Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) Announces New Certification Maintenance Program

BETHESDA, Md., April 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) program, a SANS Institute affiliate, is proud to announce new certification maintenance options for all GIAC certification holders.

Previously, recertification was only possible by retaking an updated certification exam. As of March 1, 2010, GIAC certified professionals have multiple options for demonstrating their ongoing competency within the information assurance community and for maintaining their certifications through Certification Maintenance Units (CMU). Options for recertification now include:

• Retaking the exam
• Publishing a technical research paper or
• Accruing CMUs through information assurance training courses taken by approved training programs.

This change aligns with other professional certification standards that require recipients to maintain their certification status through continuing education training. It also provides greater flexibility for certification holders to renew their GIAC credentials.

GIAC certifications remain valid for four years, however candidates may begin maintenance efforts after the two-year mark.  For more details about the updated certification maintenance program, please visit http://www.giac.org/info/57603

GIAC recently hit a milestone when it issued over 30,000 information assurance certifications. GIAC serves the Information Assurance community by offering more than 20 specialized information security certifications that correspond to specific job duties within the IT security industry.  The family of GIAC certifications differentiates itself in the marketplace by targeting actual job-based skill sets.  The hands-on certification process validates the specific skills of security professionals and developers with standards that were developed using the highest benchmarks in the industry.

The GIAC program leads the infosec landscape with five information security certifications that have been accredited under the ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024 Personnel Certification program - more than any other company in the field.  Six job-specific GIAC certifications are on the Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 8570 list of approved certifications. This number of certifications also leads the industry.

About GIAC. Founded in 1999, the Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC) (www.giac.org http://www.giac.org/info/57593) provides IT security professionals with certification in the areas of security administration, management, forensics, audit, and software security. GIAC has certified more than 30,000 IT Security professionals and assures and validates that certified individuals have practical awareness, knowledge, and skills in key areas of computer, network, and software security. Its certifications and are trusted by thousands of companies and government agencies, including the United States National Security Agency (NSA).

About SANS. (www.sans.org http://www.sans.org/info/57598) Established in 1989 as a cooperative research and education organization, SANS programs reach more than 400,000 security professionals, auditors, system administrators, and network administrators who share the lessons they are learning and jointly find solutions to the challenges they face. At the heart of SANS are the many security practitioners in government agencies, corporations, and universities around the world who invest hundreds of hours each year in research and teaching to help the entire information security community.

SOURCE SANS Institute