In the Care of Data

A couple of weeks ago, I was talking with a group of folks about information security and stated that as IT pros, our job is to become the custodians of data. My argument was that we’re the ones who have, in one form or another, all of the essential data for an organization. We’re the ones who are charged with keeping it secure. We determine the privacy measures. If you’ve ever heard the old cliché, “Possession is 9/10ths of the law,” then really, we are the ones that possess critical intellectual property (IP) and personally identifiable information (PII).

I thought I had made a great point during my presentation. But, I hadn’t finessed the point quite right. A couple of folks came up to me and let me know – in a very friendly, but firm way – that they weren’t custodians.

I thought the word custodian was a nice word. After all, IT pros are charged with taking care of data. That’s a cool, interesting and important job.

But they said I could make my point better if I used a different word: instead of being data custodians, they consider IT pros to be data curators or data caretakers.

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Is CompTIA Security+ Worth It

Security is one of the fastest growing areas in IT. The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects job growth of 28 percent for Information Security Analysts between 2016 and 2026. (Information Security Analysts is a general job category designation used by the BLS for security-related roles in the field of Computer and Information Technology.) With growth rates higher than the national average, IT security-related positions continue to be a very attractive career option for those seeking entry to security roles or looking to make a career change.

Almost 90 percent of IT professionals hold at least one certification. Many IT professionals view certifications as a way to gain a competitive advantage in the workforce marketplace. Unfortunately, not all certifications are created equal, and popularity doesn’t necessarily guarantee a return on investment in terms of helping you to gain a new job or secure a much-needed raise.

Today, we’re going to take a look at one of the CompTia’s star certifications — CompTIA Security+ — and examine whether it delivers in terms of advantages in hiring and higher salary.
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CompTIA Security+ vs. SSCP

The field of cybersecurity is one of the hottest tickets in IT, with a 28 percent growth rate projected between 2016 and 2026. With such popularity comes no shortage of certification vendors seeking to convince aspiring security professionals that their credential is the best one to speed them on their way to the next step in their security career ladder.

Even though choices for security certifications are plentiful, choosing the right one for you does not have to be overwhelming. Choosing the right certification really depends on the answers to a few basic questions.
First, ask yourself what type of certification you need. Are you looking for an entry-level credential or are you already a cybersecurity ninja?
Second, be certain to take a close look at your current skills, education and certifications. For many certifications, especially the more advanced credentials, you are required to have particular skills or experience before attempting the certification exam.
Finally, what type of investment (in both time and money) are you willing to make in training, experience, continuing education and ongoing maintenance? Lower level credentials often have fewer requirements and the exams can be less costly than those for more senior credentials.
More Info: entry level comptia a+ jobs

Expanding Your Cybersecurity Skills

It’s easy to find resources for getting started with cybersecurity — but far harder to find ones designed for people who are already working as cybersecurity professionals. To help, we’ve collected some great options for advancing your skills.

All too often, cybersecurity pros assume that structured training courses are appropriate only for beginners. The truth is, there are free and paid cybersecurity courses on the market that will help you grow as a professional and avoid critical mistakes.

In addition, vendors often offer training when they release new software or product updates. Taking these classes can quickly bring you up to speed on the solution’s key functionality, saving you a lot of time later.
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Will the A+ certification get me a job?

A certification helps you land an interview but is only a small part of a larger picture. Most companies are looking for someone that will be a good fit in the job within the company but they are interested in much more than just what tests you can pass. However, if you can’t pass the test, you often never get the interview.

Here’s the typical process for someone pursuing and being offered a job:
An organization advertises for a job
You submit a resume (with or without a cover letter)
Your resume is picked as a possible candidate
You might be asked to complete one or more tests
You are asked to do one or more interviews
You are given an offer
You start your new job

Your certification and the underlying knowledge is important when your resume is reviewed, when you complete some technical pre-interview tests, and when you’re interviewed. However, it is isn’t the only important element.

With very few exceptions, you need more than a certification to get a job. Here’s an example of a rare exception.
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SY0-501 version of the Security+ exam

If you’re planning to take the SY0-501 version of the Security+ exam, you should have a basic understanding of risk management concepts, including risk assessment methods.

For example, can you answer this question?

Q. Ziffcorp is developing a new technology that they expect to become a huge success when it’s released. The CIO is concerned about someone stealing their company secrets related to this technology. Which of the following will help the CIO identify potential dangers related to the loss of this technology?

A. Threat assessment

B. Vulnerability assessment

C. Privacy threshold assessment

D. Privacy impact assessment

More, do you know why the correct answer is correct and the incorrect answers are incorrect

It’s important to realize that you can’t eliminate risk. Sure, you can avoid information technology (IT) risks completely by unplugging your computer and burying it. However, that wouldn’t be very useful. Instead, users and organizations practice risk management to reduce the risks.
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CompTIA Security+ with Certification Exam SY0-501

Students and our sales staff are asking lots of questions about the recently announced CompTIA Security+ SY0-501 exam. Selected aspects of the exam have not been announced. I was able to review a CompTIA partner webinar covering the new exam, and acquire a forty page detailed mapping document. My deep dive isn’t complete, though this blog should suffice to answer the most relevant student and sales questions.

CompTIA Security+ certification validates knowledge of security fundamentals, basic risk identification and analysis, threat identification and assessment, IT infrastructure security, cryptography, operational security, and general security processes including incident response and business continuity. Certification Track: This course will prepare students to take the SY0-501 CompTIA Security+ Certification exam, for the objectives released in 2017 and

You might get somewhat of an overview on your own directly from CompTIA by reading through their Security+ pages. Click the link for exam details or scroll down the page, where you can monitor for any updates. Don’t check too soon, however, since CompTIA indicates that they will not start their public marketing effort until October 25th, 2017.

I have access to their partners’ page which provides a few more details, and you should be able minimally to access the landing page to monitor for additional updates or changes.
More Info: comptia a+ jobs