When I started my career in technology, I began by working on SNA networks. Mainframes, Virtual Telecommunications Access Method (VTAM), Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC), and Token Rings were all things I learned about right away, and just when I got good at them, I was thrown into a land of Transmissions Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and multiprotocol networks. I had to quickly learn not only about the protocols themselves but the differences in infrastructure, security and services. Then, out of nowhere, I was hit with Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS). It seemed that every time I got the hang of something and started to get into a groove, something else came along, and the process of learning something new began again. That process of continual learning persisted throughout my technology career and continues today.
It has been said that the only constant in life is change. While change may not be the only constant in technology-related roles, it is certainly one of the things that professionals can depend on. There is no shortage in technological advancement, innovation and enhancement that impacts the way information and related technology professionals do their job. Just as with my experience, technology professionals today are expected not only to keep up with the changes in technology, but to understand all the implications, challenges and opportunities that those changes bring. To say that it is important to keep one’s skills up is an understatement.
The changes we are seeing today are exciting, but they are also immense and their implications on issues such as risk, compliance, security, and operations are not trivial. When cloud computing disrupted the scene, it was exciting. There was a cost effective, scalable solution that allowed business to receive computing services on demand. The opportunities were endless, and business has overwhelmingly accepted cloud into their environment. And, while that has created cost and efficiency improvements, and allowed for further innovation, it did leave people scrambling to understand things like cloud architecture, virtualization, the impact on enterprise security, how to audit a cloud environment and provider, and what the privacy implications associated with customer data in a multi-tenant solution might be. While industry answered with regulations, frameworks, training and guidance, technology kept on advancing. Now we are seeing emerging technologies like IoT, which comes not only with its own set of terminology, architecture, standards, and inherent risk, but brings a multiplier with it because of its cloud reliance. Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming part of some organizations, and blockchain is becoming more mainstream – all of which will bring demand for new expertise and skills for both those who are new to the field and existing technology professionals.
As a professional association, it is part of ISACA’s mission to ensure that its global members have access to training that will help them to understand changes in their professional space and grow in their career. It is for that reason that ISACA recently announced its Certified in Emerging Technology (CET) program. The CET is a stackable certification and training program. A hybrid knowledge and performance-based training program, the CET ensures that candidates are not only gaining knowledge in these important areas, but demonstrable skills as well.
The CET program has four modules: Cloud Computing, Blockchain, IoT and AI. Each of these modules contains different training opportunities to suit different needs, including online self-paced training, virtual instructor-led training (VILT), instructor-led training, and self-study through study guides and labs. Additionally, each module offers the opportunity for the candidate to sit for a certificate exam. If the candidate takes and passes all four exams and applies for certification, he or she will be granted the CET certification.
While these four emerging technologies are the current ones that are pressing for ISACA’s professional community, they will not always be. Some of these topics will move out of the “emerging” category while others replace them. ISACA is committed to keeping the CET relevant so that certification-holders find continued value in their credential and so that hiring managers can be sure that when they hire someone who holds a CET that they are hiring someone with relevant knowledge and skills.
While the pace of change is fast in technology, it does not need to be overwhelming. Take a look at the CET program and see how you can build skills for tomorrow’s technology, today.