It’s no secret that cybersecurity is an ever-growing concern. In 2016 alone, the National Crime Agency reported over 2.46 million cyber attacks. As demand for cyber IT specialists skyrockets, ensuring professionals have the necessary skills has been a challenge.
That’s where the CASP certification comes in. Designed to test enterprise cybersecurity skills, it can be an excellent investment for an IT pro looking to level up their career. But is it right for you? Read on to find out.
CompTIA CASP Certifications
So… What is CASP, Anyway?
CASP, or CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner, is a mastery-level certification developed to verify cyber security skills. It’s currently the only advanced, performance-based IT certification that focuses on practitioner skills at the five to ten-year level.
It was created at the request of the Department of Defense (DoD). During the process, CompTIA collaborated with government, military, and enterprise agencies like the U.S. Army, Department of the Navy, U.S. Air Force, Dell, Lockheed Martin, HP, IBM, and more.
CASP is a useful cert because it fulfills DoD Directive 8570.1. This rule states that all Information Assurance workers who work with particular data–which include some cybersecurity roles–must have a certification verified by ISO standard 17024.
This puts CASP in the category of other notable certifications like Security+, Network+, A+, CISSP, CISM, CND, and CEH. However, CASP helps you qualify for better paying, more productive jobs than some.
Though CASP’s history is military, it’s become increasingly more relevant in the enterprise world for companies with coexisting IT business needs and essential security concerns.
Is CASP Right for You?
Getting CASP certified is ideal for individuals who have 5-10 years of IT experience and are interested in cybersecurity. Unlike the CISSP certification, another vital cert in the cybersecurity world, CASP’s focus is hands-on and technical. This is ideal for people who AREN’T interested in transitioning into management.
CASP could be a smart investment if you’re in one of the following situations:
You’ve got a CEH or Security+ certification and are looking to make more money or dive deeper into cybersecurity, OR
You’ve got 5-10 years of IT experience and wanted to move up, but aren’t interested in management, OR
You’ve obtained your CISSP, are looking for a pay bump, but don’t want to stop, “geeking out on the keyboard,” OR
You’re looking for a career in enterprise cybersecurity and need something that can land you jobs with DoD compliance requirements
Once obtained, CASP opens doors for various advanced-level cybersecurity jobs. If you’re interested in assessing and managing risk, securing networks, preventing cyber attacks, and even getting inside the mind of a hacker to make sure that a company’s system, computers, and information are as safe as possible, CASP could be right for you.
This includes opportunities such as:
Cyber Security/IS Professional
Information Security Analyst
Security Architect
IT Architect INFOSEC
IT Specialist Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Risk Manager
Cybersecurity Risk Analyst
As stated above, CASP was developed at the request of the DoD and is valid for 8570 compliance. Because of this, it qualifies an individual for DoD positions in cyber security at the following levels:
IA Technical Level III
IA Manager Level II
IA Architect & Engineer Level I
IA Architect & Engineer Level II
Of course, the most significant benefit of CASP is that it’s a relatively low-cost way to increase job opportunities and salary, especially compared to CISSP.
CASP vs. CISSP
One of the main critiques of CASP is that it doesn’t measure up to the CISSP certification. But that’s like comparing apples to oranges.
The tests have different goals and represent two completely different career paths. Yes, CISSP has been around longer and holds slightly more street cred in specific areas, but CASP is more cost effective, more comfortable to pass, and is a powerful way to open the doors to new positions.
If you’re looking for a career in IT management, CISSP might be the better choice. If not, CASP can level up your job at a fraction of the cost.