Gartner Research

How to Hire Security Staff Using Professional Information Security Certification

Published: 31 July 2015

ID: G00277615

Analyst(s): L Akshay, Carsten Casper

Summary

Due to a lack of formal security-related education, security professionals turn to certifications to prove their expertise. Hiring managers can use certifications to winnow large numbers of applications for technical roles, but the final selection must be based on skills, attitude and cultural fit.

Table Of Contents
  • Key Challenges

Introduction

Analysis

  • Security as a Profession
    • Certificates Are an Indication of Personal Knowledge
    • The Business Implications of Recruiting and Encouraging Certificate Holders
    • The Personal Implications of Getting a Certificate
    • What Do You Want to Prove?
    • Categorizing Certifications
    • Widely Known and Emerging Certifications
    • Using Certification as a Differentiator
    • The Employer's Perspective
    • How Employers Should Position Candidates
    • What Makes a Certification Useful?
    • Security Certifications as Enablers for Efficient Organizations

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