ISACA’s CCOA Certification Named Professional Certification Program of the Year in 2025 Cybersecurity Breakthrough Awards

The new Certified Cybersecurity Operations Analyst certification was also named a finalist in 2025 SC Awards Europe

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ISACA is proud to announce that its Certified Cybersecurity Operations Analyst (CCOA) certification was named Professional Certification Program of the Year by the 2025 Cybersecurity Breakthrough Awards. The Cybersecurity Breakthrough Awards celebrate companies and individuals driving significant advancements in cybersecurity.

CCOA, released earlier this year, is a technical cybersecurity credential that demonstrates that the earner can analyze, detect and respond to threats effectively. The certification’s hands-on lab simulations place learners in scenarios that reflect real cybersecurity tasks, distinguishing CCOA from certifications that often rely solely on theoretical content.

“We are honored that the Cybersecurity Breakthrough Awards have recognized CCOA with this award, especially in its first year,” said Shannon Donahue, ISACA chief content and publishing officer. “This recognition highlights the significant value CCOA brings and ISACA’s commitment to building a skilled, future-ready workforce. CCOA gives candidates a competitive advantage in a tighter job market and a boost in getting to that next step in their professional journey.”

CCOA was also named a finalist for Best Professional Certification Program in the 2025 SC Awards Europe, which celebrate the cybersecurity industry’s top innovators, teams and solutions.

In ISACA’s recent State of Cybersecurity report, 70% of security professionals said they expect the demand for technical cybersecurity professionals to rise in the next year. CCOA is tailored for early-career professionals with 2-3 years of experience, making it an ideal stepping-stone for those aiming to advance in a highly competitive market.

This recognition follows accolades for another ISACA credential. Earlier this year, ISACA’s Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certification was named a winner for the Best Professional Certification Program in the SC Awards.

ISACA is committed to providing digital trust professionals with credentials that help them advance at every career stage. This includes ISACA’s new security certification, Advanced in AI Security Management (AAISM), a first-of-its-kind credential that can be earned by professionals who hold a CISM or CISSP certification, and a similar new certification for auditors—Advanced in AI Audit (AAIA).

In recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, ISACA is offering a 20% discount on the CCOA Online Review Course.

Read more about the Cybersecurity Breakthrough Awards at www.cybersecuritybreakthrough.com/2025-winners and about CCOA at www.isaca.org/ccoa. Visit www.isaca.org/credentialing for information about ISACA’s credentials.

About ISACA

For more than 55 years, ISACA^® (www.isaca.org) has empowered its community of 185,000+ members with the knowledge, credentials, training and network they need to thrive in fields like information security, governance, assurance, risk management, data privacy and emerging tech. With a presence in more than 190 countries and nearly 230 chapters, ISACA offers resources tailored to every stage of members’ careers. Through the ISACA Foundation, ISACA also expands IT and education career pathways, fostering opportunities to grow the next generation of technology professionals.