Certification Magazine - November 2007 - (Page 39)

INSIDE CERTIFICATION continued from page 25 than, information security manager at Tata Consultancy Services in India. Demand for CISM is growing. More than 2,000 candidates registered for the June 2007 CISM exam — nearly a 25 percent increase from June 2006 — and more than 4,000 candidates are expected to take the exam this year. Like the CISA exam, the CISM exam is offered twice annually. It is available in three languages and at more than 230 global testing sites. The test covers five areas of information security management: information security governance, information risk management, information security program development, information security program management and incident management and response. These areas and statements were developed as a result of a job practice analysis of the work information security managers perform. To earn the CISM, a minimum of five years of information security work experience is required (certain substitutions are accepted), in addition to a passing score on the exam. As employers realize the importance of information security and governance, they look to certifications to identify prospective employees with experience and expertise in these fields. A quick search of Monster.com reveals hundreds of job listings specifying a preference for CISA or CISM. “No enterprise can surpass the abilities and talents of its employees,” said Marios Damianides, Ernst & Young partner of security and technology services. “The fields of technology and security are ever-changing, and I need to know that employees are prepared to face such challenges. ISACA’s designations are excellent indicators of proficiency in these areas.” 8 INTERFACE continued from page 33 The greatest need in terms of technical capabilities for Aquent’s IT Solutions group is in business intelligence and analytics. To attract and retain employees in this crucial discipline, the company offers ample opportunities for promotion, additional responsibility and chances to train other people, and it also maintains a competitive salary and bonus structure. The main incentive in recruitment and retention, though, is the division’s performance-driven culture, Neff said. “We’re a group that has a tremendous performance record. We have delivery statistics that are well above the industry norm,” he said. “Our organization takes a lot of pride in our ability to sustain that level of performance. We have an extremely positive relationship to our customers, and a lot of that is around the fact that we meet every commitment we put in front of them. “Our environment is attractive. We have a very high retention — when people join here, they tend to stay for a long time. I have people who came here as H1-B (visa) employees, and they’ve been here so long that last week, four of them became U.S. citizens. We have continuity, and when you’ve got this kind of knowledge sharing between people who’ve been solving problems together for a very long time, then it becomes a very exciting environment for new people to join. People tell us they’ve learned twice as much in half the time from when they were out on their own because of the support they get here.” Neff advises IT professionals who value productive and meaningful work to find employers who offer an atmosphere in which experiential development and frequent feedback are matter of course. “As an IT professional who’s been in the business for 33 years and someone who’s basically built an organization that delivers tremendous performance for our customers, if someone really wants to learn and be an outstanding performer, then they should be seeking out organizations where they have an opportunity to learn from people who are experienced in the field — those who have been there and done it before, learned how to do it the right way and understand the pitfalls you can get into. It’s difficult to train someone in a classroom environment to get all that.” 8 – Brian Summerfield, bsummerfield@certmag.com Howard Nicholson, CISA, is international vice president of ISACA and chair of the CGEIT certification board. He can be reached at editor@certmag.com. http://Monster.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Certification Magazine - November 2007

Certification Magazine - November 2007 Contents Editor's Letter Data Stream Tech Careers Academic Connection Dear Techie Virtual Village Certification Outside Technology Inside Certification The Webmaster: Online Everyman Interface Time Tips: How to Fit Certification into Your Schedule Ad Index Endtag

Certification Magazine - November 2007

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