Last verified: February 2026. Certification costs, fees, and eligibility change frequently. Always confirm details on the official provider website before enrolling.
You have decided to specialize in cybersecurity and move up the corporate ladder. Now you are staring at the CompTIA Security+ and the ISC2 CISSP, wondering which one will actually get you hired or promoted. You need to know if the massive effort required for the CISSP translates into a tangible increase in your monthly paycheck. This article breaks down the exact wage premium, verified costs, and return on investment for both paths.
The bottom line is: The CISSP certification commands a verified 56% wage premium over Security+ for mid-level professionals in India. Best for beginners: CompTIA Security+. Typical cost: ₹33,000–₹62,000. Time to complete: 2–6 months.
What Do CISSP and Security+ Certifications Actually Teach?
Security+ teaches foundational, hands-on technical skills for securing networks and devices, while CISSP focuses on high-level risk management and security leadership. You will not learn advanced penetration testing or complex Python coding in either of these courses. Security+ gets your foot in the door; CISSP puts you in the manager’s chair.
CompTIA Security+ covers core technical concepts like cryptography basics, identity management, and threat mitigation. It trains you to configure basic security systems and respond to standard security incidents. The curriculum is heavily focused on practical implementation for entry-level analysts.
ISC2 CISSP, on the other hand, covers eight broad domains including asset security, software development security, and security operations. It trains you to think like a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). You will learn how to design organizational security policies, manage vendor risk, and align security with business goals.
💡 Pro Tip: Most beginners jump straight into studying CISSP domains without practical IT experience. Instead, master the networking and security basics covered in Security+ first — this saves immense frustration and prevents failing the expensive CISSP exam.
How Much Do CISSP and Security+ Cost in India in 2026?
The CISSP exam costs approximately ₹62,000 ($749 USD), while the CompTIA Security+ exam costs about ₹33,000 ($392 USD) in India. These figures strictly cover the exam voucher and exclude official study materials, practice tests, and mandatory annual maintenance fees. You must budget additional funds for complete preparation.
When planning your certification budget, you must factor in the hidden costs of maintaining your credentials. Both ISC2 and CompTIA require annual fees and continuing education credits to keep your certification active. Ignoring these renewal requirements means you will have to pay for and pass the exam all over again.
Below is the verified breakdown of costs associated with both certifications in India for 2026.
| Certification | Exam Fee (USD) | Exam Fee (₹ Approx) | Annual Maintenance Fee | Est. Material Cost (₹) | Total 1st Year Cost (₹) |
| CompTIA Security+ | $392 | ₹33,000 | $50/year | ₹8,000 | ₹45,000 |
| ISC2 CISSP | $749 | ₹62,000 | $135/year | ₹15,000 | ₹88,000 |
(Costs verified from official CompTIA and ISC2 pages, February 2026. Exchange rates subject to change.)
✅ Action Step: Step 1: Go to the official ISC2 or CompTIA website and check the current USD to INR pricing for exam vouchers. Step 2: Look for bundled packages that include a retake voucher, as failing the first attempt is common. Takes: 10 minutes.
Which Cybersecurity Certifications Are Best in 2026?
Security+ is the absolute best starting point for IT professionals entering cybersecurity, whereas CISSP is the gold standard for experienced professionals aiming for management. Your choice entirely depends on your current years of verifiable security experience. The data shows clear separation in who benefits from which certification.
To understand where these two stack up against the wider market, we compared the top cybersecurity certifications available to Indian professionals. We analyzed cost, duration, and the resulting salary impact. The table below outlines exactly which certification fits your current career stage.
