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IMPORTANT: If taking the exam online, you must use a computer on which you have full admin access.
Note: Scantron is changing to Meazure Learning. Scantron, Meazure Learning, and ProctorU are all one-in-the-same organization.
On or before 4 October, 2022:
After 4 October, 2022All ISA certification exams are closed-book. No reference material will be allowed in any test room. Please note that storage space will be limited.
For all CCST level exams, Units Conversion Tables will be provided to candidates in either paper format (paper/pencil exams) or accessible within the electronic test interface for reference during the exam. Click here to review the Units Conversion Tables.
You can cancel an exam through the online exam scheduling system.
You may retest as many times as needed within your exam window. However, there is a retest fee each time that is payable to ISA. If you are outside your exam window, contact certifications@isa.org. If you are within your exam window, you may reschedule your exam appointment before the online and Test Center reschedule cut-off times via the online exam scheduling system.
There is no rescheduling fee to change the time and date from one online exam appointment to another online exam appointment. However, it must be changed no less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled appointment date and time.
There is no rescheduling fee to change the time and date of an online exam appointment to an exam center appointment. However, it must be changed at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled appointment. Additionally, you must reschedule the new appointment no less than two calendar days in advance of the new appointment at a Scantron test center.
You will incur a rescheduling fee of 50 USD if you change the appointment time and/or date of a Test Center exam appointment. Rescheduling fees are payable to Scantron via a secure e-commerce site (credit card). The reschedule cut-off time is no later than two calendar days prior to the exam appointment. Additionally, if you are scheduling a new online exam appointment, it must be done no less than 24 hours prior to the new appointment date and time.
Retaking Missed Exams
If you are within your exam window, you may retake a missed exam. However, there will be a reschedule fee, payable to ISA. To reschedule, email certifications@isa.org or contact customer service at info@isa.org or +1 919-549-8411 with your request.
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ISA does not provide a passing score; you are only notified whether you passed or failed. If you fail an exam, you will receive a score report that lists the domains and indicates the percentage of questions answered correctly within each domain. Note that the percentages are not used to calculate a candidate’s passing score.
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MainOne, the premier connectivity and data center solutions company has announced that its Data Center subsidiary, MDXi is now an SAP-certified provider of Infrastructure Services for SAP solutions. The new certification confirms the ability of the company to deliver high-quality cloud and infrastructure operations services for customers running SAP solutions and recognises the company as the region’s first SAP Certified Data Centre.
The certification will enable MDXi to host and manage SAP applications utilizing the company’s enterprise cloud platforms, across its private, public and hybrid cloud solutions, via a consumption-based delivery model. As a SAP-certified provider of hosting services, MDXi will offer a cost-effective yet reliable delivery model for mission-critical applications for customers of SAP. SAP customers that rely on MainOne’s data centre for hosting services will be empowered to focus on the business value of their solutions and benefit from reduced operational expenses that a commercial data center provides.
Receiving the certificate, the Chief Executive Officer of MainOne, Funke Opeke stated, “We are pleased to receive the SAP certification for Infrastructure Operations Services, as it validates our commitment to providing world-class data center and cloud solutions in Nigeria. With this certification from SAP, it is now possible for Nigerian enterprises and businesses to host SAP applications in-country on MDXi’s Cloud platform and optimize their accounting processes, data analytics and sales chain management. This will Strengthen response times for SAP applications, ensure data security and assure more cost effective subscription charges.”
Managing Director of SAP West Africa, Kudzai Danha, said “More than ever, SAP Africa is excited about the SAP HANA® certification of partners like MainOne. The current market demand for attractive business applications in the cloud presents great business opportunities and through SAP HANA, customers can innovate and redesign business processes, capitalizing on the agility of this unique platform.”
SAP HANA Cloud is an in-memory platform that runs analytics applications smarter, business processes faster and data infrastructures simpler! It is the foundation for all the data needs of a business, removing the burden of maintaining separated legacy systems and siloed data, so business can run simple in this new digital economy.
The SAP certification process is rigorous and culminates with an onsite audit session to determine that the provider meets all the local and global requirements as stipulated by SAP to run its applications.
Savvy, talented and knowledgeable database professionals are always in demand. This article covers some of the best, most in-demand certifications for database administrators, database developers and anyone else who works with databases.
During the past three decades, we’ve seen a lot of database platforms come and go, but there’s never been any question that database technology is a crucial component for all kinds of applications and computing tasks.
Database certifications may not be as sexy or bleeding-edge as cloud computing, storage, or computer forensics. That said, there has been and always will be a need for knowledgeable database professionals at all levels and in a plethora of database-related job roles.
To get a better grasp of the available database certifications, it’s useful to group these certs around job responsibilities. In part, this reflects the maturity of database technology and its integration into most aspects of commercial, scientific and academic computing. As you read about the various database certification programs, keep these job roles in mind:
Careful attention to these database job roles highlights two important technical issues for would-be database professionals to consider.
First, a good general background in relational database management systems, including an understanding of Structured Query Language (SQL), is a basic prerequisite for database professionals of all stripes.
Second, although various efforts to standardize database technology exist, much of the whiz-bang capability that databases and database applications deliver come from proprietary, vendor-specific technologies. Serious, heavy-duty database skills and knowledge are tied to specific platforms, including various Oracle products (such as the open-source MySQL environment and Oracle itself,) Microsoft SQL Server and IBM DB2. That’s why most of these certifications relate directly to those enormously popular platforms.
