IT Security Training and Qualifications

IT Security, also referred to as Cyber Security, is the information security which is applied to technology and computer systems. 

It focuses on protecting computers, network programs and data from unauthorised access or damage. IT Security plays a huge part within many sectors such as the government, military, finance companies and private companies as they store a large amount of data and information on their computer systems that needs to be kept secure. 

What qualifications do I need?

Below are some of the most popular qualifications when it comes to IT Security training which are offered by different examination boards and universities. These qualifications may be completed in your own time alongside working or full time studying/crash course.  

ISACA- There are two popular qualifications offered by the ISACA. These include the CISA- Certified Information Systems Auditor which is a globally recognised certification for IS audit control. And the CISM- Certified Information Security Manager which is ranked as one of the highest paid and sought after IT qualifications.

CISSP- Another popular qualification for IT Security is the Certified Information Systems Security Professional qualification which is also a globally recognised certification for the next generation of information security leaders. The costs of this qualification can vary from £175- £415. CISSP is a popular requirement for many IT Security jobs.

SANS Institute- The SANS Institute offers a qualification called GIAC; Global Information Assurance Certificate qualification. This consists of 20 different courses for security professionals to receive real experience and practical skills. The cost of this qualification can vary between £247 and £650.

CREST- The Council for Registered Ethical Security Testers offers a certification supplying you with current and productive training helping you to prove commitment and capabilities. They offer two certifications; CREST Certified Tester and CREST Infrastructure or Application Certified Tester. The cost of this qualification can vary between £350 and £1,600.

CEH- The EC-Council provide a qualification to become a Certified Ethical Hacker. This qualification provides you with ethical hacking and network security training to meet the standards of highly skilled security professionals.

Apart from the above certifications and qualifications, you can also attain a degree from university. IT Security related university degrees can include; Cyber Security & Forensics, Computer & Information Security, Computer Security, Computer Networks & Security and many more. Many universities will have their own variations of Security degrees but they will all be as recognised by employers when looking for an IT Security career.

The Learning People offer and IT Security related training course called the ISC (International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium). There are three courses within the ISC programme; IT Security KnowledgeCenter, the CISSP (as mentioned above) and the SSCP (Systems Security Certified Practitioner). 

Other skills required

Qualifications are highly recommended in the IT Security sector but experience in the following are just some of the necessary skills that would be beneficial to have when looking for a job in IT Security:

• System Administration
• Problem Solving
• Network Troubleshooting
• Firewall Administration
• Routers, Hubs and Switches
• Process Improvement
• Testing
• IT Support

What jobs can I get in IT Security?

Once you have completed a form of IT Security training there are many different job roles within IT Security. They can differ depending on experience, the company and what qualifications you have. Below are some examples of different IT Security job roles:

• IT Security Engineer
• IT Security Analyst
• IT Security Manager
• Head of IT Security
• IT Security Consultant
• IT Security Project Manager
• Penetration Tester