Secure Recruiting International, Inc.

Knowledge is Power: Building a Career as an Information Technology Security Professional

There are several widely sought after network security certifications for the IT security professional along with various product specific certifications offered by manufacturers. The following is a list of the certifications that are most requested by our clients:

International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC^2) CISSP - Certified Information System Security Professional SSCP - System Security Certified Practitioner SANS Global Incident Analysis Center (GIAC) GSEC - GIAC Security Essentials Certified GSE - GIAC Security Engineer Information Systems Audit and Control Association and Foundation CISA - Certified Information Systems Auditor Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals CCP - Certified Computer Professional Learning Tree International SNSCP - System and Network Security Certified Professional Microsoft MSCE - Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer Cisco Systems CCIE - Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert Check Point CCSA - Check Point Certified Security Administrator CCSE - Check Point Certified Security Engineer Nokia NSA - Nokia Security Administration

Although each of these certificates has its merits, choosing the right combination can be confusing. One logical place to start is with a certification designed to demonstrate your overall knowledge of the IT security profession.

The ISC² CISSP certification is one of the most often asked certifications by our clients. Because it covers broad security theory and concepts, most chief information officers and other senior level management aspire to attain this certification. The ISC² has recently introduced a new certification for system security administrators. The System Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP) addresses the technical issues associated with implementing security policy. In addition to ISC², the SANS Global Incident Analysis Center (GIAC) and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) both offer excellent certifications, GSE and CISA respectively, covering a broad range of security management and implementation skills.

To complement the CISSP, SSCP, GSE, and the CISA, there are a number of certifications that serve to showcase your specific areas of expertise. The SANS GIAC and the High-Tech Crime Network each offer multiple certifications for different skills, such as intrusion detection and forensics. These are worth looking into, especially if you have a particular career specialty in mind. Finally, there are the many certifications that vendors offer for their products. These are sure to be an asset on your resume if you are certified for products that a potential employer uses.

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