TrainACE - IT and Cybersecurity Training Blog

Security and risk management are huge concerns for most organizations, especially those in the government. The Risk Management Framework (RMF) is a set of criteria that directs how organizations’ IT systems must be built, protected, and monitored. RMF is the process that is used by all federal government departments, including the Intelligence Community (IC) and the Department of Defense (DoD). The RMF incorporates information security and risk management activities into early development stages to help avoid risk.

If you are in a job role that focuses on or around authorizing and maintaining information systems, or you would like to be, then earning the Certified Authorization Professional (CAP) certification is the best way to deepen your skills and advance your career. The CAP credential demonstrates that you have the skills and abilities to assess risk associated with IT security and your ability to implement security requirements and maintain documentation.

If you’re looking to build an IT career and are trying to decide whether a network engineering career path is right for you, one question you’re probably asking yourself is how much salary you will be able to make once you have your CCNA.

Let's outline what CCNA is and why it’s important, then break down the CCNA average salary both nationally and locally for the Washington DC region.

You’ll often see Cisco’s CCNA certification referred to as an entry-level accreditation, but closer examination of Cisco’s suggested prerequisites recommends that candidates have at least two years of network experience before taking the test. This can be confusing as the term 'entry-level' suggests that a candidate with limited experience can pass the exam in a relatively short period of time and get an entry-level IT job.

So, if Cisco is recommending candidates need years of experience, is CCNA entry-level?

Cisco Systems dominates the IT networking industry. Nearly 50% of the world’s Ethernet configurations run on Cisco equipment, which means, if you are interested in pursuing a career that involves computer networking and communication, at some point, you are likely to have to handle Cisco Systems. For this reason, the entry-level Cisco CCNA certification is an important one to have under your belt.

That is all well and good, but how hard is CCNA to pass?

If you are at the point where you’re asking, ‘is CEH hard to pass?’ chances are that you are familiar with what an ethical hacker does and how important the CEH certification can be to someone looking to become one. Right now, you are looking for some reassurance that any time and money invested in training and certification is worth it. So, while we can’t predict if you will pass, we can give you a sense of what you need to do to get your CEH accreditation and what to expect from the exam.

In recent years becoming a certified ethical hacker has become a much sought-after skill in the cybersecurity world. Seeded by small groups of early hackers who bucked the trend of hacking for financial gain or simple disruption, it took time for the practice to be accepted as a legitimate role in the business world.

But how do you become a certified ethical hacker?

It’s a question we hear a lot here at TrainACE – Can I get into IT without a degree?

In short, yes you can. An increasing percentage of successful IT professionals have built their careers on their experience, and by obtaining professional certifications, rather than taking a four-year degree. Professional IT certifications cover a wide range of topics in a focused way, and many can be obtained relatively quickly. Increasingly employers in Maryland are looking for people with specific skill sets and are relying on certifications to assess an individual’s skills and knowledge.

Let’s explore how you can get into IT without a degree.

CompTIA certifications are globally recognized and highly sought-after credentials, and Security+ is considered by many to be an essential cybersecurity certification. Information technology professionals who earn the CompTIA Security+ certification are in high demand worldwide by many large corporations and organizations. In Washington, D.C., where many businesses are headquartered, there is a huge need for cybersecurity professionals to fill the hundreds of available job roles.

Each year, there are more cybersecurity attacks than the year before. As a result, organizations are allocating more of their IT budgets to increase security, which leads to the need to hire more cybersecurity professionals to help protect their data and systems. In the metropolitan Washington, DC area, there are hundreds of open positions for cybersecurity experts and not enough qualified candidates to fill them. So, what are the benefits of security+ certification?  

As a network engineer in Washington, D.C., you will be in the heart of the country and the IT industry. The duties of someone in this role are wide-ranging and can be very complex. Putting it simply, a network engineer is responsible for building and maintaining the daily operations of an organization’s computer networks, including an intranet, extranet, wide area network (WAN), and local area network (LAN). However, there isn’t a typical day for a network engineer, and you never know what will come up.

CompTIA certifications are some of the most sought-after credentials worldwide. The Network+ certification is an entry-level designation that validates your proficiency in managing, maintaining, installing, troubleshooting, and configuring necessary network infrastructures. Like other certifications, Network+ requires that you pass a certification exam to earn your credential. While this certification is a beginner-level credential, it doesn’t mean the exam will be easy. It requires that you study sufficiently and that you have the necessary knowledge and skills if you want to pass.