With changing economic needs and the emergence of security as the number one priority on the national agenda, the UMBC Computer Certification Training Center is offering new certification training programs designed to quickly and competently increase the supply of the highest demand technology security skills for government and industry employers.

The most significant among the center's new programs is the launch of the Security Certified Program, to include both Level One - Security Certified Network Professional (SCNP) and Level Two - Security Certified Network Architect (SCNA) credentials. Both are a direct response to the escalating foreign and domestic threats to the country and industry's information technology infrastructure. These certifications qualify the workforce to defend existing systems and to design "trust", or inherently secure, networks.

Coverage extends from the defense concepts of firewalls, intrusion detection, risk analysis and attack methods, to the trust concepts of cryptography, biometrics, PKI, HIPAA, and network forensics. Doug Kendzierski, Associate Vice-Provost at UMBC, pointed out a Spring 2001 IDC Report that estimated the worldwide market for information security services would increase from $5.5 billion to $17.2 billion by 2004. "Recent events will certainly magnify this need, and subsequent growth", Kendzierski noted.

As the region's technical staffing crisis shifts from entry-level to more advanced needs, new credentials such as IT Project+ and Server+ have been immediately embraced by the technology standard-bearers. The IT Project+ addresses the need for virtually all organizations to recruit, employ and promote IT professionals that are capable of operating outside the traditional boundaries defined by "technical skills". The most successful companies widely acknowledge that effective project managers must be able to grasp enterprise-wide business issues, consult with users in a variety of functions, and produce in cross-functional project teams.

The Server+ is designed for mid- and upper-level computer technicians who are expanding beyond an entry-level workstation orientation, to specialize in server installation, support, and troubleshooting, while improving their workstation competency to second-level support activity.

The IT Project+ and Server+ certifications are credentials managed by CompTIA, an international consortium representing more than 8,000 computing and communications companies, with a mission of helping its members stay competitive and profitable by providing vendor-neutral standards in certification.

The Security Certified Program is a global initiative of Ascendant Learning, dedicated to the development of information security professionals and practices.

The UMBC Computer Certification Training Center (CCTC) is a proud CompTIA Partner, and a Security Certified Program Training Partner. In addition, CCTC is a Microsoft Certified Partner, a CIW Authorized Training Partner, a VUE Authorized Testing Center, and an Approved Transcender Training Partner.

A national leader in technology education, UMBC established the CCTC to deliver technology training and industry-standard certification programs for individuals, businesses, government agencies and organizations in the Baltimore-Washington corridor. The UMBC CCTC is located at 3108 Timanus Lane, Executive Park West in the Windsor Mill Community of Baltimore County, just off Exit 17/18 of the Baltimore Beltway. The Center offers instructor-led and web-based training programs, with part-time, full-time, evening, weekend and weekday classes. For further information on any IT training programs at UMBC, contact (410) 594-2282, or visit the training website at www.umbc.edu/cctc.