Computer security certificates or
certifications are an important educational step for information
technology (IT) professionals to start or enhance their career in
technical security. Online certification and certificate programs are
available from colleges and universities, as well as IT industry
organizations.
Overview of Online Computer Security Certificates and Certifications
Both certificates and certifications validate an IT professional's knowledge and skills of
information security
practices and procedures. However, online certificate programs are
usually offered by an educational institution and teach security skills,
while certification programs are developed by industry organizations
and validate the security knowledge of an IT professional.
Several universities and colleges in the U.S. offer online computer
security certificates. On the certification side, some well-known
credentials include the Security+, CISSP and GIAC certifications.
There are certificate and certification programs for entry-level and
advanced security professionals. The depth of the technical skills and
knowledge covered depends on the level of the program. To earn a
certificate, individuals must complete and pass three to five security
courses. Most computer security certificate programs can be completed
online. However, there are some schools that require students to
complete an on-campus lab.
Earning a security certification does not require any coursework, but
requires an exam which is completed onsite at a testing center. To
prepare for the test, some individuals choose to enroll in a classroom
or e-learning course, or just purchase self-study materials.
Additionally, requirements for earning a computer security certification
may be certain number of years of experience or a prerequisite
certification.
Courses for computer security certificates and certifications focus
heavily on virus prevention. Class topics include intrusion detection,
firewall configuration and software applications and coding. In addition
to preventing cyber attacks, coursework covers how to handle a virus if
one occurs.
Using Cryptography
Students learn how programming errors can create security 'holes'
within code. The course focuses on teaching programmers how to prevent
and fix application errors.
Security Protocols
This online security course is designed to teach students about
protocols, including SSL, IPSec and WEP. Coursework focuses on security
vulnerabilities, such as design flaws. Individuals should have knowledge
of cryptography before enrolling in this course.
Emerging Threats and Defenses
Coursework in this class focuses on threats such as phishing, online
extortion, crimeware and mobile worms. Students learn how to secure VoIP
applications, as well as Windows Vista.
Data Management
Students learn the necessary techniques to ensure data integrity.
Skills covered include database administration, concurrent processing
and data distribution. Coursework covers basic SQL commands.
Job roles for computer security professionals include network
engineers, analysts and database administrators. Information security is
a fast-growing field and according the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
and jobs for computer security professionals are expected to increase
by 30% between 2008-2018. The median wage for individuals in computer
security job roles is $66,310 (
www.bls.gov).
Many times, a certificate or certification is considered continuing
education and candidates who enroll in these programs already hold a
post-secondary degree. However, computer security professionals who do
not already hold a bachelor's or master's degree should consider
programs in Management Information Systems (MIS), network administration
and computer science.
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