Information Systems Security Professional Certification

For professionals seeking a career in information security, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional, or CISSP, is one of the premier certifications available.

The field of information security has certainly come of age. Hackers and other rather unscrupulous persons find new and innovative ways daily to violate and break through network security perimeters accessing vital confidential information, records, and causing significant damages.  As a result, the need for qualified information security professionals has never been more needed or in greater demand.  For professionals seeking a career in information security, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional, or CISSP, is one of the premier certifications available. Developed by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, or ISC2 (pronounced ISC-squared), the CISSP credential is not only recognized globally, but was the first certification of its kind to be accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to ISO (International Organization for Standardization) Standard 17024:2003.

Recognized for the excellence, CISSP credential holders possess advanced skills necessary to develop policies, create standards, and implement protective procedures to safeguard information. This should come as no surprise since credential seekers are required to possess a minimum of five years of experience, all of which much be in at least two information security domains specified by ISC2. The acceptable security domains include: Access Control, Application Security, Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Planning, Cryptography, Information Security and Risk Management, Legal, Regulations, Compliance and Investigations, Operations Security, Physical Environmental Security, Security Architecture and Design, and Telecommunications and Network Security. After obtaining the CISSP certification, credential holders can choose to obtain additional certifications in Architecture (CISSP-ISSAP), Engineering (CISSP-ISSEP), or Management (CISSP-ISSMP). The CISSP is not a lifetime certification. Credential holders are required to pay annual maintenance fees and continue their professional development and training. Despite the cost of ongoing maintenance, credential holders will find the CISSP well worth the effort.