Editor’s Pick for Beginners: CompTIA Security+
| Certification | Provider | Cost (₹) | Duration | Difficulty | Prerequisites | Avg. Salary Impact (₹/year) | Best For | Official Link |
| Security+ | CompTIA | ₹33,000 | 2 months | Beginner | None strictly required | ₹6.5 LPA | IT professionals entering security | comptia.org |
| CISSP | ISC2 | ₹62,000 | 6 months | Advanced | 5 years experience | ₹18.5 LPA | Senior security professionals | isc2.org |
| CISM | ISACA | ₹64,000 | 4 months | Advanced | 5 years experience | ₹17.0 LPA | Security managers and risk officers | isaca.org |
| CEH | EC-Council | ₹95,000 | 3 months | Intermediate | 2 years experience | ₹8.5 LPA | Aspiring penetration testers | eccouncil.org |
| CISA | ISACA | ₹64,000 | 4 months | Advanced | 5 years experience | ₹15.5 LPA | IT auditors and compliance teams | isaca.org |
Costs and durations verified from official provider pages, February 2026. Subject to change.
Decision Framework:
Choose CompTIA Security+ if you have less than three years of IT experience and want a foundational security analyst role. Choose CISSP if you have five or more years of direct cybersecurity experience and want to move into architecture or management.
What Salary Can You Expect: The 56% CISSP Wage Premium in India?
Professionals with a CISSP in India earn an average of ₹18.5 LPA, compared to ₹11.8 LPA for those holding an intermediate certification, creating a verified 56% wage premium. This data varies heavily by city, with Bengaluru and Pune offering the highest compensation packages. Entry-level Security+ roles start much lower, typically around ₹5.5 LPA to ₹7.5 LPA.
According to 2025 data from AmbitionBox and Naukri Insights, the salary gap widens significantly as you gain experience. A professional with three years of experience and a Security+ certificate can expect ₹8 LPA to ₹12 LPA. In contrast, a CISSP holder with seven years of experience frequently commands ₹22 LPA to ₹35 LPA.
Location plays a massive role in these figures. Tier 1 cities like Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Gurugram pay a 20% to 30% premium over Tier 2 cities for identical certifications. Remote roles for US-based companies hire Indian CISSP holders at even higher brackets, often starting at ₹40 LPA.
💡 Pro Tip: Do not negotiate your salary based purely on holding the certification. Instead, quantify how your CISSP or Security+ knowledge directly secures the company’s revenue and prevents compliance fines — this justifies the higher wage bracket.
Are CISSP and Security+ Recognized by Indian Employers?
Both certifications are universally recognized across India, appearing as mandatory requirements in thousands of job postings from top tier firms (Naukri Insights, 2026). Companies like TCS, Infosys, and Wipro actively filter resumes based on Security+ for their entry-level Security Operations Center (SOC) roles. Multinational banks heavily prefer CISSP for their managerial positions.
A quick search on LinkedIn Jobs India shows over 4,500 open positions listing “CISSP” as a preferred or required credential. Security+ appears in roughly 6,000 entry-to-mid level job postings, highlighting its high volume of demand. Employers trust these vendor-neutral certifications because they prove a baseline level of competence.
However, smaller domestic startups often prioritize practical skills over paper certifications. In these environments, demonstrating a working knowledge of cloud security or holding a portfolio of bug bounties might outweigh a Security+ badge. Regardless, large enterprises strictly mandate these certifications for compliance and auditing purposes.
How Long Does It Take to Complete CISSP vs Security+?
Most candidates clear Security+ in 4 to 8 weeks of consistent study, while CISSP requires a grueling 3 to 6 months of preparation. Working professionals should plan for 15 hours of study per week for CISSP to ensure a passing score. Security+ requires roughly half that time commitment for a successful outcome.
The exact time depends on your prior experience in the field. A seasoned network administrator might pass Security+ after just two weeks of reviewing practice exams. Conversely, a CISSP candidate must memorize vast amounts of management frameworks and legal regulations, which simply takes time to absorb.
Do not rush the CISSP preparation process. The exam utilizes Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT), meaning the questions get harder as you answer them correctly. Skimming the material will result in a failed attempt and a lost ₹62,000 exam fee.
✅ Action Step: Step 1: Open your calendar and block out two hours every evening for the next 60 days. Step 2: Book your exam date today to create a hard deadline and force yourself to study. Takes: 5 minutes.
Who Should NOT Get a CISSP or Security+ Right Now?
You should not pursue CISSP if you lack the mandatory five years of paid, full-time cybersecurity experience required by ISC2. You should skip Security+ if you already hold an intermediate certification like CySA+ or have three years of direct SOC experience. Fresh graduates with zero IT background should start with CompTIA A+ or Network+ before touching security.
