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 that is attainable for newcomers and recognizes the growing trend of people entering the cybersecurity workforce without direct IT experience,” said Dr. Casey Marks, Chief Qualifications Officer for (ISC)². “Hiring managers want confidence that new entrants into the field have the requisite familiarity with technical concepts required for certain roles, along with a demonstrated aptitude to learn on the job. This pilot program will help us finalize the new entry-level cybersecurity certification exam content and ultimately help the industry close the global cybersecurity workforce gap.”

The five domains included in the pilot exam outline are:

• Security Principles
• Business Continuity (BC), Disaster Recovery (DR) and Incident Response Concepts
• Access Controls Concepts
• Network Security
• Security Operations

Ideal candidates for this certification include recent college graduates or career changers with no related work experience interested in a career in cybersecurity. The goal of the entry-level certification is to help cybersecurity career pursuers demonstrate to potential employers that they have foundational knowledge and an interest to learn and continue to grow while on the job.

Candidates interested in participating in the pilot program should visit www.isc2.org/new-cert .