It’s important to note that NoSQL databases – referred to as “not only SQL” and sometimes “non-relational” databases – handle many different types of data, such as structured, semi-structured, unstructured and polymorphic. NoSQL databases are increasingly used in big data applications, which tend to be associated with certifications for data scientists, data mining and warehousing, and business intelligence. Although there is some natural overlap, for the most part, we cover those certs in our annually updated “Best Big Data Certifications.”
Before you look at our featured certifications in detail, consider their popularity with employers. The results of an informal search on several high-traffic job boards show which database certifications employers look for most when hiring. Though these results vary from day to day (and by job board), such numbers provide a useful perspective on database certification demand in current job listings.
|
Certification |
Total |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
IBM Certified Database Administrator – DB2 |
463 |
607 |
845 |
747 |
2,662 |
|
Microsoft SQL Server database certifications** |
1,661 |
1,955 |
1,259 |
1,373 |
6,248 |
|
Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL Database Administrator |
205 |
342 |
182 |
142 |
871 |
|
Oracle Database 12c Administrator |
235 |
295 |
695 |
214 |
1,439 |
|
SAP HANA |
101 |
150 |
84 |
80 |
415 |
*See our complete methodology for selecting top five certifications in the “Best Certifications” series.
**Combined totals for MCSA: SQL Database Administration (540), MCSA: SQL Database Development (569), MCSE: Data Management and Analytics (640) and MTA: Database (503).
If the sheer number of available database-related positions isn’t enough motivation to pursue a certification, consider average salaries for database administrators. SimplyHired reports $86,415 as the national average in the U.S., in a range from $60,960 to over $128,000. Glassdoor’s reported average is somewhat higher at $93,164, with a top rung for experienced, senior DBAs right around $135,000.
Now let’s look at the details of our top five database certification picks for 2020.
IBM is one of the leaders in the worldwide database market by any objective measure. The company’s database portfolio includes industry standard DB2, as well as IBM Compose, Information Management System (IMS), lnformix, Cloudant and IBM Open Platform with Apache Hadoop. IBM also has a long-standing and well-populated IT certification program, which has been around for more than 30 years and encompasses hundreds of individual credentials.
After redesigning its certification programs and categories, IBM’s major data-centric certification category is called IBM Data and AI, which includes a range of database credentials: Database Associate, Database Administrator, System Administrator, Application Developer and more. It’s a big and complex certification space, but one where particular platform allegiances are likely to guide readers straight to the handful of items that are relevant to their interests and needs.
Database professionals who support DB2 (or aspire to) on Linux, Unix or Windows should check out the IBM Certified Database Administrator – DB2 certification. It’s an intermediate credential that addresses routine administration, basic SQL, and creation of databases and database objects, as well as server management, monitoring, availability and security.
This certification requires candidates to pass two exams. Pre-exam training is recommended but not required.
|
Certification name |
IBM Certified Database Administrator – DB2 11.1 (Linux, UNIX and Windows) |
|---|---|
|
Prerequisites and required courses |
None required; recommended courses available |
|
Number of exams |
Two exams: IBM DB2 11.1 DBA for LUW (exam C2090-600) (60 questions, 90 minutes) plus DB2 11.1 Fundamentals for LUW (exam C2090-616) (63 questions, 90 minutes) |
|
Cost per exam |
$200 (or local currency equivalent) per exam ($400 total). Sign up for exams at Pearson VUE. |
|
URL |
|
|
Self-study materials |
Each exam webpage provides exam objectives, suggested training courses and links to study guides for sale through MC Press. Click the exam Preparation tab for detailed information. You can also visit the Prepare for Your Certification Exam webpage. |
SQL Server offers a broad range of tools and add-ons for business intelligence, data warehousing and data-driven applications of all kinds. That probably explains why Microsoft offers database-related credentials at every level of its certification program.
Microsoft has taken significant steps over the last year to change its certification program from technology-focused to role-centric, centered on the skills one needs to be successful in specific technology jobs. With these changes in mind, Microsoft now identifies four job tracks in its certification program: Developers, Administrators, Solution Architects and Functional Consultants. You will find a wide variety of skills and technologies within each of those categories, but we’ll concentrate below on the company’s SQL Server certifications.
The MTA program includes a single database-related exam: Database Fundamentals (98-364). This credential is ideal for students or as an entry-level cert for professionals looking to segue into database support.
Microsoft offers several SQL-related credentials at the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) level:
There is one SQL database credential at the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert level: Data Management and Analytics. This certification has the MCSA as a prerequisite (a list of valid items follows in the table) and then requires passing one elective exam.
|
Certification name |
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration |
|---|---|
|
Prerequisites and required courses |
No prerequisites: MTA: Database Fundamentals MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014 MCSA: BI Reporting MCSA: SQL 2016 BI Development MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development MCSE Data Management and Analytics prerequisites (only one required): MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014 MCSA: SQL 2016 BI Development MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development MCSA: Machine Learning MCSA: BI Reporting MCSA: Data Engineering with Azure Training courses are available and recommended for all certifications but not required. |
|
Number of exams |
MTA: Database Fundamentals: One exam
MCSA: BI Reporting: Two exams
MCSA: SQL Server: Three exams
MCSA: SQL 2016 BI Development: Two exams MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration: Two exams MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development: Two exams MCSE: Data Management and Analytics: One exam (from the following)
All exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
|
Cost per exam |
MTA: $127 (or equivalent in local currency outside the U.S.) MCSA/MCSE: $185 (or equivalent) per exam |
|
URL |
www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/certification-overview.aspx |
|
Self-study materials |
Microsoft offers one of the world’s largest and best-known IT certification programs, so the MTA, MCSA and MCSE certs are well supported with books, study guides, study groups, practice questions and other materials. |
Oracle runs its certifications under the auspices of Oracle University. The Oracle Database Certifications page lists separate tracks for Database Application Development (SQL and PL/SQL), MySQL (Database Administration and Developer) and Oracle Database (versions 12c, 12c R2, and 11g, and Oracle Spatial 11g).
