Student spotlight
While many students prefer a tropical destination for spring break, one management information systems major went above and beyond and earned a professional certification in cybersecurity, the first in the Ivy College of Business to do so as a student.
In the business world’s continually growing workforce, professional certifications and work experience are becoming increasingly important to employers. The importance becomes even more significant when looking at the cybersecurity field, as cybersecurity certifications tend to be more indicative of a potential hire’s understanding and capabilities.
Brian Rudolph, teaching faculty in the Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics (ISBA), brings knowledge of these certifications to Ivy.
“Professional certifications typically give candidates a leg up on others competing for the same position,” said Rudolph. “The International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2) offers the industry’s gold standard suite of professional certifications in the cybersecurity field.”
Included in ISC2’s certification offerings is the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) credential. Seen as the world’s premier cybersecurity certification, obtaining the CISSP credential is the ultimate goal for many cybersecurity professionals.
However, in order to qualify to take ISC2 certification exams, the ISC2 typically requires several verifiable years of experience in the cybersecurity industry (e.g., five years before qualifying to take the CISSP), making entrance into the cybersecurity field much more difficult for newly minted college graduates.
“Acknowledging the need for an entry-level certification, ISC2 created the Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) credential in 2022 to recognize promising cybersecurity professionals early in their careers, including recent university graduates and current students,” said Rudolph. “I felt this was long overdue at the time, and I have been a strong proponent of it ever since.”
The CC credential can give new and aspiring cybersecurity professionals a leg up on their competition for their first cybersecurity position. However, due to their university course workloads and the amount of necessary exam preparation, active college students aren’t always able to pursue a credential. Nevertheless, Rudolph made his MIS 445 students aware of the certification, knowing its importance in the industry.
“I was most pleased to learn that Dorothy took it upon herself to prepare for this certification exam and earn the credential over spring break. I could not be prouder of Dorothy and the example she has set!”
— Brian Rudolph
Jumping at the opportunity, Dorothy Staton, junior in management information systems from Frankfort, Illinois, immediately set her sights on the certification.
“I was preparing and studying for the exam since I first heard about it earlier in the semester from my instructor,” said Staton. “Once I returned home for spring break, I took the exam at one of my local ISC2 authorized testing centers.”
Staton became the first student of Rudolph’s to take and pass the exam while in school, which was also a first for the college.
“I was most pleased to learn that Dorothy took it upon herself to prepare for this certification exam and earn the credential over spring break,” said Rudolph. “I could not be prouder of Dorothy and the example she has set!”
What made Staton especially interested in this opportunity was the promotional efforts made by ISC2. With the credential launching in 2022, ISC2 pledged to give away one million free certification exams. This helps take cost out of the equation and makes the credential much more accessible for college students.
Additionally, much of the material covered for the CC credential is taught in the cybersecurity courses in the ISBA department, giving Ivy students a strong starting point.
“The majority of what is covered in the certification exam modules is discussed in the MIS 445 course,” said Staton. “Outside of ISC2, I was able to utilize the textbook for this course to help prepare for the exam and better understand each preparation module.”
In addition to gaining an advantage in her future job hunt, this credential provides a lot more visibility into the field of cybersecurity.
“The main advantage I saw deriving from this exam was the entryway it provided into deciding what areas of cybersecurity I’m most interested in,” said Staton. “It also helped with the thought process of what further certifications I would most like to pursue.”
Through this experience, Staton gained a head start on her peers and a better look early on at what cybersecurity sectors are of the highest interest to her. In the fall, she will also serve as Rudolph’s teaching assistant for MIS 445, where she can share the knowledge gained from ISC2’s certification process.
Finding incredible benefits from this experience, Staton recommends looking into the CC credential for any fellow management information systems students seeking to positively impact their collegiate and professional cybersecurity careers while still in school.
To connect with Staton or to follow her cybersecurity journey, visit her LinkedIn page.
Learn more about Ivy’s management information systems program.
April 29, 2024
