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Security Certification Essentials

From Dori Reuscher,
Your Guide to Computer Certification.
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Part One: Certifications Offered

The table below displays many of the security certifications currently offered. The costs listed are for the exam only. Keep in mind that training classes and materials will significantly increase the cost in many cases.

International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2
Vendor Site
CISSP - Certified Information System Security Professional
Requires: 1 Exam (250 questions, 6 hours)
Approximate Cost = $450

SSCP - Systems Security Certified Practitioner
Requires: 1 Exam (125 questions, 3 hours)
Approximate Cost = $295

Prosoft
Vendor Site
CIW - Security Professional
Requires: Master CIW Administrator Certification which includes 4 exams
Approximate Cost = $500 ($125 per exam)

GIAC - Global Information Assurance Certification
Vendor Site
GSEC - GIAC Security Engineer
Requires: 2 Exams (100 questions per exam)
Approximate Cost = $800

RSA Security
Vendor Site
RSA/CSE - RSA Certified Systems Engineer
Requires: 1 Exam
Approximate Cost = $150

RSA/CA - RSA Certified Administrator
Requires: 1 Exam
Approximate Cost = $150

RSA/CI - RSA Certified Instructors
Requires: CSE or CA Cert + Workshop
Approximate Cost = $300 ($150 per exam)

CheckPoint
Vendor Site
CCSA - Check Point Certified Security Administrator
Requires: 1 Exam
Approximate Cost = $150

CCSE - Check Point Certified Security Engineer
Requires: 1 Exam
Approximate Cost = $150

Cisco
Vendor Site
Cisco Firewall Specialist
Requires: CCNA + 2 Exams
Approximate Cost = $375 ($125 per exam)

Cisco VPN Specialist
Requires: CCNA + 2 Exams
Approximate Cost = $375 ($125 per exam)

Cisco IDS Specialist
Requires: CCNA + 2 Exams
Approximate Cost = $375 ($125 per exam)

CCSP - Cisco Certified Security Professional
Requires: CCNA + 5 Exams
Approximate Cost = $750 ($125 per exam)

TruSecure
Vendor Site
TICSA - TruSecure ICSA Certified Security Associate
Requires: 1 Exam (70 questions, 90 minutes)
Approximate Cost = $295

TICSE - TruSecure ICSA Certified Security Engineer
Requires: TICSA Cert + 1 Exam

BrainBench
Vendor Site
BIS - Brainbench Internet Security Certification
Requires: 1 Exam
Approximate Cost = $25

BNS - Brainbench Network Security Certification
Requires: 1 Exam
Approximate Cost = $25

Learning Tree
Vendor Site
NSCP - Network Security Certified Professional
Requires: 3 Core Courses, 1 Elective Course and associated exams
Approximate Cost = $937- $2645

CompTIA
Vendor Site
Security+
Requires: 1 Exam
Approximate Cost = $199 ($149 for CompTIA members)

Security Certified Program
Vendor Site
SCNP - Security Certified Network Professional
Requires: 2 Exams
Approximate Cost = $300 ($150 per exam)

SCNA - Security Certified Network Architect
Requires: 2 Exams
Approximate Cost = $360 ($180 per exam)

Part Two: Top Ten Reasons to Get a Security Certification

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