Security Certifications in Higher Education

The Security Task Force has created a resource page that provides information about security certifications, including links to known security certifications (under the heading of "Community Resources"). Please contact us if we are missing any known security certifications.

According to the 2006 security survey conducted by the EDUCAUSE Center for Applied Research (Safeguarding the Tower: IT Security in Higher Education), the following information is available regarding security certifications by IT security staff at colleges and universities:

• 18% of the respondents indicated that the person in charge of IT security holds one IT security certificate
• 3% of those in charge of IT security hold two certificates
• 3% of those in charge of IT security hold three certificates

Of the individuals who have certification, the following information available:

• 15.3% hold the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certificate;
• 5.5% hold the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) certificate;
• 5.2% hold the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC);
• 2.4% hold the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certificate; and
• 14.9% hold other security certifications

The Security Task Force Awareness and Training Working Group is continuing to promote security training for IT staff and evaluate the role of security certifications in establishing credentials that advance the IT security profession in higher education. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.