BCS, the former British Computer Society now the Chartered Institute for IT, is extending its IT governance and information security courses.
The new certificates are BCS Foundation Certificate in Data Protection and BCS Practitioner Certificate in Information Assurance Architecture, available in June.
Jon Buttriss, CEO of BCS Learning & Development Ltd, part of the institute says: “Security is a massive undertaking for organisations today and is at the heart of any organisation’s success. A breach in security, such as loss of data, can seriously damage an organisation’s reputation. Customers rate organisations not only on their customer services, but also on their ability to keep their data secure. As a result of this, we’ve seen an increase in the demand for professional development support as individuals and organisations look to demonstrate professionalism and provide greater customer assurance.”
The Foundation Certificate in Data Protection is aimed at helping organisations who will for the first time need to meet the proposed EU data protection regulation that requires organisations with over 250 employees to appoint a data protection officer. The new regulation will require organisations of this size to develop metrics to measure the status of privacy efforts, report regularly and create statements of compliance which will need to be published in the organisation’s annual report. The certification offers a progression towards the BCS Practitioner Certificate in Data Protection.
The new Practitioner Certificate in Information Assurance Architecture builds on the Foundation Certificate and complements the institute’s professional security certifications and continuing professional development services.
The institute says that it offers continuing professional development tools including internationally recognised certifications, career guidance with career paths, mentoring schemes, personal development planning and recording tools and opportunities to network with peers through its Security Community of Expertise.
Jon adds: “The role that IT professionals play in security today is vital. We feel this is reflected not only through the professional development support we offer individuals but also in the membership and strength of our specialist groups, as well as the relationships and relevance we have across government and private sector organisations.”
Visit: www.bcs.org/infosecurity
