Hiring organizations place outsized emphasis on certifications as a requirement, and prohibitive preparation and maintenance costs act as a barrier to entry for early-career and diverse security talent. Maintaining certifications over time is also a source of dissatisfaction among experienced security pros. This report highlights trends from Forrester’s research into the sentiment around — and costs and value associated with — cybersecurity certifications. It guides security and tech leaders to look beyond the piece of paper and at the attributes and potential of the human behind (or without) it.