IT Security Certification (Part 2)

According to a survey by InfoSecurity magazine that stated IT professionals’ average salaries overall decreased by 5.5%, while those in IT security increased by 3.1% show that experience in security is a valuable skill.

Furthermore, The US Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 8570.1-M requires every part-time or full-time military member or defense contractor that has access to a privileged DoD system to be held by trained and CERTIFIED personnel in a commercial certification to enhance Information Assurance (IA) of the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) information, information systems, and networks.

So how important is it to be certified if you want to work in the IT Security field?  I would say important.

Being certified displays competency in IT security related terms and concepts.  As a hiring manager, who has to interview over 100 candidates, having someone who speaks the IT Security language is helpful.

When looking into certification, you have vendor neutral and vendor specific IT security certifications.  Below are a list of some of the more popular certifications:
Security+
Requires: 1 Exam
Approximate Cost = $199 ($149 for CompTIA members)

 

Application Security

ISC2 Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP)

GIAC Secure Software Programmer – Java (GSSP – JAVA)

GIAC Secure Software Programmer – .NET

The Show the software developer to think like an attacker

 

Auditing

ISACA CISA

GIAC Security Audit Essentials

 

Management

CISSP

CISM

Penetration Testing

CEH

GIAC’s Certified Intrusion Analyst

Certified Penetration Tester (CPT)

Certified Expert Penetration Tester (CEPT)

Wireless

Certified Wireless Security Professional (CWSP)

 

Windows Security

GIAC Certified Windows Security Administrator (GCWN)

Computer Forensics

CHFI

ACE

EnCe

Foote Partners’ “IT Skills and Certification Pay Index – Q3 2011 edition” indicates that the following security certifications translate into the highest pay premiums:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (CISSP/ISSEP)

GIAC Secure Software Programmer –.NET

CyberSecurity Forensic Analyst

Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)

Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Cisco Security Solutions and Design Specialist

GIAC Reverse Engineering Malware (GREM)

GIAC Secure Software Programmer –Java

GIAC Systems and Network Auditor (GSNA)

Information Systems Security Architecture Professional (CISSP/ISSAP)

Security Certified Network Architect

Check Point Certified Master Architect (CCMA)

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