Company: ISC2, Alexandria, VA
Company Description: ISC2 is the world’s leading member organization for cybersecurity professionals, driven by our vision of a safe and secure cyber world. Our award-winning certifications – including cybersecurity’s premier certification, the CISSP® – enable professionals to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and abilities at every stage of their careers.
Nomination Category: Company / Organization Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Organization of the Year - Non-Profit or Government - Large
 Nomination Title: ISC2: Championing Cybersecurity Through Certification, Education & Advocacy
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes in length about the achievements of the nominated organization since January 1 2023, OR written answers to the questions for this category? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this first question: Briefly describe the nominated organization: its history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 200 words used.
ISC2 was founded in 1989 as the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium by a small, forward-looking group of information security professionals. These pioneers recognized, before others, the role that security would play in emerging and innovative new technologies. The founders wanted to nurture a new profession with the expertise, standards and ethical practices necessary to secure our economies, nations and personal lives. Today, ISC2 educates, empowers, embraces and engages 260,000+ members through our nine globally recognized certifications, supporting professional development and education offerings.
As a nonprofit, ISC2 invests its revenue back into our association and its members. ISC2's ongoing commitment is to look for ways to strengthen our education, networking and career offerings. Members gain access to many resources such as courses, webinars, certificates, events, chapter activities and more. ISC2 equips professionals with the knowledge, skills and tenacity needed to confront the ever-evolving threat landscape at every stage of their career. The challenges our members manage daily are global and diverse, and having a diverse and global makeup is essential to mitigate these threats. ISC2 is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion and advocating for a global cybersecurity community. We want everyone to see themselves in our profession.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this second question: Outline the organization's achievements since the beginning of 2023 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 248 words used.
This past year, the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification from ISC2 turned 30 years old. Since its inception in 1994, the CISSP has been recognized as the “gold standard” in cybersecurity, with recognition by governments and accredited to standards of international bodies, including the renewal accreditation for all ISC2 certifications and trainings under ANAB ISO/IEC 17024 and the US Department of Defense (DoD). ISC2’s CISSP is the #1 security credential required by employers on LinkedIn. The class of CISSP-holders has risen from 46 in 1994 to nearly 180,000 in 2024.
Additionally, ISC2 announced in November 2024 that all nine of its cybersecurity certifications and corresponding training are approved under U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 8140. This makes ISC2 the only cybersecurity certification provider to have all its credentials and courses approved within the 8140 Cyber Workforce Qualification Provider Marketplace. ISC2 contributed to significant cyber legislation, such as the EU CRA and worked with US CISA and ONCD regularly.
In the past 12 months, ISC2 has also done an immense amount to support entry-level professionals looking to break into the industry. ISC2 collaborated with IBM to launch an entry-level cybersecurity certificate with Coursera incorporating the domains from ISC2’s Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) certification training. The Center for Cyber Safety and Education, the charitable arm of ISC2, also awarded 101 scholarships worth more than $282,000 to cybersecurity students and professionals who were selected for their academic excellence, financial need and passion for the industry.
- If you are providing written answers for your submission, you must provide an answer to this third question: Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the organization's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 249 words used.
The CISSP has stood the test of time and maintained its status as the “gold standard” certification over the past 30 years. The areas covered in the exam encapsulate the most in-demand skills for modern professionals while also incorporating the lessons the industry has learned since the launch of the certification in 1994, nearly a decade before ISC2’s competitors released their flagship certifications. Professionals who hold the CISSP have noted they feel more confident networking, approaching individuals of higher status and going into job interviews, because they feel they wear the gold standard badge of knowledge.
DoD Manual 8140 unifies the DoD’s overall cyber workforce and establishes specific workforce elements to align, manage and standardize cyber work roles, baseline qualifications and training requirements. ISC2 certifications cover 85% of the approved 54 work roles, more than any other provider. With this recognition, ISC2 members now hold prestigious validation that their knowledge, skills and abilities are valuable in the most sensitive and critical environments, like national defense.
ISC2’s commitment to training and supporting entry-level cybersecurity professionals with the CC and scholarships aims to lower the field’s barriers to entry, ultimately achieving a more secure world. To encourage diversity, equity and inclusion in the workforce, which in turn improves cybersecurity, ISC2 is working closely with partner organizations to give away 1 million free CC certificates, with half reserved for underrepresented groups in cybersecurity. 390,000 individuals worldwide have enrolled in the training, and more than 60,000 have become Certified in Cybersecurity.
- You have the option to answer this final question: Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 90 words used.
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