If you want to get started in a cybersecurity career, there is no shortage of professional certifications to help you do that. There are so many that it can actually be quite overwhelming for some new to the field. One of the best certifications that should definitely be somewhere in your beginning five is the CompTIA Security+ certification.
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Paul Ricketts
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Why Get a CompTIA Security+ Certification?
[fa icon="calendar'] Feb 23, 2023 10:23:20 AM / by Paul Ricketts
How Long Does CISSP Certification Take in Washington, DC?
[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 31, 2023 11:09:00 AM / by Paul Ricketts
The Certified Information Systems Security Professional, or CISSP, is the gold standard for security certifications. It is a globally acknowledged benchmark for information security professionals. As a result, it isn’t a surprise that getting a CISSP certification requires significant time and effort. The certification has work experience requirements, the exam requires training, studying, and exam prep, and a professional endorsement must be submitted. The CISSP certification is far more than simply passing a certification exam to earn the credential.
Three Popular Cybersecurity Career Paths
[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 26, 2023 11:04:00 AM / by Paul Ricketts
Today’s information technology and cybersecurity industries are exploding with job openings – especially in the metro Washington, DC area. There are more available positions in these fields than there are qualified professionals to fill them. There is no better time to begin a cybersecurity career than right now. Whether you are just out of college or you are transitioning from another IT role, getting started in cybersecurity is a solid choice.
How to Become a Project Manager in Washington, DC
[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 19, 2023 10:56:00 AM / by Paul Ricketts
The Project Manager career path prepares students for a management-level role in an organization’s IT department. Professionals on this path will learn how to lead, coordinate, integrate, and be accountable for the success of an organizational project while maintaining alignment with the organization’s priorities. The project manager career path will help individuals develop a core technical project leadership skillset. These technical skills apply to leading an IT team and adopt the essential communication and leadership skills required for the role.
Preventing Employee Turnover in Your IT Team
[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 12, 2023 11:40:00 AM / by Paul Ricketts
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2021 turnover rate in the information technology (IT) industry was 22.1 percent, which is higher than many of the other business sectors included in the reporting. Why is there such attrition in technology roles? Is it something that organizations simply have to live with?
Absolutely not. But to prevent employee turnover, organizations have to understand why it’s so important and what they can do to reduce the number of IT employees who leave.
How Does Ethical Hacking Work?
[fa icon="calendar'] Jan 5, 2023 11:35:00 AM / by Paul Ricketts
Information security breaches happen. You’ve probably heard about more than a handful in the last several years. Data breaches are a challenge that all organizations face in today’s technologically advanced world.
With those advances comes the darker side of technology – malicious hackers, cybercriminals, and cyberattacks. Protecting sensitive data is more important than ever, and companies are acknowledging the potential risks and finding ways to mitigate them. One solution is ethical hacking.
IT Certifications Aligned with the Investigate NICE Category
[fa icon="calendar'] Dec 2, 2022 2:32:08 PM / by Paul Ricketts
As the demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to grow and the pool of available talent struggles to keep up, hiring managers and recruiters are tasked with finding the best candidates to fill open positions. It's important that they identify, recruit, develop, and retain qualified employees to protect their organizations' data and digital assets. The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) framework is designed to help hiring managers create successful cybersecurity teams and do just that.
IT Certifications Aligned with the Operate and Maintain NICE Category
[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 26, 2022 3:02:00 PM / by Paul Ricketts
The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) framework is a blueprint that classifies, explains, and manages cybersecurity work. The framework uses a building block approach that allows companies and agencies to speak a common language regarding cybersecurity roles.
What Are the Components of the NICE Workforce Framework?
[fa icon="calendar'] Oct 18, 2022 2:57:34 PM / by Paul Ricketts
The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) is a partnership between academia, the government, and the private sector. The framework focuses on cybersecurity education and workforce development. It is designed to denote and encourage successes in cybersecurity learning as well as to promote change and improvement where it is needed. The NICE Framework is part of the Applied Cybersecurity Division within the Information Technology Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Top Cybersecurity Roles That Align with the NICE Framework
[fa icon="calendar'] Sep 29, 2022 3:11:51 PM / by Paul Ricketts
NICE, or the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, is part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NICE works within private and public sectors, the federal government, and academia to improve the quality and quantity of solutions to cybersecurity challenges. It accomplishes this with the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. Since 2014, the Framework has been available to the public, initially used voluntarily. However, in 2015, the Federal Cybersecurity Workforce Assessment Act was passed. The Act required federal agencies to use the NICE Framework to recruit technology and cybersecurity professionals to fill federal roles.
What Does an AWS Developer Do?
[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 31, 2022 9:52:42 AM / by Paul Ricketts
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the top cloud computing platform worldwide. In Q1 2022, AWS held 33% of the cloud computing market, with the closest competitor at only 22%. Since its launch in 2006, the AWS platform has grown year over year and shows no signs of slowing down. This growth means that the demand for professionals like AWS Developers also continues to increase.
What is it Like to Be an Ethical Hacker?
[fa icon="calendar'] Aug 16, 2022 12:37:00 PM / by Paul Ricketts
While more and more people are becoming familiar with the terms “ethical hacker” and “white-hat hacker,” there is still some mystery about what they do exactly. Organizations and businesses employ ethical hackers to help prevent data theft and fraud and to help improve the security of their computer systems, networks, and applications.