When it comes to cybersecurity, bigger may not always be the best indicator of effectiveness. (ISC)2 research reveals organizations of all sizes have similar strategies when it comes to structuring their cybersecurity teams. Set aside bigger technology budgets for a moment and focus on people; Look at how small and midsized businesses (SMBs), and enterprises align their cybersecurity talent by functional roles within their organizations. What you’ll find are striking similarities. These findings – based on the (ISC)2 2020 Cybersecurity Workforce Study – suggest size has little bearing on how organizations structure their cybersecurity operations. Furthermore, study participants by and large seem satisfied their organizations are doing a good job of matching their teams’ roles and capabilities to the needs

Upskilling in times of uncertainty and change is a prudent career decision By Tony Vizza, CISSP, CCSP The saying “everything happens for a reason” is often invoked as a message of support during times of hardship or adversity. While it may be difficult to apply to a crisis on the scale and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the resiliency that we as individuals develop during such difficult times can make us stronger and better prepared for whatever comes next. A crisis comes with danger, but it also comes with opportunities. While the tourism, travel and retail sectors have been devastated by the global economic crisis, tech companies such as Apple, Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet (parent of Google) are now all

Demand for cybersecurity professionals will stay strong through the remainder of the decade, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. In the 10-year period between 2019 and 2029, employment of information security analysts will grow by 31%, according to the bureau’s Occupational Outlook Handbook. The projected growth rate is more than seven times higher than the national job growth average of 4%, and roughly three times that of the 11% projected growth in IT-related occupations. The reason for the high growth rate for information security analysts is no secret to anyone in the industry. As the bureau notes: “Cyberattacks have grown in frequency, and analysts will be needed to come up with innovative solutions to prevent hackers from stealing critical

The (ISC)2 Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification has won top marks from a 90,000-member LinkedIn community of cybersecurity professionals. The group selected the certification as the most valuable from a list of 50 leading cybersecurity industry certifications and courses. The Information Security Careers Network (ISCN) asked the LinkedIn community, which is composed of ISCN members, to rate their top certifications in order to compile a list of the top 10 most desirable certifications for 2021. The list included certifications from other associations and vendors, as well as the (ISC)2 Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP). Why is the CISSP the Most Valuable Cybersecurity Certification? Nearly three quarters of respondents (72%) identified the CISSP as the certification with the greatest demand in

Almost two thirds of cybersecurity professionals (63%) currently are pursuing, or planning to pursue, security-related certifications, according to the (ISC)² 2020 Cybersecurity Workforce Study. Certifications deliver multiple benefits, including increased earning power and better career opportunities. The study found that security certifications on average boost salaries by $18,000, from an average of $67,000 to $85,000. That alone is a significant motivator, although cybersecurity professionals typically don’t limit their choice of employment to earning potential alone. They tend to value attributes such as career advancement opportunities and work/life balance as much or more. Of course, certifications are about more than boosting pay. They make job seekers more marketable by demonstrating levels of proficiency that otherwise would be harder to prove. Typically,