Commerce expands (ISC)2 certification training

The Commerce Department is expanding training for its information security personnel, the nonprofit organization that will provide the training announced today.

The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, or (ISC)2, will offer on-site, classroom-based training for its Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP), Systems Security Certified Professional (SSCP) and Certification and Accreditation Professional (CAP) credentials, said Lynn McNulty, (ISC)2’s director of government affairs.

Commerce signed the contract for the deal May 17, he said.

Information security managers and employees can use vouchers to take the (ISC)2’s Common Body of Knowledge (CBK) review seminar, which tests knowledge of 10 specific IT security domains. The training prepares students to take examinations for any of the three credentials.

The vouchers allow holders to take any CBK review course in the country within one year of the time the voucher is issued, McNulty said.

(ISC)2 will also provide Commerce with monthly reports of voucher activity, McNulty said. The reports will enable IT program managers to see who is using their vouchers and where, which will optimize how they are used.

Commerce’s education plan reflects federal agencies’ growing appreciation of the need for professional information security workers to improve the security of their IT systems, McNulty said.

“This is exactly the kind of education program that is advocated by the Office of Management and Budget for inclusion in the forthcoming Information System Security Line of Business Centers of Excellence initiative,” McNulty added.

Agencies are turning to (ISC)2 and other organizations to educate their workers to gain center of excellence status, he said.

The arrangement will also save Commerce money on travel expenses, McNulty said. Commerce employees can use local (ISC)2 services instead of traveling to use official department services.