Many beginners make the mistake of passing the CISSP exam without the required experience, becoming an “Associate of ISC2.” While this is an achievement, HR filters often do not recognize this associate status for senior roles. You will have spent ₹62,000 on an exam that does not immediately improve your job prospects.
Furthermore, if your goal is strictly offensive security (hacking), neither of these certifications is ideal. You would be better served pursuing the OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) or practical HTB (Hack The Box) modules. Choose your certification based on your actual daily job duties, not just the salary hype.
💡 Pro Tip: If you want to test your aptitude before spending money, watch Professor Messer’s free Security+ training course on YouTube. If the material bores you, a career in cybersecurity is likely the wrong path.
Government Schemes That Fund Cybersecurity Certification in India
The Indian government supports cybersecurity upskilling through the NASSCOM FutureSkills Prime initiative, which occasionally offers cashback on approved certification paths. While they do not directly fund the ₹62,000 CISSP exam fee, they provide subsidized foundational training modules. State-level programs under PMKVY also offer introductory cybersecurity courses for rural candidates.
FutureSkills Prime is a joint initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and NASSCOM. By enrolling through their portal, Indian citizens can access heavily discounted courses aligned with national occupational standards. Upon successful completion and assessment, candidates can claim government incentives to offset training costs.
Additionally, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) partners with various private training institutes to offer affordable cybersecurity diplomas. These are excellent alternatives if the CompTIA exam fees are currently out of your budget. Always verify the current active schemes on the official Skill India portal before paying out of pocket.
FAQ
Can I take the CISSP exam without 5 years of experience?
Yes, you can take the exam, but you will not become a fully certified CISSP. Instead, you will be designated as an “Associate of ISC2” until you acquire the mandatory five years of work experience. You have six years to accumulate this experience after passing the exam.
Does the CompTIA Security+ certification expire?
Yes, Security+ expires three years from the date you pass the exam. To keep it active, you must earn 50 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and pay the annual maintenance fee of $50 USD. Alternatively, passing a higher-level CompTIA exam will automatically renew your Security+.
Is the CISSP certification valid outside India?
Absolutely, CISSP is a globally recognized vendor-neutral certification. It is highly respected in the US, UK, Canada, and the Middle East, making it an excellent credential for immigration or overseas job applications. It frequently appears on skilled worker shortage lists in Western countries.
How do I prepare for the Security+ certification exam?
Start with the official CompTIA exam objectives to understand the exact scope of the test. Utilize highly rated, low-cost video courses from platforms like Udemy or YouTube, and prioritize taking multiple full-length practice exams. Consistent practice with scenario-based questions is critical for passing.
Conclusion
Securing a high-paying role in cybersecurity requires proving your competence, and certifications remain the most effective way to pass automated HR filters. The 56% wage premium associated with the CISSP is real, but it requires years of foundational experience to unlock.
Keep these three decision factors in mind:
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Your current experience level: Beginners need Security+; veterans need CISSP.
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Your budget: Security+ costs half as much to obtain and maintain.
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Your career trajectory: Technical analysts benefit from CompTIA, while future C-suite leaders require ISC2.
If you are an IT beginner with under three years of experience → choose CompTIA Security+. If you are a seasoned professional ready for management → choose ISC2 CISSP.
If you are ready to begin, start by reviewing the official exam outlines on the provider websites to assess your current knowledge gaps.
Explore our related guide to compare top cloud security certifications and maximize your earning potential in 2026.
Sources
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ISC2 Official CISSP Pricing and Domains (isc2.org)
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CompTIA Official Security+ Pricing and Objectives (comptia.org)
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AmbitionBox India Salary Insights – Cybersecurity Roles (ambitionbox.com/salaries, 2025 Data)
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Naukri Insights and Job Postings Data (naukri.com, Verified 2026)
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NASSCOM FutureSkills Prime Portal (futureskillsprime.in)
This article was researched using live web data from official certification providers, government portals, and verified salary platforms. All statistics are cited with sources. If you find outdated information, please comment below.
