And poll respondents expected another 15 percent hike last year. The need to know more, and attempts to keep up with the ever-increasing hacker community, are spawning more security certification programs and training courses. Several vendors, as well as industry organizations, have now developed their own certification programs. The consultant sidestepped the various training courses and program available because of his extensive hands-on knowledge and experience. He adds, however, that candidates should read several study guides about specific technology concepts.
Security touches everything.
The best thing about being a security professional, however, is the opportunity to work with and learn about new technologies. You're constantly exposed to a number of different things as a consultant, whereas in a corporate staff environment, you're focused on one environment. Further threats may spike certification enrollments Schatz predicts the need for security professionals will keep growing as the level of threat increases in corporate and Internet security. Just think, up until a few years ago, most companies didn't even have firewalls around their corporate site or intranets. According to a CSI survey in 1997, organizations averaged one information security specialist for every 1,600 employees.