a critical skills gap while boosting career advancement—reflected by an average salary of $148,009 for certified professionals in North America. With over 20,000 CCSP holders worldwide, this certification has become a benchmark for cloud security excellence.