Association to Certify Newbie Cybersecurity Professionals

New to cybersecurity? Global  IT association ISACA just announced a new certificate program  (opens in a new tab) specifically tailored to professionals entering the industry.

Created for university students, recent graduates, entry-level professionals, and career changers, the Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certificate aims to assess professionals’ foundational knowledge in the subject.

An online exam tests knowledge in five areas: cybersecurity concepts; cybersecurity architecture principles; cybersecurity of networks, systems, applications, and data; security implications of emerging technology; and incident response.

“A recent poll of ISACA student members showed that fewer than half believed they would have adequate cybersecurity knowledge to do the type of job they are seeking after graduating college,” Robert E. Stroud, ISACA international president, said in a statement  (opens in a new tab). “ISACA aims to close that gap with valuable resources that will help individuals build cybersecurity skills and knowledge and help enterprises develop their cybersecurity workforces.”

While ISACA offers a number of other certificate programs for cybersecurity professionals, this new resource is the first for those entering the industry. It was announced just in time for National Cyber Security AwarenessMonth  (opens in a new tab).

Launched on October 1 and sponsored by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance, the awareness campaign features a number of events and resources to help the public stay safe online.

“It’s time to shift our viewpoint on internet security from one dominated by vulnerability and risk to focusing on creating a culture of cybersecurity by working together to build a safer, more secure, and trusted internet,” NCSA Executive Director Michael Kaiser said in a statement  (opens in a new tab). “This year’s [National Cyber Security Awareness Month] places renewed emphasis on what we can do across the entire ecosystem and realizes the goal of collaboration toward a more secure internet.”

The month kicked off with an event at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers. Several other associations, including the National Association of Counties, EDUCAUSE, and the Online Trust Alliance, are providing support throughout the month.

(pseudopixels/ThinkStock)