MySQL is perhaps the leading open-source relational database management system (RDBMS). Since acquiring Sun Microsystems in 2010 (which had previously acquired MySQL AB), Oracle has rolled out a paid version of MySQL and developed certifications to support the product.
A candidate interested in pursuing an Oracle MySQL certification can choose between MySQL Database Administration and MySQL Developer. The Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5.7 Database Administrator (OCP) credential recognizes professionals who can install, optimize and monitor MySQL Server; configure replication; apply security; and schedule and validate database backups.
The certification requires candidates to pass a single exam (the same exam can be taken to upgrade a prior certification). Oracle recommends training and on-the-job experience before taking the exam.
Most Oracle DBMS credentials require candidates to attend authorized training classes to qualify for the related exam, but MySQL (and Sun-derived) credentials often do not. Oracle certifications also represent a true ladder, in that it is generally necessary to earn the associate-level credentials first, professional-level credentials second and master-level credentials third, culminating with the expert level.
Oracle Database 12c R2 is the latest version, which includes enhancements to Oracle Database 12c. Oracle 12c certifications are currently offered at the associate, professional and master levels.
A Foundations Junior Associate certification (novice level) is also available for Oracle Database 12c, as are three specialist designations: the Implementation Specialist, the Oracle Database Performance and Tuning 2015 Certified Implementation Specialist, and the Oracle Real Application Clusters 12c Certified Implementation Specialist.
Available expert-level credentials include the Oracle Certified Expert; Oracle Database 12c: RAC and Grid Infrastructure Administrator; Oracle Database 12c Maximum Availability Certified Expert; Oracle Certified Expert; Oracle Database 12c: Data Guard Administrator; Oracle Certified Expert; and Oracle Database 12c: Performance Management and Tuning. Oracle still offers 11g certifications as well.
Note: Although premium support for Oracle 11g Database ended on Dec. 31, 2014, extended support lasts until December 2020, so it’s probable that Oracle Database 11g will remain in use for the short term.
We focused on requirements for Oracle Database 12c certifications. One important consideration is that Oracle 11g is forward-compatible with Oracle 12c, but Oracle 12c is not backward- compatible with the prior version. Because Oracle 12c is a newer version, IT professionals with Oracle 11g certifications should consider upgrading their 11g credentials.
|
Certification name |
Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Associate (OCA 12c) Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Professional (OCP 12c) Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Master (OCM 12c) Oracle Database 12c Maximum Availability Certified Master |
|---|---|
|
Prerequisites and required courses |
OCA 12c: Training recommended but not required OCP 12c: OCA 12c credential and one training course required; complete course submission form OCM 12c: OCP 12c or 12c R2 credential and two advanced training courses (must be different from the course used to achieve the OCP); complete course submission form; submit fulfillment kit request Oracle Database 12c Maximum Availability Certified Master: Three credentials
Oracle training: Classes typically run 2-5 days; costs range from $1,360 to over $5,580. |
|
Number of exams |
OCA 12c: Choose one exam from the following:
OCP 12c: One exam: Oracle Database 12c: Advanced Administration (1Z0-063) (80 questions, 120 minutes) OCM 12c: One exam: Oracle Database 12c Certified Master (12COCM), a two-day, performance-based exam Oracle Database 12c Maximum Availability Certified Master: None |
|
Cost per exam |
OCA 12c: 1Z0-071and 1Z0-062 cost $245 each. OCP 12c: 1Z0-063, 1Z0-082 and 1Z0-083 cost $245 each OCM 12c: 12COCM costs $2,584; contact Oracle for pricing/availability of upgrade exam. Oracle Database 12c Maximum Availability Certified Master: None Note: Prices vary by geography. |
|
URL |
|
|
Self-study materials |
Each Oracle certification exam webpage lists exam subjects as well as recommended training courses, seminars and practice tests. A variety of self-study guides are available on Amazon. Oracle Database certification candidates benefit from student manuals, labs and software provided as part of class offerings. |
SAP SE has a large portfolio of business application and analytics software, including cloud infrastructure, applications, and storage. The foundation of the SAP HANA platform is an enterprise-grade relational database management system, which can be run as an appliance on premises or in the cloud. The cloud platform enables customers to build and run applications and services based on SAP HANA.
SAP offers a comprehensive certification program, built to support its various platforms and products. We chose to feature the SAP Certified Technology Associate – SAP HANA cert because it aligns closely with other certifications in this article and is in high demand among employers, according to our job board surveys. This certification ensures that database professionals can install, manage, monitor, migrate and troubleshoot SAP HANA systems. It covers managing users and authorization, applying security, and ensuring high availability and effective disaster recovery techniques.
