Career path: Is going for PMP along with having a rich experience in the InfoSec field a good career move?

Question

I think the title pretty says it all. Do you think that if one has experience in implementations of security and network solutions, and then gets to become a PMP, will that be an added value to his career? One way I can think of it, is that companies will hire these people from the outside, and would have them planning and running the entire project from A to Z. So it basically gives you the option to be independent. Any thoughts on the matter?

Answer 1

Hi there! Absolutely! The PMP is an underrated certification for information security professionals. I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the field since a large part of any InfoSec role involves projects of some kind. Even as an analyst, sometimes you take part in the development of new processes or tools in risk management. Having the PMP along with that experience could be a great way differentiate yourself from others that focus more on InfoSec certifications like the CISSP, CISA, and CISM. I have actually seen more job posts for InfoSec management positions that prefer or even require the PMP in recent months than years prior. As for other certifications, I believe there may be some more obscure IT- or security-specific project management certifications available, but the PMP is much more widely recognized and versatile. This is more of a subjective answer since I'm going off personal experience and have no research or statistics to cite, but I hope it helps!