Demand for Security Certification on the Rise
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A smart card is a credit card-like device with both
CPU and memory built-in. It is used to store keys,
certificates, credentials and other information. It
can be used for authentication purposes. Think
of a smart card as an ATM card on steroids.
Smart cards are tiny computers that hold potential
for a variety of applications.
Analysts predict that by 2004 there will be over 36 million smart card reader-ready PCs in use.
Businesses require security skills that include technologies such as biometrics and smart cards - as these are increasingly being viewed as necessary to identify the individual between transactions and enterprise access.
Demand for Security Certification
It is these three factors primarily that are fueling the demand for security certification: e-business, HIPAA and protecting the business infrastructure from threats. The IDC reports that security spending will keep growing and is increase significantly in the next few years - from $5.1 billion in 2000 to $14.2 billion in 2005. The deployment of all such security technology requires professionals and architects whose skills have been validated. Hence, the demand for security certification. One such program designed to develop security skills and validate security knowledge required for job roles such as the security professional and the security architect is the Security Certified Program (SCP).
The SCP develops and validates skills of information security professionals and architects. The SCP is a two-level, vendor neutral security certification program that enables individuals to acquire skills and get certified as a Security Certified Network Professional (Level One) or a Security Certified Network Architect (Level Two). The focus of Level One is on Defense, using technologies such as Firewalls, Intrusion Detection and Virtual Private Networks.
The focus of SCP Level Two concentrates on trusted communication and emerging security technologies like Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), biometrics, and smartcards. To obtain certification within each level, students must pass at two proficiency exams demonstrating their security knowledge. All SCP exams may be taken at any Authorized Prometric Testing Center. For more information on the SCP, please visit www.SecurityCertified.Net.
Summary
According to the Gartner Group, "By 2004, 80% of enterprises will be using the Internet as an integral part of their business processes. Half will experience a financially significant loss due to Internet-borne incidents by that time. As such they are advised to invest in security strategies now." The bottom-line is that businesses have to build an infrastructure that can deliver trust - that requires skilled security professionals and architects. Businesses need to be sure that all such security skills are validated; security certification provides that assurance.
About the Author
Uday O. Ali Pabrai, CEO of ecfirst.com, is an accomplished expert in the areas of HIPAA, PKI, biometrics and enterprise security. A highly sought after consultant and speaker, Ali has delivered keynote and other sessions at numerous conferences worldwide including COMDEX, COMNET, Internet World and DCI's Internet Expo. Ali created the industry leading CIW program and is the co-creator of the highly successful Security Certified Program (SecurityCertified.Net). At ecfirst.com, Ali developed E-Accelerator - a HIPAA security-related implementation methodology. Ali may be reached at pabrai@ecfirst.com.