SAP recommends that certification candidates get hands-on practice through formal training or on-the-job experience before attempting this exam. The SAP Learning Hub is a subscription service that gives certification candidates access to a library of learning materials, including e-learning courses and course handbooks. The annual subscription rate for individual users on the Professional certification track is $3,048. This online training program is designed for those who run, support or implement SAP software solutions. Though this may seem like a steep price for online training, you will likely be able to pass any SAP certification exams you put your mind to by leveraging all of the learning resources available to SAP Learning Hub Professional subscribers.
Typically, SAP certifications achieved on one of the two most recent SAP solutions are considered current and valid. SAP contacts professionals whose certifications are nearing end of life and provides information on maintaining their credentials.
|
Certification name |
SAP Certified Technology Associate – SAP HANA (Edition 2016) |
|---|---|
|
Prerequisites and required courses |
None required Recommended: SAP HANA Installation & Operations SPS12 (HA200) course ($3,750) |
|
Number of exams |
One exam: SAP Certified Application Associate – SAP HANA (Edition 2016), exam code C_HANATEC_12 (80 questions, 180 minutes) |
|
Cost per exam |
$552 |
|
URL |
https://training.sap.com/certification/c_hanatec_12-sap-certified-technology-associate—sap-hana-edition-2016-g/ |
|
Self-study materials |
The certification webpage includes a link to trial questions. SAP HANA trade books and certification guides are available on Amazon. The SAP Help Center offers product documentation and a training and certification FAQs page. The SAP Learning Hub (available on a subscription basis) provides access to online learning content. |
Besides the ones mentioned in this article, other database certification programs are available to further the careers and professional development of IT professionals who work with database management systems.
While most colleges with computer science programs offer database tracks at the undergraduate, master and Ph.D. levels, there are few well-known vendor-neutral database certifications. The Institute for the Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP) is part of this unique group, offering its Certified Data Professional and Certified Data Scientist credentials. Find out more about ICCP certifications here.
EnterpriseDB administers a small but effective certification program, with two primary certs: the EDB Certified Associate and the EDB Certified Professional. PostgreSQL was the fourth-ranked relational database management system in October 2019, according to DB-Engines.
Credentials from Google, MarkLogic, Teradata and SAS may also be worth considering. All of these credentials represent opportunities for database professionals to expand their skill sets – and salaries. However, such niches in the database certification arena are generally only worth pursuing if you already work with these platforms or plan to work for an organization that uses them.
Ed Tittel
Ed is a 30-year-plus veteran of the computing industry, who has worked as a programmer, a technical manager, a classroom instructor, a network consultant, and a technical evangelist for companies that include Burroughs, Schlumberger, Novell, IBM/Tivoli and NetQoS. He has written for numerous publications, including Tom’s IT Pro and GoCertify, and is the author of more than 140 computing books on information security, web markup languages and development tools, and Windows operating systems.
Earl Follis
Earl is also a 30-year veteran of the computer industry, who has worked in IT training, marketing, technical evangelism, and market analysis in the areas of networking and systems technology and management. Ed and Earl met in the late 1980s when Ed hired Earl as a trainer at an Austin-area networking company that’s now part of HP. The two of them have written numerous books together on NetWare, Windows Server and other topics. Earl is also a regular writer for the computer trade press, with many e-books, whitepapers and articles to his credit.
Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.
The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) credential demonstrates mastery of developing and overseeing large-scale cybersecurity programs. When it comes to the best cybersecurity certifications, many consider CISSP the industry’s gold standard. Individuals who meet CISSP requirements can earn the certification and qualify to take on more professional responsibility in their field.
This guide offers information on CISSP certification requirements, including experience, suggested preparation times and CISSP certification exam costs.
CISSP certification, offered by (ISC)2, is an advanced credential for information systems and cybersecurity professionals. This certification highlights an individual’s ability to create, deploy and manage cybersecurity efforts for large organizations.
CISSP certification requirements include a significant amount of professional experience and passing a lengthy exam. This credential suits experienced workers over entry-level and mid-level professionals.
Though this certification is not required by employers, it can boost candidates’ earning power and help them qualify for advanced roles in information security. CISSPs often work in positions like chief information security officer (CISO), network architect, security auditor and security manager, among others.
Aspiring CISSPs should familiarize themselves with the certification’s requirements before pursuing this credential.
CISSP certification requirements stipulate that each candidate must have a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience. (ISC)² specifies eight security domains:
Prospective CISSPs must accumulate experience in two of the eight domains to meet CISSP certification requirements. They can also apply (ISC)²-approved four-year college degrees and other credentials, which may qualify as a year of experience. Paid and unpaid internships also count toward the CISSP requirement.
The CISSP exam covers the eight domains of security in a four-hour test comprising 125 to 175 required responses. These appear as multiple-choice questions and advanced innovative items. Test-takers must earn a 700 out of 1,000 to pass. Candidates register to take the exam with Pearson VUE.
After passing the exam, individuals can apply for endorsement online. The endorsement must come from an (ISC)²-certified professional who can advocate for your professional experience as a credential-holder in good standing. Individuals must receive endorsements within nine months of passing the exam.
Earning CISSP certification can deliver many professional benefits, but individuals should also understand the costs associated with pursuing the credential. Along with the required time investment, consider the following CISSP certification exam costs and any required payments relating to preparation and recertification.
Many organizations offer prep courses for the CISSP certification exam, and their costs vary drastically. Make sure to include exam prep costs, which may range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, in your CISSP budget. (ISC)² offers several exam prep methods, including self-paced, instructor-led and team-based options. These offerings can cost over $2,000.
