(ISC)², a nonprofit association of certified cybersecurity professionals, introduced its new entry-level certification pilot program in Asia Pacific, which will serve as an entry point for newcomers who don’t have prior IT or cybersecurity experience.

The certification was developed to support and nurture a new generation of cybersecurity professionals entering the field, no matter their age, industry, or skill level. From university graduates to mid-career professionals, the certification will assure employers that they have the foundational knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed in entry- and junior-level roles.

“Our latest Cybersecurity Workforce Study found that the global cybersecurity workforce has a shortage of 2.72 million professionals,” said Clar Rosso, CEO, ISC. “Asia Pacific has the largest regional gap — 1.42 million cybersecurity professionals are needed to meet demand. There is a clear need to build more talent in the industry.” 

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(ISC)² is focused on inspiring a safe and secure cyber world. Known for the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification, (ISC)2 offers a portfolio of credentials that are part of a holistic, pragmatic approach to security. It has 168,000 members composed of certified cyber, information, software, and infrastructure security professionals.

The (ISC)² entry-level cybersecurity certification pilot program evaluates candidates across five domains:

1. Security principles
2. Business continuity (BC)
3. Disaster recovery (DR) and incident response concepts, access controls concepts
4. Network security
5. Security operations. 

Career opportunities

Candidates who successfully complete the program will be exposed to fundamental technical concepts and cybersecurity best practices, providing a strong foundation for them to attain more experience and industry qualifications over time.

“Our new foundational certification will support the creation of new career opportunities for individuals entering the cybersecurity workforce and narrow the skills gap,” Rosso said. 

The conclusion of the pilot program and launch of the official entry-level certification program is expected later this summer.

Once the pilot programme concludes, future plans include translating the English exam into Chinese, Japanese, and Korean for candidates in the region. The move will also serve to smoothen the transition for new entrants into the sector, and ensure that it remains unhindered by language barriers.

To find out more about the (ISC)2 entry-level cybersecurity certification, please visit this site. 

Interested candidates may also sign up for online self-paced training, online instructor-led training, and purchase an exam voucher for the certification at the link above.