Why Certification Matters

Information Security Certification has never been more important. Led by the U.S. Department of Defense's ground breaking 8570 instruction requiring all workers with IT security responsibility to become certified, certification is one of the hottest topics in information security. However, certification means more than just being able to get or keep a job. We offer the Certification Matters series, a collection of interviews dedicated to exploring the value of becoming certified in information security for your consideration and reading. If you hold a GIAC or other information security certification and are willing to be interviewed by email, send a note to stephen@giac.org.

Studying the material, having the books as a desktop resource, and then creating my own study notes resulted in a higher level of knowledge retention. That translates into being able to bring technical skills to the job when the situation requires it. I do find myself bringing specific recommendations to the table and tracing them back to the instruction and certification process. - Jeffrey Wiley, Raytheon

Stephen Northcutt - The SANS Institute