The CISSP certification exam costs $749. Individuals can receive vouchers from partner organizations after completing CISSP exam training courses.
Individuals must meet CISSP recertification requirements every three years to maintain their credentials. Each certification-holder must earn 120 continuing professional education (CPE) credits over this three-year period. Costs relating to CPEs can vary significantly, but each certified individual must pay an annual $125 fee to (ISC)².
Individuals who have met CISSP requirements and earned their credentials can pursue work in many information security and cybersecurity roles. As of 2021, the number of open cybersecurity roles far outpaces the number of qualified professionals, indicating strong continued demand in the sector.
Data from Cyberseek.org indicates that among current cybersecurity openings requiring certification, CISSP ranks as the most in-demand credential. The following section explores roles for CISSP certification-holders.
Average Annual Salary: Around $172,000
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, information security or a related field; master’s preferred
Job Description: CISOs rank among the top positions in information security for responsibility and salary. This c-suite role reports directly to the CEO and requires significant experience, practical skills and expertise in information security.
CISOs oversee their organizations’ information security efforts. Often referred to as “chief security officers,” they supervise teams of infosec workers, set organizational directives, establish company-wide best practices and manage resource allotment. CISOs working in large, international businesses may interact with government agencies and congresspeople to ensure compliance with legal standards for information security.
Average Annual Salary: Around $123,000
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field, MBA often preferred
Job Description: IT directors oversee departments of IT workers and manage organizations’ computer systems operations. They provide solutions to companies’ computer-related issues, including software upgrades, security concerns and general technical issues. IT directors communicate with executives to ensure company-wide directives are carried out successfully.
These directors research new IT software and hardware to keep their organizations up to date and safe. They track metrics for managing IT professionals, along with storage, hardware and software. IT directors also handle employee schedules and departmental budgetary planning. As department heads, they must possess strong communication skills to interact with mid-level professionals and c-suite executives.
Average Annual Salary: Around $70,500
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity, computer and information technology or a related field
Job Description: Security analysts work in computer systems, networks and information security departments to prevent, monitor and respond to security breaches. This broad professional title refers to workers who handle a variety of tasks in computer and network security.
These professionals work in many industries as “first responders” for cyberattacks. They must demonstrate deep knowledge of hardware, software and data storage to understand potential vulnerabilities and security solutions. Security analysts may help design security systems and handle encryption efforts for businesses to protect sensitive information.
Average Annual Salary: Around $121,000
Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in network engineering or a related field; master’s in cybersecurity or a related field often preferred
Job Description: Network architects design and implement organizations’ security infrastructures. These professionals test and analyze existing safety structures to identify vulnerabilities and deliver improvements. They handle the installation and maintenance of computer systems, including interconnected devices like firewalls and routers.
Before deploying any updates or upgrades, these information security professionals create models to test their networks in a controlled environment. Modeling allows network architects to forecast security and traffic issues before implementing their infrastructures in the real world. These professionals also train and educate IT workers on organizational best practices.
The two primary CISSP requirements are passing the exam and gaining five years of relevant professional experience.
No. CISSP certification suits experienced cybersecurity and information security professionals, requiring a minimum of five years of experience in the field.
© Provided by The Register
An SAP user group has voiced complaints about the increase in support fees for the popular enterprise software, pointing out inconsistencies with changes in the way SAP packages its solutions and makes them available to customers.…
DSAG, which represents SAP's German-speaking users, criticized value for money in the plans to increase support fees for SAP's family of enterprise software applications.
Earlier this week, a spokesperson told The Register that high inflation rates reflected across regional price indices was affecting companies around the globe.
"SAP is not exempt from these developments and they are steadily impacting our offerings through higher energy and labor costs, as well as increasing expenses for third-party services," they added.
Europe's largest software company plans to "adjust" the support fee for existing support agreements for SAP Standard Support, SAP Enterprise Support, and SAP Product Support for Large Enterprise "based on the respective local Consumer Price Index."
Thomas Henzler, DSAG board member for licenses, service and support, said that SAP was within its rights to avail itself of a clause in every standard contract agreed on purchasing the software.
But he argued the value received for maintenance had fallen over time, making the price rise difficult to justify.
To start with, the way SAP packages its products has changed, and continues to change due to its cloud strategy, he said. "Here we are seeing an increasing modularization of the core ERP product (S/4HANA), which means that solutions that were previously still part of the ERP are now increasingly being marketed individually and the customer, therefore, has to pay for them additionally," Henzler said.
At the same time, the move to the cloud should reduce complexity for SAP as it often leads to increased standardization. "However, it will also lead to customers receiving fewer new functions for the maintenance of SAP ERP," he said.
The shift to the latest generation of SAP's ERP software, S/4HANA, also means customers on earlier versions of the system will get less value for money, while at the same time they face the same increases as other users, he claimed.
"The full maintenance rate is still due for the older ERP solution, even though there are hardly any further developments for it. For this reason, we consider the current maintenance rates, in particular, to be inappropriate compared to the contractually guaranteed consideration."
SAP told The Register: "SAP is constantly developing its solutions and the more complex processes at the customer's site also make it less meaningful to map everything in one ERP as we are used to in the past.
"Therefore, SAP, as well as the entire market of operational software, pursues the strategy in detailed line of business processes and to offer them in its own specialized components. This enables our customers to make more targeted investments where they expect the most added value and operational benefits for their business."
