“A Certification today is like a
college degree, you may not hire a candidate just because they have
one, but it is something that you expect in this field. Grad
Summers – information Security leader at Ernst & Young”
The term Security can be used in
several aspects of the IT industry; it varies from auditing and the
application to forensic Science and wireless Security. Due to the
wide diversity in security specialization, the aspirants have the
freedom to make the choice in IT security Certifications.
Clearly ‘Security’ certifications
are not required for success in today’s enterprise environment.
Some of the smartest IT gurus have no Certifications or degrees, but
most people who hold Information Security Certifications have learned
valuable information and gained useful skills too. These
certifications are in demand not only for their demonstration of IT
security proficiency but also because certified candidates go through
training that reflects high standard of ethical conduct.
IT Security certs will always be in
demand. The main factors pushing this demand is the need for IT
security and network professionals to protect critical infrastructure
and implement emerging technologies.
Vendor-neutral vs vendor-specific.
Security Certifications should be vendor-neutral because there is
need of a broad view of security than that which borders specific
platforms. These Certifications teach general security principles and
will have the widest range of usability.
Several organizations and private
companies offer certifications in the areas of IT security and
protection of information. Here is a list of some of the best and
mostly accepted security certifications:
CISSP : Certified
Information Systems Security professional is the most comprehensive,
prestigious and recognized certification in the security arena. It
is considered as the gold standard of security credentials.
CEH: Certified Ethical
Hacker is gaining popularity as organizations focus on securing
their It infrastructure and networks from internal and external
attacks.
CISA : Certified
Information Security Auditor. Many enterprises recognize ISACA’s
CISA credential as the de facto standard for information systems
auditors. It’s demand continues to grow as organizations
increasingly expect their auditors to hold the certification.
CISM : Certified
Information Security manager. This is a one exam certification for
security managers administered by ISACA. It’s very rigorous as the
CISSP and also thought as a hard exam.
Security+ : Comptia’s
security+ is an entry level certification with no required
experience. It’s a simple 90-minute exam with 100 questions. It
might open a door for you, but only a crack.
Other certifications worth a mention
are:
CWSP – Certified Wireless Security
professional
CSFA – Cyber Security Forensic
Analyst
CCSA – Checkpoint Certified Security
Administrator
CCSE – Checkpoint Certified Security
Expert
Candidates will find security
Certifications topics in related areas of business
continuity/disaster recovery, auditing and risk management.
