Q/ISP® Qualified/Information Security Professional Certificate Program of Mastery

What is a Q/ISP "Qualified" Information Security Professional? The SU Q/ISP® Certificates of Mastery and related micro badges identify and certify "qualified persons" who subscribe to a rigorous requirement for maintaining their cyber knowledge and proficiency with validated security skills and hands-on practical security experience defending network mission assurance.

A Q/ISP Designate is a person who has successfully mastered and passed Security University's Q/ISP online 125 question certification exam. Or masters by passing the Q/ISP classes (Q/EH, Q/SA, Q/FE, Q/ND) and passes each course exam with a 70 score or better, and completes each performance based practical for Q/PTL, Q/FE & Q/ND.

The Q/ISP Certificate vs certification does not require you to complete Q/ISP hands-on classes - however to "validate" your mastery level performance based cybersecurity skills, and use the "Qualified" Certificate Program of Mastery designation symbol as your cyber skills mastery trust mark, you must complete the Q/PTL workshop, the Q/FE practical that includes 3 investigations and executive reports from 3 different mediums, and the Q/ND practical – a VM of a completed secure architecture, including a firewall, SIEM and secure snort signatures based on a new threat vector provided students after class to validate your cybersecurity skills.

Q/ISP Certificate is obtained through Security University for the purpose of recognizing qualified individuals who have distinguished themselves as knowledgeable and proficient information security/ cyber practitioners who have mastered cybersecurity skills to validate and qualify their hands-on cybersecurity skills. The Q/ISP certificate also provides THE only means of identifying and certifying qualified persons who subscribe to a rigorous requirement for maintaining their knowledge and proficiency in information security with validated cybersecurity skills and practical experience.

The Q/ISP Certificate Program of Mastery is awarded to those qualified individuals who mastered the required qualified mastery level of hands-on cybersecurity experience, comply with a professional code of ethics, and pass multiple rigorous examinations on the Q/ISP Body of Knowledge for cybersecurity. In order to maintain currency in the field, each Q/ISP must complete 40 hours of participation in a cybersecurity related class. Credential holders earn the Q/ISP credential by attending 520 hours or 13 courses of recognized subject-matter training and professional educational programs, presentation or publication of cybersecurity practicums, contributions to the Q/ISP Body of Knowledge, or service in professional organizations. Each Q/ISP must acquire 150 CPE continuing professional education credits every three years. (50 credits per year)

Q/ISP Qualified/ Information Security Professional Certificate Program of Mastery Classes

The SU Q/ISP® Certificate Program of Mastery and related micro badges identify and certify "qualified persons" who subscribe to a mastery level rigorous requirement for maintaining their cyber knowledge and proficiency with validated security skills and hands-on practical security experience defending network mission assurance.

Aligned DCWF Work Roles:
- OM-WRL-001 – System Administrator
- OM-WRL-004 – Network Operations Specialist
- PD-WRL-002 – Cyber Defense Analyst

Welcome to SU’s Q/ISP Qualified Information Security Certificate Program. Here students have up to 7 yrs complete a SU Qualified/ Information Security Certificate Program. SU Programs are SCHEV Approved Vocational Non-College Degree Certificate Programs. All SU Programs are instructor-led face-to-face.

All Students are required to register online at the SU website REGISTER ME Tab {https://www.securityuniversity.net/reg.php).

Credits Hours for Prior Learning - (CHPL) policy honors the service, experience, and certifications of our nation’s veterans and their dependents. SU allows students to earn up to 75% of the program through prior learning to reduce unnecessary duplication, accelerates time to certificate completion, and eliminates costs for coursework already mastered that leads to high wage in-demand cyber employment.

NON-STANDARD TERM DEFENITION SU classes are non-standard term [shorter than a standard quarter or semester]. The number of hours a student attends class is measured. Students enroll in a 520 hour program of 10 classes and 3 practical’s. Students should complete 2-3 classes each year in years 1-3, and complete at least one class in years 4-7.

STUDENT ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT - In order to be admitted as a student at Security University, a student must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). TCP/IP is the language a computer uses to access the Internet. It consists of a suite of protocols designed to establish a network to provide a computer with access to the Internet. TCP/IP defines the details of how data is sent and received through networks. Sufficient knowledge of TCP/IP is essential for students to understand and address the coursework at SU. While 2 months of experience on your resume helps, there is no exact amount of time period of employment with TCP/IP required. The President of Security University and/or any board member designated by the President shall determine prior to class whether or not a student has sufficient knowledge of TCP/IP in order to be admitted into SU. The primary purpose is whether a student has the necessary foundation to succeed in the coursework offered at SU. All decisions made by the President or any board designated by the President are final.

Why become a Qualified?