The company went on to suggest its "cloud extension model" for customers transitioning from on-premises to the cloud. It added: "Based on their existing investments in SAP software, customers can decide to reallocate elements of their installed on-premise[s] solutions to the respective public cloud or private managed cloud solutions from SAP, replacing on-premise[s] license and maintenance with public cloud or private managed cloud subscription."
The German vendor pointed out eaerlier this week that it had resisted increasing the price for maintenance and support installations for a decade, including during the pandemic, when numerous other vendors including Microsoft, HPE, Cisco, and others upped prices. Oracle raised prices on support fees based on the inflation rate in the respective regions it operates back in July. ®
SAP user group DSAG has voiced complaints about the recent increases in support fees for the German company's popular enterprise software.
Thomas Henzler, DSAG board member, told The Register (opens in new tab) that though SAP is "within its rights" when it comes to raising prices, "the value received for maintenance had fallen over time, making the price rise difficult to justify".
The executive went on to claim that "we are seeing an increasing modularization of the core ERP product (S/4HANA)", which means "that solutions that were previously still part of the ERP are now increasingly being marketed individually and the customer, therefore, has to pay for them additionally".
The prices for SAP Standard Support, SAP Enterprise Support, and SAP Product Support for Large Enterprises are set to rise (opens in new tab) for existing customers from January 1, 2023 onwards.
SAP claims the price rises are in line with the local consumer price indexes, and that they will be capped at 3.3%.
SAP justified the increases by saying that it was "not immune" to the wider economic trend of high inflation rates.
"SAP is not exempt from these developments as they are readily impacting our offerings through higher energy and labor costs, as well as increasing expenses for third-party services," said an SAP spokesperson.
SAP was able to reply to the user group's claims with some additional justifications, telling The Register its strategy of offering its tools in more specialized components enables its "customers to make more targeted investments where they expect the most added value and operational benefits for their business".
The move comes as SAP is still pivoting its business to a new model, in October 2020 the company said it was "all in on its shift to cloud computing", abandoning short-term profitability targets.
Unfortunately for end consumers, this likely won't be the last major price rise we'll see from major software vendors.
Research from Gartner recently predicted that over the next 36 months, software as a service (SaaS) vendors are planning a significant increase in their prices, by as much as 20% in some cases.
For those of us in the industry, cybersecurity is a priority 365 days a year. But for a brief window in October during Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the spotlight is on us. Given its importance in daily life, cybersecurity awareness has gained momentum in recent years — but there is still much to do.
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is co-led by the National Cybersecurity Alliance and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA). This year's theme, "See Yourself in Cyber," focuses on helping all individuals and organizations make smart decisions whether on the job, at home, or at school, now and in the future. This emphasizes the impact a single organization can have by instilling strong cybersecurity training and practices internally.
For this reason, we asked Cisco, Netflix, and SAP to join us in sharing how they're observing Cybersecurity Awareness Month within their organizations, in the hope that it will inspire others to do the same.
Coming off our first cybersecurity-focused PSA, we are doubling down by investing further with this year's "See Yourself in Cyber" theme. It speaks to our continuous efforts at AWS to humanize security and build a security-first culture.
Throughout October, we're holding our annual One Amazon Security Conference for all Amazon employees. This year's monthlong conference features 70 sessions led by experts across six tracks, including data protection and governance, risk and compliance, identity and access management, networking and infrastructure, privacy, and threat detection and incident response. We also have sessions on building an inclusive security culture and why building products securely requires a security mindset before a single line of code is written.
Security is our No. 1 priority, and our culture of ownership means everyone at Amazon is responsible for security, no matter the job or role. Humanizing security through education should be a key priority for everyone. That's why we offer free cybersecurity awareness training to any individual or organization that wants to take advantage of it, so they can "see themselves in cyber" this month and beyond.
Brad Arkin, Senior Vice President, Chief Security and Trust Officer, Cisco
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is always an exciting time for our team. We'll have a number of resources for those seeking a new career in cybersecurity, all aligned with our commitment to power an inclusive future for all. For our customers and partners, we will have additional reports and resources covering subjects like the benefits of a sharp focus on cybersecurity during mergers and acquisitions. Finally, for consumers and end users, we'll share the results of our Consumer Privacy Survey and best practices for keeping themselves, their businesses, and families safe. This will be supported by blog posts, e-books, reports, landing pages, and podcasts. Our Creative team has developed a set of graphic assets to raise awareness of cybersecurity and promote the theme of "See Yourself in Cyber."
To help cybersecurity professionals upgrade their skills, our learning and certification teams will be doing giveaways, distributing exam quizzes, and announcing new training courses. Internally, we will roll out new trainings and resources to keep our employees updated on the newest threats and informed about how to help mitigate them.
I've been excited to see how the entire global Cisco organization is taking part. Our team in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa is taking up the theme of #ThinkB4UClick, with a focus on ransomware and phishing. In the Asia-Pacific region, Japan, and China, we will promote cybersecurity awareness at various internal and external events. I will be traveling to Singapore to deliver a presentation at the GovWare 2022 conference and joining a CISO roundtable discussion for our customers in the region earlier in the month.
Srinath Kuruvardi, Head of Cloud Security, Netflix
This year for Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we are hosting talks from FBI special agents on a variety of subjects to bring awareness around threat trends. We also plan to broadly share security messaging and guidance to all employees in fun, interesting ways. For example, we are launching an intranet website for the Security, Privacy, Assurance and Corporate Engineering (SPACE) organization (formerly InfoSec). The initiative incentivizes visits to the SPACE intranet site to understand our functions, teams, and where to go to get support and engage. It's a gamification scavenger hunt for answers to support questions.
