Updated CompTIA Security+ Exam Reflects Changes In IT Security Landscape

PRESS RELEASE

Downers Grove, Ill., June 2, 2011 – CompTIA, the leading provider of vendor-neutral certifications for the world’s technology workforce, today announced the availability of an updated version of its CompTIA Security+ certification exam.

CompTIA Security+ is an ISO 17024 accredited certification and, as such, undergoes regular reviews and updates of the exam objectives. The exam last underwent a significant update in 2008.

“The new exam covers more of the approach that organizations need to take to proactively address security risk control and mitigation,” said Terry Erdle, executive vice president, skills certification, CompTIA. “We’ve also included more content in areas such as forensics, cloud computing and virtualization. The focus is on the proactive elements like designing network security to accommodate cloud and the potential threats associated with it.”

CompTIA’s Eighth Annual Global Information Security Trends study published in November 2010 found that security is an upper level IT priority for more organizations – 49 percent in 2010, up from 35 percent in 2008, and projected to reach 58 percent in 2012. The study also revealed that demand for IT professionals with security expertise continues to trend upward; and that more organizations feel that security may be improved if more IT staff attained security certifications.

Organizations across a range of industries – information technology, telecommunications, professional services and others – rely on CompTIA Security+ as a skills benchmark for IT staff members responsible for managing systems and securing networks and devices. In addition, federal government security requirements such as U.S. Department of Defense Directive 8570.01-M identifies CompTIA Security+ as one of the required certification options for department employees and contractors engaged in information security work.

Like all CompTIA certifications, CompTIA Security+ is a vendor-neutral credential, making it relevant across a broad spectrum of network, operating system, product and security environments. CompTIA Security+ certification is designed for IT security professionals with a minimum of two years experience in IT administration with a focus on security. Day-to-day technical information security experience and broad knowledge of security concerns and implementation are recommended for exam candidates, as is CompTIA Network+ certification.

Areas or domains covered by the 2011 edition of the CompTIA Security+ exam include network security (21 percent of exam), compliance and operational security (18 percent), threats and vulnerabilities (21 percent), application, data and host security (16 percent), access control and identity management (13 percent) and cryptography (11 percent).

The new CompTIA Security+ exam (SY0-301) is available at Pearson VUE and Prometric test centers worldwide. Exam vouchers can be purchased from the CompTIA Marketplace. The prior version of the CompTIA Security+ exam (SY0-201) retires December 31, 2011.

Publishers Axzo Press, Element K, gtslearning and Wiley/Sybex have new textbooks ready for the new CompTIA Security+ exam. Visit CompTIA Study Materials for a complete list of books and study guides that have been reviewed by industry experts and approved by CompTIA through the CompTIA Approved Quality Content program.

About CompTIA CompTIA is the voice of the world’s information technology (IT) industry. As a non-profit trade association advancing the global interests of IT professionals and companies, CompTIA is the recognized authority for IT education and credentials and the primary advocate for IT businesses and workers. Through its foundation, CompTIA also enables disadvantaged populations to gain the skills they need for employment in the IT industry. CompTIA’s vision of the IT landscape is shaped by more than 25 years of global perspective and more than 2,000 members and 1,000 business partners. For more information, visit www.comptia.org or follow CompTIA on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/comptia.