In 1999, Security University founded the first hands-on AIS "Advanced Information Security" Credential, renamed the Q/ISP in 2000. This cybersecurity credential certified over 29,000 security professionals who have validatedtheir performance based cybersecurity skills by meeting SU’s challenging practical-experience standards in cybersecurity. Q/ISP is unique in the field of cybersecurity certifications because the classes and exams are performance based. The courses test both the candidate's knowledge and the practicums validate their practical cybersecurity skills to validate the candidate's ability to take what they learned and put it into practice in the real world. Q/ISP Certificate is achieved after mastering 13 courses of 40 hours or, if you have the experience, willing to complete all the Q/ISP practicums – and challenge the rigorous 125 Q/ISP online certification exam.

A "Qualified" certification is your validation as certified individual that met SU’s Q/ISP Performance Based Cybersecurity Standard. The Q/ISP standard is the only mastery level certificate to provide employers assurance of IT/cyber staff and soon-to-be hires have qualified and validated cybersecurity skills. To accomplish this standard, Q/ISP goes beyond theory and terminology and tests the processes and methodology of performance based cybersecurity skills of the cybersecurity professional.

Benefits of Q/ISP Information Security Certification for Individuals

• For system and network administrators and security professionals, the mastery level program qualifies and validates your cybersecurity skills required to protect systems and networks.
• Q/ISP courses provide an over-arching baseline of cybersecurity skills ensuring that dangerous threats to your networks and critical assets - threats that at are actively being exploited - are thoroughly addressed.
• Q/ISP Certification ensures that qualified professionals have mastered their cybersecurity skills and practical knowledge current through 150 continuing education credits every 3 years (no less than 50 credits annually ).
• Many large private companies and government agencies are reviewing the Q/ISP certificate for new job candidates.

The Q/ISP Certificate Program of Mastery, Q/ISP Certification and Q/ISP exam with Qualified Education Certification & Licenses for IT & cybersecurity professionals, Sys Admins, Security Auditors, Network Auditors, CISO's who are looking to validate their performance based cybersecurity skills to advance their cyber career and increase their income.

All Q/ISP classes are instructor led by highly qualified Q/ISP security subject matter experts (SSME's) packed with hours of hands-on performance based labs to preform your “Qualified” Information Security Professional credential. Once you have mastered the 4 Q/ISP classes & certification exams or passed the Q/ISP certification exam and practical's, you are “qualified” and have validated your tactical security skills of an information security professional.

Passing the Q/EH, Q/SA, Q/ND and Q/FE classes are NOT mandatory for taking the Q/ISP certification (online) exam. Contact info@securityuniversity.net for more information or call 1.203-249-8364.

The Q/ISP certification anticipates CAE & 17042 compliance approval.

You may ask... What does the Q/ISP Logo Represent?
Security University's Q/ISP logo represents the highest commitment for Security professionals in the world. It is a custom logo created to honor security professionals who aspire to earn the most valued tactical hands-on security skills training, certifications and licenses in the world. It shows you have earned "tactical hands-on security skills" and only a "certification".

The skull represents brains.
The ribbons symbolize integrity and honor.
The wings exemplify the ability to soar towards your true potential (and above the turkeys you work with).
The playing cards attest that you've mastered the security skills to win at mitigating security.

Security University has led the wave of mastery level hands-on security skills training & certifications since 1999. From pioneering to establishing the highest standard in cybersecurity training & certifications for the past 23 years and still leading the way for cybersecurity professionals to achieve mastery level performance based cybersecurity skills to reach their cyber career & personal potential.

Q/EH Testimonial

I have over 20 years experience in both teaching and information security. I am very particular about both and highly concerned with the decline in real training revolving around the current challenges which we face. I was honestly impressed with both the level of expertise and the instructor's ability to relay this information to the students. This is not simply another idiot boot camp but a well reasoned and directed classroom experience which prepares the student for the real world. I was impressed with the hands-on exercises. These combined with the instructor's elevated knowledge base made the class enjoyable and extremely topical. When you compare Security University to other training groups in the region, they are infinitely superior in both talent and developmental materials.

I think that Security University has the right mindset in the development of their classes. They are working to impart valuable knowledge and not simply to push students through. Whereas, I believe that any student could pass any applicable exam after attending these courses, the test is not the focal point. They deserve to be commended for both their mindset and the efforts that they've made to enhance the knowledge-base of their students. I sincerely appreciate my time learning with Security University and would recommend it to any organization which actually wants to develop real IA professionals.

PSparks DoD/DISA/JITC

The Q/ISP Qualified/ Information Security Professional Certification Program was nominated as finalists for SC Magazine's Best Professional Security Training Program 2009. Click here to view the press release.

From our attendees:
"Yes. Pls quote me, The instructor was great, he was very knowledgeable. I had CEH and CHFI training from another vendor and I did receive certification but I wish I had attended your classes instead, I would have learned much more." America 2008