Elena Kvochko, Chief Trust Officer, SAP
SAP is strengthening our security culture and constantly adapting it to the new challenges that come with digital transformation, which is why, for the sixth year in a row, SAP is participating in Cybersecurity Awareness Month, to remind employees about the importance of being vigilant against cyber threats.
With programs that run from September (China) through the end of October, SAP builds awareness about security with our 100,000-person global workforce. SAP kicks off the month with our chief security officer, joined by a host of experts, in a virtual event attended by thousands of employees from around the globe; the educational effort continues with special events all month long. Key security subjects are covered, including vishing, phishing, password protection, how to remain safe using social media, and the importance of spotting deepfake technology. Learning about security is fun at SAP because we use gamification to engage employees via various fun games and prizes.
Toward the end of October, SAP will broaden our reach into the early talent community by co-hosting an Inter-University Cybersecurity "range" with SANS Institute, an organization that is dedicated to cybersecurity training and certifications and which has a wealth of resources available. SAP and SANS will host a capture-the-flag contest and a computer security competition for 200 university students and special guests anticipated to participate.
SAP's Chief Trust Office is proactively working to engage students from Atlanta University Center, Carnegie Mellon, Columbia, Cornell, Drexel, Penn State Brandywine, Penn State Main Campus, Hampton, Norfolk State, and Yale University.
About the Contributors
As senior VP, chief security, and trust officer, Brad Arkin leads Cisco's Security and Trust Organization, whose core mission is to ensure Cisco meets its security and privacy obligations to its customers, regulators, employees, and stakeholders. Before joining Cisco, Brad was Adobe’s first chief security officer. Brad also serves as an advisory board member for both the Silicon Valley Global Innovation and Sands Capital Ventures Industry organizations and sits on the program committee for the RSA Executive Security Action Forum.
Srinath Kuruvadi is the head of cloud security at Netflix, where he leads the security of the Netflix assets in the cloud. Before Netflix, Srinath spent more than 15 years building scalable security solutions and leading security teams at Google, Facebook, Snap, and Lyft, most recently as head of security and compliance at Mapbox. He brings a lot of breadth and deep technical knowledge in security and privacy areas with a background in software engineering applied to large-scale cloud environments. Srinath was born and raised in Bangalore, India, and holds a master's degree in computer science from North Carolina State University and bachelor's degree in computer science from BITS Pilani in India.
Elena Kvochko, SAP's Chief Trust Officer, leads philanthropic efforts, including for Refugees International, Big Change, and women in technology initiatives. She has worked in enterprise technology and cybersecurity in executive roles at Bank of America and, previously, as chief information officer in the global security division at Barclays. Elena was featured in the Top 100 CIOs; Leading CIOs — Who Happen to be Female list published by the CIO Magazine, Business Role Model of the Year by the Women in IT Awards, and Fortune Magazine's Most Powerful Women — International.
NAPERVILLE, Ill., Oct. 04, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AC Edwards, LLC, DBA InForwarder, announced today that its InForwarder 3.0 add-on is certified by SAP for integration with SAP S/4HANA®. InForwarder helps businesses that use SAP® technology to see inside their operational SAP S/4HANA systems.
"We are pleased to announce that our InForwarder 3.0 add-on has achieved SAP-certified integration with SAP S/4HANA," said Sam Arra, President of InForwarder. "InForwarder 3.0's ability to interoperate with SAP S/4HANA will prove very beneficial for our current and future customers."
The integration helps organizations maintain the integrity of their data for SAP solutions as it is securely "pushed." With the forwarding capability, businesses that use SAP technologies can verify their business data (Orders, Sales, Manufacturing rates) in near real-time. Additionally, the metadata of business data transactions (Order Entry throughput, slowdowns identified based on past forwarded data, etc.) can be analyzed in third-party business intelligence tools.
SAP Integration and Certification Center (SAP ICC) has certified that the integration software for InForwarder 3.0 integrates with SAP S/4HANA using standard integration technologies. SAP S/4HANA is a future-proof ERP system with integrated intelligent technologies that transform business processes with intelligent automation and runs on SAP HANA - a market-leading in-memory database that offers real-time processing speeds and a drastically simplified data model.
About AC Edwards, LLC DBA InForwarder
Founded in 2020, InForwarder focuses on the development of add-ons and observability around SAP® technologies. The company is headquartered in Naperville, IL.
InForwarder allows information sourced from SAP NetWeaver® to be forwarded to various destinations. Businesses have requirements to operate on data from SAP solutions in various toolsets. InForwarder makes the process of pushing information from SAP NetWeaver to the various toolsets as simple as possible. By providing powerful tools for SAP systems, InForwarder supports organizations to see inside their operational SAP systems in order to strengthen their competitiveness and Strengthen overall efficiency within the entire organization.
The company's core product families are InForwarder Base, Extended and Business Enhanced Editions for observability and change data capture.
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SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.
For further information, only for press:
Sam Arra
T +1-630-215-8838
E-mail: Sam@InForwarder.com
Contact Information:
Sam Arra
President
sam@inforwarder.com
18334636793
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Talview exam Solutions Spotlight Launching and Scaling Certification Programs
SAN MATEO, Calif., Oct. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Talview, the global leader for hiring and exam solutions, will be showcasing methodologies to launch and scale certification programs for organizations of all sizes at TSIA World: Envision, live at the Aria resort in Las Vegas, October 17-19. Talview exam Solutions use an AI-led approach for exam delivery to enable affordable pricing and improved security at a higher scale. Talview will also be unveiling its latest capability, Talview Employer Connect, which enables certification providers to extend an opportunity to professionals who undertake exams on the Talview platform, and who are interested in job openings, to get connected with employers who use the Talview Hiring Solution.
