[ news_security_news ]
(ISC)2 Announces ALIG Program
SecurityProNews
Staff Writer
2005-06-10
 Insider Reports RSS Feed
The International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium Inc. ((ISC)2), the non-profit international leader in educating, qualifying and certifying information security professionals worldwide and currently celebrating the Year of the Information Security Professional, today announced an Affiliated Local Interest Group (ALIG) program.
The ALIG program is designed to meet the peer networking and professional growth needs of (ISC)2 members and other information security professionals by supporting their security association chapters at the local level. The pilot phase of the program will run until the end of the year and includes select security trade associations worldwide who currently have relationships with (ISC)2 or (ISC)2 members on their association rosters.
ALIG helps participating chapters grow their memberships by offering enhanced member benefits such as convenient education opportunities and greater access to other local professionals and peer networking opportunities. The initiative also aims to promote the information security profession worldwide by increasing awareness of the importance and benefits of professional certification and continuing professional education among information security professionals. The founding member organizations participating in the pilot program include:
-- Africa: CISSPs in South Africa
-- Americas: Federation of Security Professionals (FSP) - Canada (www.fspgroup.ca); Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) Baltimore - U.S. (www.issa-balt.org); and ISSA Northern Virginia - U.S. (www.issa-nova.org)
-- Asia/Pacific: CISSP Korea Chapter; Information Security Interest Group (ISIG) - Australia (www.isig.org.au); ISSA Hong Kong (www.issa.org.hk); Malaysia CISSP Special Interest Group (MyCISSPSIG); and Special Interest Group in Security and Information Integrity (SIG^2) - Singapore (www.security.org.sg)
-- Europe: Finnish Information Security Association (FISA) - Finland (www.tietoturva.fi); ISSA France (www.issafrance.org); and ISSA UK (www.issa-uk.org).
Urpo Kaila, CISSP, board member of the Finnish Information Security Association (FISA), said: "This program is timely and welcome. As the biggest professional security association in Finland with over 700 members, we have made great inroads to raising awareness about information security professionalism. We already have over 150 CISSPs in good standing in Finland. Through this program, we gain a vehicle to spread the message about ongoing certification to our membership and other professionals."
Under the program, developed with input from (ISC)2 members and leaders of various industry association chapters, (ISC)2 will provide resources to each association chapter based upon the number of (ISC)2 members belonging to each individual chapter. In addition, (ISC)2 members who form new chapters are eligible for resources through ALIG, whether the new chapter is part of an existing parent association or is an independent chapter unaffiliated with any other association. ALIG program participants also gain the opportunity to conduct joint events, such as Continuing Professional Education (CPE) courses and official (ISC)2 CBK(R) Review Seminars.
"We are thrilled to offer this program, which will provide our 35,000 members and other professionals around the world with convenient venues to connect with each other and enhance their professional growth," said Dow A. Williamson, CISSP, (ISC)2 director of corporate development. "We have productive, long-standing relationships with many of the associations participating in this pilot. ALIG formalizes those relationships, provides our fellow associations' chapters with additional direct support and opens the door to many mutually beneficial opportunities."
Aloysius Cheang, CISSP, CISA, LCP, GCIH, president of SIG^2, commented: "SIG^2 is very pleased to be a founding member of this first-of-its-kind initiative from (ISC)2. (ISC)2 is the worldwide voice for information security, and this initiative demonstrates the kind of leadership we in Asia have come to expect from them. The ALIG program is exactly what we need to grow the information security profession in Asia and around the world. SIG^2 looks forward to a long continued relationship with (ISC)2."
(ISC)2 already offers members of fellow associations discounts on education. ALIG participants' members will receive additional discounts on (ISC)2's education and certification services, including its online CBK Review Seminars, as well other online education courses for groups of 10 or more, and its instructor-led CBK Review Seminars, as well as discounts on reference books and merchandise from the (ISC)2 Store. Additional program benefits will be determined after the conclusion of the pilot phase.
Larry Chaif, B.Sc., CISSP, FLMI, ACS, executive and founding member of the Federation of Security Professionals, added: "We applaud (ISC)2 for initiating this leading-edge program. ALIG gives us the unique opportunity to collaborate with other industry associations, offer enhanced services to our members and gain access to resources to strengthen our chapter. It also allows us to continue the important work of supporting professionals and furthering the information security profession in Canada."
Formed in 1989 by a group of leading information security organizations, (ISC)2 is the credentialing body for both the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP(R)), considered the Gold Standard in international information security certifications, and the Systems Security Certified Practitioner (SSCP(R)). It is also the guardian of the (ISC)2 CBK, a living compendium of global information security best practices.
"In this Year of the Information Security Professional, ALIG advances (ISC)2's 16-year mission to foster and encourage information security education and certification throughout the world. It also provides a valuable service to thousands of our constituents who would like to network with their fellow professionals," Williamson added. "After the pilot phase is complete, we will consider expanding the program to include additional information assurance organizations throughout the world."
About the Author:
SecurityProNews is a daily online and email publication focusing on internet security issues.
More news_security_news Articles
Insider Reports RSS Feed
|
|
iEntry 10th Anniversary
RSS
Archive
