To meet cybersecurity certification industry needs, cybersecurity professionals can add huge opportunities to increase their job prospects and earning potential by adding the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) to their resume.
The CISSP has become indispensable for anyone seeking to gain work on government contracts related to cybersecurity. As Amazon prepares to bring 25,000 tech-related jobs to Northern Virginia, demand for this certification is expected to increase drastically.
Five-year industry veterans often don’t have time or resources to devote to earning a certification as rigorous as the CISSP. This is especially true for workers in the Fredericksburg region. Where qualified candidates had to commute to Northern Virginia to receive in-person CISSP prep until very recently. For a young professional who may have recently started a family, this is not an attractive option.
In addition to the time investment, they often don’t have $4,000 to $5,000 that many typical CISSP prep programs cost.
But every year they don’t earn their CISSP, these workers are leaving valuable career opportunities on the table.
Providing Solutions
Continuing and Professional Studies at the University of Mary Washington saw this need. As a result, the partnerships with the GO Virginia grant, King George County, Stafford County, and the Fredericksburg economic development authorities. UMW opened registration for the CISSP certification course. The course’s first session was in February 2020 and ran through May.
Having local, in-person training allows students to connect with area experts in their industry.
Cybersecurity certification at the University of Mary Washington provides CISSP certification locally. Both individuals and businesses now have access without traveling too much. Plus, the grant money makes it more affordable than comparable programs.
Testimonials
“The fact that this is being hosted at the University of Mary Washington, which is near to where I live—even though I have a wife and a boy and another boy on the way, it’s something I can work into my schedule,” said Matthew Fields, a consultant with Fredericksburg-based PUEO, which provides a range of digital solutions to defense, government and business clients.
PUEO founder Micah Mossman said his firm is happy to see UMW taking the lead in providing locally-based training to help the region’s businesses access a labor market with more CISSP certified individuals.
“This program sends a compelling message to organizations looking to hire—whether they are government or private-sector—that we really have a focus on building cyber talent here in the Fredericksburg region,” he said.
Providing solutions to employers and professionals is the Continuing and Professional Studies mission at the University of Mary Washington. By staying in close touch with the Fredericksburg region’s employers, Continuing and Professional Studies constantly works to build and customize courses, degrees, and certification programs. That provides just-in-time learning to adults in the workforce seeking to get the most out of their careers. Check out our full list of course offerings at All Courses.
Learn more about CISSP Certification.
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