To fill the cybersecurity workforce gap, we need to address the workforce shortage facing the industry, especially among entry- and junior-level positions. Creating an entry-level certification will help encourage new professionals to begin a cybersecurity career. After surveying cybersecurity experts on the most important domains, or subject matter areas, for new professionals, we have published the preliminary exam outline for the upcoming entry-level cybersecurity certification pilot program. This exam outline will allow the pilot program candidates to know which subjects they should be familiar with prior to taking the exam. Since this is an exam pilot program, topics are subject to change based on further evaluation once the pilot is complete. “There is demand in our industry for a certification

(ISC)² currently supports more than 150 chapter groups in 50 countries with 32,000 members and growing. Chapter membership is open to all aspiring and current cybersecurity professionals encouraging connections on a local level. In joining an (ISC)² Chapter, you will find opportunities for mentorship, leadership roles, volunteer days, study groups and more.  This year, the (ISC)² New Jersey Chapter has seen rapid growth through various recruitment efforts and word of mouth has made a stand-out mark within their geographical area, by increasing their membership by 400% within a year. The chapter has coordinated many successful meetings, generating deeper relationships and insightful conversations. They are encouraging youth to join the field by providing students with a free membership, helping local schools

Earlier this year, several (ISC)² members reached out to us regarding the candidate background qualifications that we ask all individuals as part of their endorsement process after passing an (ISC)² exam. The question on our eligibility review asked candidates: “Have you ever been involved, or publicly identified, with criminal hackers or hacking?” We heard you loud and clear. Being involved in “hacking” – especially in regard to learning how systems work, researching vulnerabilities or general curiosity and learning – doesn’t make you ineligible for (ISC)² certification. The use of the term “hacker” has changed significantly over the years, and we agreed it was time to make sure our policies were updated to more accurately reflect the way our team reviews

Adoption and usage of the cloud is evolving to combine with technologies like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, 5G and more, according to Sid Nag, Research Vice President at Gartner. “In other words,” he says, “cloud will serve as the glue between many other technologies that CIOs want to use more of, allowing them to leapfrog into the next century as they address more complex and emerging use cases.” With cloud roles expanding and so many certifications out there, which option offers cybersecurity experts the flexibility to grow with the coming waves of opportunity? Let’s compare two popular options, (ISC)² Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) vs. Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate. CCSP is a vendor-neutral certification that demonstrates the broad

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is considered to be the gold standard in information security. This is so because of all the doors that certification opens to a CISSP professional. Those doors lead to many different types of positions and opportunities, thus making the information security community dynamic and multifaceted. In this installment, we talk to influential trailblazer Dr. Christine Izuakor. Christine shares with us her incredible story as the youngest student and first African-American woman to achieve a P.hD in Security Engineering, how she planned her journey to achieve her dream job and how her passion for cybersecurity had fueled her every step of the way. What job do you do today? I am the founder