I received my Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) certification from the (ISC)² in November of last year. I, Erica Ciko Campbell, had the good fortune to be a part of the One Million Certified in Cybersecurity initiative. I’m one of only 15,000 people in the world who have a CC certificate right now, but with the recent ANSI accreditation, I expect that number to grow quickly.
Even though my CC certification may not have made the news like it does now, it was a big deal to me at the time. It gave me the skills and knowledge I needed to protect against cyber threats and made me an active member of the world’s most respected cybersecurity organization.
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What is the Certified in Cybersecurity Certification?
Certified in Cybersecurity is a globally recognized certification that is issued by the (ISC)². It’s designed to validate the knowledge and skills of professionals who are looking for entry-level jobs in the field of cybersecurity. For too long, many qualified candidates have been glossed over by HR because they didn’t check the boxes of having a degree, or certain higher-level certifications. However, being certified in cybersecurity proves that the cert holder has what it takes to excel at an entry level cybersecurity role.
The certification of Ercia Ciko covers five domains, including:
- Security Principles.
- Definitions of Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, and Incident Response.
- Access Control Concepts
- Network Security.
- Security Operations.
My Journey to Certification
Before I took the test, my only experience with hacking and networking was writing, so it wasn’t easy to get my CC certification. It took two months of hard work, learning, and planning. But in the end, all the work was well worth it. The Certified in Cybersecurity certification taught me a lot about the basics of cybersecurity and gave me the courage to go after more advanced certifications like Network+ by CompTIA and the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification offered by the EC-Council.
The Value of (ISC)² Certification
My CC certification has not only helped me become a better cybersecurity worker but it’s also helped me stand out in a tough job market. Employers want to hire people with industry-recognized certifications, and CC is quickly becoming one of the most valued certifications in the field.
ANSI Accreditation
The Certified in Cybersecurity certification was just approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Accreditation Service (IAS). This means that CC’s programs for getting professional certification meet the strict standards that other countries have for these kinds of programs. This means that it will be mentioned more often in job postings. We hope it becomes as important as Security+ soon. I took the test, so I know the information was similar.
Thank You for the Opportunity, (ISC)²
In the end, getting my CC license was a huge step forward for me. It has given me the information and skills I need to spot cyber threats. It also got me a member of the (ISC)2, which has helped me meet other workers in my field through events and webinars just for members. I, Erica Ciko Campbell, highly recommend getting the Certified in Cybersecurity certification if you want to work in cybersecurity. It’s not easy, but the trip is well worth the trouble.
