The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), the leading provider of vendor-neutral certifications for the world's technology workforce, today announced the availability of new objectives for its CompTIA Security+ certification.

Publication of 2008 Edition objectives, which detail the content of the certification exam, is a prelude to the launch of an updated CompTIA Security+ scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2008.

The update of CompTIA Security+ is in keeping with CompTIA's practice of continuous and ongoing review of its certification content to assure that it addresses the latest changes in technology and reflects the skills needed by tech workers and required by employers.

In the case of CompTIA Security+, greater emphasis is being placed on knowing how to address specific security issues, rather than simply being able to recognize these issues. The new exam will cover six major objectives, or topics:

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  Systems Security
  Network Infrastructure
  Access Control
  Assessments and Audits
  Cryptography
  Organizational Security

The Access Control and Assessments and Audits topics are new additions to the exam.

Organizations across a wide range of industries including professional services, agriculture and food, information technology, telecommunications, government, and the United States military use CompTIA Security+ as a skills benchmark for staff members responsible for managing systems and network security.

A 2008 CompTIA-commissioned survey of more than 2,000 individuals with responsibilities for information security found that more organizations are requiring security certifications such as CompTIA Security+ for their IT staff. In 2007, about one-third of all organizations required security certification for employees. Thats an increase from the previous two years (26 percent in 2006 and 14 percent in 2005).

The study also revealed that IT security certifications saved U.S. companies an average of more than $675,000 in 2007 because certified staff was better able to identify potential security risks proactively, and to respond more quickly to potential security issues.

The current version of the CompTIA Security+ exam remains available worldwide. Candidates now studying for, or considering CompTIA Security+ certification, are strongly encouraged to continue their preparation and test for the certification based on its current objectives.