Exam for security professionals launched in NZ

An international exam for security professionals will be made available in New Zealand for the first time next month. The Certification Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) exam - reportedly the most sought-after qualification of its kind in the US, has been brought to New Zealand by Paul Macpherson, a KPMG consultant specialising in IS security and will be hosted by KPMG in Wellington. Until now, the nearest place for New Zealand security professionals to sit the exam was Hawaii. The CISSP examination covers areas such as access control systems, cryptography, business continuity and disaster recovery planning, physical security and security management practices. "There is much more emphasis placed on security," says Dodds. "The exam shows anyone in the industry has reached a professional standard." Some 3000 information security practitioners worldwide hold the certificate. Holders must back a code of ethics, have at least three years of IS security-related work experience and pass the accrediation exam. Rupert Dodds, a senior manager of information risk management at KPMG says KPMG will provide exam facilities and that 20 engineers are interested in sitting the first local exams in March. They cost around $800. The industry already has the 1980s-founded Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), a variety of supplier-based qualifications from Cisco and others, plus systems engineer qualifications.