| In an environment of constant rain, a little sunshine is | | | | accepted certification that involves security. The |
| greatly appreciated. I remember spending some time | | | | employers in this field has increased significantly. |
| in Seattle and never felt that much love for our New | | | | There are positions available with Homeland Security, |
| York sun. Sometimes I think the media has become | | | | and Health and Hospitality (HIPAA). Says Trish Harris, |
| the "dark whisperer." We are inundated with reports | | | | assistant vice president, corporate marketing, media |
| that propagate fear. Is it all gloom in IT? I will admit | | | | relations, and public relations for the Institute of |
| that the situation is alarming, but certainly not all | | | | Internal Auditors (IIA), Orlando, FL. "With the many |
| doom. Today the IT professional is forced to | | | | corporate failures that have occurred over the past |
| compete for that one position. An uni-skilled IT | | | | two years, more and more organizations are |
| worker is considered more or less a liability than an | | | | concerned about risk management, ethics, corporate |
| asset. Employers are forced to maximize the Return | | | | governance, and internal controls that mitigate risks |
| on Investment. It is a necessary business decision | | | | and help deter and prevent fraud." |
| that results in being competitive or not. Surveys done | | | | Harris notes that because IIA certifications require |
| by different groups present views that can be | | | | extensive knowledge, experience, and study, they |
| ambiguous to the worker. One survey reported that | | | | clearly demonstrate the competency of those who |
| there are nearly 1,600 certifications available, as well | | | | have earned them. "Our premier designation, Certified |
| as 227 accreditation programs. IT schools are popping | | | | Internal Auditor (CIA), is the only global certification |
| up all over, there is a certification for almost any field. | | | | for the internal audit profession," she says. |
| I recently had the pleasure of assisting a friend who | | | | Harris attests to promising career potential for |
| is an experienced lawyer with an Associate CISSP | | | | certified internal auditors. "During the past year, |
| qualification. Her objective is to now get the needed | | | | we've seen a marked increase in the number of |
| experience to receive the CISSP recognition. I was | | | | internal audit jobs available on the market," she |
| amazed at the amount of security certs out there. | | | | observes. "We've also received numerous calls from |
| One of the first things I stress to the IT professional | | | | audit-committee members and company heads |
| is to become a knowledgeable consumer if one is | | | | looking for guidance on starting up an internal-audit |
| seeking career advancement through certification. | | | | department. CEOs who did not have internal auditing |
| The situation in the IT field has presented a | | | | in the past are now understanding just how |
| playground for dishonest sales teams and | | | | important the internal-audit function is in regard to |
| organizations. The National Organization for | | | | assurance and effective risk management." Harris |
| Competency Assurance has defined certification as | | | | says that many of these companies are requiring the |
| "the process by which a non-governmental agency or | | | | person they hire as chief audit executive to hold the |
| association grants recognition of competence to an | | | | Certified Internal Auditor designation."They want to |
| individual who has met predetermined qualifications | | | | be sure they are getting the skills and expertise they |
| specified by that agency or association." there are | | | | want in a competent leader of their internal audit |
| certifications that immediately come to mind on | | | | function, and the CIA designation clearly provides |
| reading this, CISCO, Microsoft, CompTIA, ISC2, | | | | that assurance," Harris says. |
| Novell, CWNP and IBM. The Certification and | | | | Further, Harris notes that her organization is seeing |
| Accreditation Programs Directory offers a list of | | | | students and seasoned professionals moving into the |
| questions that you should ask of the organization | | | | internal-auditing field from many other areas, including |
| when you are thinking of obtaining certification.o | | | | information technology, operations, business |
| What is the reputation of the issuing organization?o | | | | management, and finance. |
| Do the benefits of the certification justify the cost?o | | | | This brings me to another trend that the IT |
| What are the requirements and costs for | | | | certification seeker should be vigilant off, that is |
| recertification?o Are there educational and | | | | economic cutbacks that trickle down to quality of |
| experiential requirements for the certification? | | | | training. I have been fortunate to work with a top |
| (Experience requirements are an important | | | | level training company that has, though extremely |
| consideration for career-changers since they could | | | | difficult in these times, committed to not letting |
| prevent one from using a certification to move into a | | | | cutbacks affect the quality of their programs. The |
| new career quickly.)o Is the certification national in | | | | student/professional is better served when dealing |
| scope as well as recognized outside the U.S.? | | | | with the organization that is accredited by one of the |
| A list of the hottest certification in terms of pay | | | | headliners like Microsoft, Cisco, CWNP, CompTIA. |
| growth, the top five certifications according to the | | | | These institutions are regulated as to curriculum |
| Foote Partners are:- | | | | quality. |
| * IT Certified Architect (ITCA/OPenGroup) | | | | The decision to present IT training budget is a |
| * Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) | | | | difficult one for the corporation. Managers are faced |
| * InfoSys Security Architecture Professional (ISSAP | | | | with the question of "who should we train?". I've |
| CISSP) | | | | seen employees fortunate to be sent to training |
| * Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator: | | | | classes a nd show very little interest. Thankfully, |
| Messaging (MCSA) | | | | these are in the minority. Employers though |
| * Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) | | | | sometimes appearing to be removed from the |
| One will realize that these qualifications involve data | | | | everyday operations of the company are making |
| security. I am a staunch supporter of the wonderful | | | | decisions that will benefit the organization. They will |
| curriculum presented by the CompTIA group. The | | | | therefore be more prone to training the employee |
| Security+ is the logical start for anyone moving into | | | | who presents himself/herself as a good investment. |
| data security. With the recent corporate failures we | | | | It is now up to that employee to show that the |
| have witnessed over the past years, companies are | | | | decision to train was worthwhile. I have seen |
| highly aware of the need for risk management, | | | | employees who realized immediate advancement in |
| auditing, and internal controls for risk mitigation, so | | | | their careers after training. I always think of a young |
| there is an overwhelming need for security trained | | | | Canadian woman who leaped to WLAN support after |
| personnel. Microsoft has and always will be a | | | | achieving her CWNA and CWSP. |
| forerunner in certification. The security advancements | | | | It therefore brings me to conclude that the economic |
| in the new Vista will present opportunities for the | | | | pulse is not all hopeless. It takes creativity and |
| desktop support worker. | | | | dedication and research on the part of the IT |
| My observation during research for this article has | | | | worker. Relevance to job duties is of utmost |
| pinpointed one common factor, security. Although | | | | importance. The old adage "don't purchase a cat in a |
| there seems to be a decline in hiring for people with | | | | bag" is so very relevant today. The IT community |
| technical certs like systems and database | | | | need not think that their monetary investment in |
| administrators, the only area where there has been | | | | achieving certification is in vain. It takes a lot more |
| an increase is security. The IT professional with an | | | | planning and customizing your career track. My |
| MCSE or CCNP will improve there demand if he/she | | | | advice, always go with a winner. |
| includes a certification from a well -recognized and | | | | |