Talview focuses on delivering exams securely, with improved accessibility and a non-intrusive test-taker experience, while providing a more user-friendly, engaging experience.
"In the minds of most customer and education leaders we've spoken with, a top concern is that their certification programs are not ready for the future. They struggle with clunky, legacy platforms that haven't kept pace with the needs of the market," said Sanjoe Jose, CEO, Talview. "Our exam Solutions can help organizations get ready for the future. We have kept users at the center of the platform design and use the latest AI capabilities to Strengthen security and drive down the cost of exam delivery."
A recent survey of certification leaders at top technology companies revealed their principal certification program challenges:
The high cost of proctoring deters scaling certification programs, particularly entry level certifications
A poor user experience and the lack of quality Customer Service during the exam process is negatively impacting their brand
Most feel their certification programs are not ready for the future, especially when it comes to Performance Based Exams
Concerns about the intrusive nature of the online proctoring experience is preventing the growth of expert communities
The lack of accessibility and poor multilingual support of their exam platforms
Talview exam Solutions deliver a superior user experience through an interface that is modern, multi-lingual, accessibility friendly, and a proctoring experience that is non-intrusive. The Talview Proctoring Solution can integrate into any LMS (Learning Management Systems), exam Engine, or other web platform, allowing organizations to augment their proctoring capacity, use their own proctors if desired, and easily support Performance Based Exams. In addition, Talview is one of the first providers to incorporate an immersive experience for test takers via the Metaverse. Talview delivers a platform to better engage an industry's community with Candidate Management capabilities.
The focus of its newest launch, Talview Employer Connect, is connecting certified professionals with high quality prospective employers. Talview Hiring Solutions are integrated into the recruitment management systems of many leading ITeS employers. Employer Connect provides real-time visibility of talent requirements, and places properly certified professionals directly into the appropriate stage of the hiring process of organizations looking to hire specific skills. Certified professionals have the ability to opt-in for all employers or specific organizations.
"Many certification test takers have a sub-optimal user experience while taking their certification exams," said Sundar Nagarathnam, Advisor to Talview and leading education services industry expert. "This can be especially frustrating when problems are encountered, or legacy platforms simply make it very cumbersome. Take into account additional factors: a lack of accessibility for people with special needs, poor multilingual support, or no support at all. As more and more technical certification processes move online, innovative technologies like Talview's solutions can provide hassle-free administration of exams."
At TSIA World: Envision, Talview will be holding a session, Expert Playbook for Launching and Scaling Certification Programs, presented by Sundar Nagarathnam, Advisor to Talview and an innovative pioneer in technical education and certification programs, along with Sanjoe Tom Jose, CEO, Talview. The focus will be on how innovative, digital-first companies are using AI to deliver low-cost, highly secure, non-intrusive exams.
October 17 & 18
12:30PM - 12:55PM
Booth #519
Stop by the Talview booth #519 and enter to win an E-Bike. We are holding a drawing for a Swagcycle EB-5 Plus Folding Electric Bike. Pedal or go full throttle with the battery to reach your destination. Free shipping is included for one lucky winner!
Book a meeting with Talview at TSIA in advance and enter to win a folding E-Bike.
ABOUT TALVIEW
Talview offers an award-winning Measurement Platform that orchestrates hiring and exam workflows: screening, interviews, assessments, proctoring, and credentialing. Organizations seeking more efficient, effective, and intelligent decisions throughout the talent lifecycle can access a single, AI-powered platform for intelligent insights. A 360-degree view of talent potential enables quick, confident, and bias-free decisions, providing an equal opportunity for all. Learn more at Talview.com.
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Five hundred and five (505) trainee artisans enrolled in the 2021/2022 edition of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation’s (GNPC) Skilled Artisans Project (SAP) in the Ashanti Region have concluded their National Vocational Training Institute’s (NVTI) skill proficiency exams.
The project is organised and funded by GNPC through the GNPC Foundation.
Beneficiary artisans had their competencies tested in various vocational skills categorised under ‘Domestic module’ – cookery, bakery, dressmaking, tailoring, hairdressing, make-up artistry, and interior designing and decoration.
For the ‘Technical module’ – plumbing, carpentry, auto-mechanics, general electrical, and aluminum fabrication are offered.
Taking questions from the media on his visit to the centre at the Kumasi Vocational Training Institute (KVTI) on the final day of examination, the Executive Director of the GNPC Foundation, Dr. Dominic Eduah, said the NVTI certification phase of the project is necessitated by the need to boost their employability and credibility as trained artisans.
He further explained that the SAP as a livelihood empowerment programme is designed to support the youth across the country with the much needed technical and vocational skills that could match up with the best standards across the globe.
He also indicated that the examination will offer young people who are inspired to learn these important trade skills the requisite tools and equipment needed to start their own entrepreneurial businesses in a bid to make them economically independent.
The project, which is being implemented in 5 regions – Western, Central, Greater Accra, Eastern and Ashanti – is seeking to positively affect the lives of some 2,050 artisans with more expected to benefit from other regions in subsequent editions.
