CompTIA has launched its new mastery-level credential in IT security and the courseware to study for it. The announcement coincides with new CompTIA research which reveals concerns amongst UK firms about finding the right people to address IT security issues.
The CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner certification is intended for information assurance professionals holding technical leadership roles in an IT enterprise environment.
Approved courseware and training materials for the CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner exam are available from several publishers, including Element K, and Wiley, and are available through the CompTIA Marketplace.
“The growing shortage of IT security professionals is among the biggest cybersecurity threats that organisations face,” said Terry Erdle, executive vice president, skills certification, CompTIA.
The international section of CompTIA’s Ninth Annual Information Security Trends Study, published today, shows 42 percent of UK organisations say they face challenges in hiring IT security specialists.
The research shows 78 percent of UK firms feel that security is becoming a higher priority, but a third of respondents feel there was some level of deficiency in their IT staff’s security expertise and experience. Almost all, 84 percent, say that to meet security needs they plan to train existing staff, hire new staff with the right skills, or a mix of both.
“There is a great and immediate need for IT professionals with the advanced skills necessary to secure data, devices and networks from the rapidly evolving and expanding volume of cybersecurity threats,” said Erdle. “With that in mind, CompTIA has created this mastery-level skills certification that targets the highest levels of enterprise security.”
CompTIA’s research indicates that employers place high value on having a certified security workforce. The vast majority of UK respondents responsible for security, 83 percent, feel it is important to test training to confirm knowledge gains. Many think certifications are the way to do this, with over half saying certifications have a high value, with a further 35 percent saying they have moderate value.
CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner certification is intended for IT professionals who have ten years in IT and five-plus years of hands-on, technical experience. This certification exam covers security skills and techniques in enterprise security; risk management; research and analysis; and integration of computing, communications and business disciplines.
The certification is accredited by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) under the guidelines of ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024, an international standard governing qualifications and certifications. In the USA, it is currently under consideration as an approved certification option for Department of Defense Directive 8570, which provides guidance and procedures for the training, certification and management of all government employees who conduct information assurance functions.
The CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner certification is the first in a new series of mastery-level credentials CompTIA is developing. CompTIA currently has four series of IT certifications:
• Basic – For individuals considering suitability for jobs that involve computers.
• Specialty – For business or IT professionals in emerging or niche markets.
• Professional – For IT workers with experience in a specific IT discipline.
• Mastery – For advanced IT professionals.
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