Knowledge base
Cert insights, honestly written.
What works, what doesn't, what counts on the CV. Methodology, fundamentals, deep dives — fact-based and vendor-independent.
Topics
Three thematic threads through our articles — from methodology over fundamentals to deep dives on individual certifications.
Methodology
How CertMap rates certifications, calculates Total-Cost-of-Ownership, and forms clusters. Transparency on our own data basis.
2 postsFundamentals
The difference between a certification and a certificate, what ISO/IEC 17024 guarantees, how accreditation works.
2 postsDeep dive
Individual certifications and providers in detail — strengths, weaknesses, market position, German and international context.
2 posts
Methodology
How CertMap rates certifications, calculates Total-Cost-of-Ownership, and forms clusters. Transparency on our own data basis.
How Does CertMap Rate Cybersecurity Certificates?
Scoring methodology across two axes (market strength × substance), 4 sub-criteria of 0–3 points each. Explains how the quadrant emerges.
TCO Methodology in Portfolio Mode
How CertMap calculates the Total Cost of Ownership of a cybersecurity certification, and how bundle effects can shift a cert set's 5-year TCO by more than €5,000.
Fundamentals
The difference between a certification and a certificate, what ISO/IEC 17024 guarantees, how accreditation works.
Certification vs. Certificate: What's the Difference?
Personnel certification per ISO/IEC 17024 versus a training certificate. Why the distinction matters.
What is Personnel Certification under ISO/IEC 17024?
Accreditation standard for personnel certification, what it guarantees and which vendors comply.
Deep dive
Individual certifications and providers in detail — strengths, weaknesses, market position, German and international context.
BSI IT-Grundschutz: Practitioners, Advisors, and the Accreditation Question
What distinguishes Practitioner from Advisor, and where does accreditation sit in the BSI path?
T.I.S.P.: Germany's Answer to the CISSP. A Missed Opportunity
How the German T.I.S.P. compares to CISSP, and why it didn't gain traction.