Certified Wireless Security Professional (CWSP) Online Training Series

Training Series Overview

This series covers the functions and features of Certified Wireless Security Professional. Students will learn the basics of WLAN security, Legacy security, encryption ciphers and methods, 802.11 authentication methods. They will then learn about dynamic encryption key generation, SOHO 802.11 security, fast secure roaming, wireless security risks, and wireless LAN security auditing. They will also learn how to implement wireless security monitoring, VPNs, remote access and guest access services, the WLAN security infrastructure, and WLAN security infrastructure.

Certification Details

The CWSP certification is a professional level wireless LAN certification for the CWNP Program. The CWSP certification will advance your career by ensuring you have the skills to successfully secure enterprise Wi-Fi networks from hackers, no matter which brand of Wi-Fi gear your organization deploys. To earn a CWSP certification, you must hold a current and valid CWNA credential.

Certification Exam Details:
CWSP-205 Certification: Learn More about this exam.

Available CEUs for Course Series Completion: 15
Students can earn up to 15 CEUs for fully completing this course series. This information will be displayed on the certificate of completion. Learn More

Certification Details

The CWSP certification is a professional level wireless LAN certification for the CWNP Program. The CWSP certification will advance your career by ensuring you have the skills to successfully secure enterprise Wi-Fi networks from hackers, no matter which brand of Wi-Fi gear your organization deploys. To earn a CWSP certification, you must hold a current and valid CWNA credential.

Certification Exam Details:
CWSP-205 Certification: Learn More about this exam.

Available CEUs for Course Series Completion: 15
Students can earn up to 15 CEUs for fully completing this course series. This information will be displayed on the certificate of completion. Learn More

What are the well known WLAN security methods?

wireless lan security

WLAN security: how to make your wireless network into a fortress

Whether you’re using a private or business network, the need for security is a top priority. Traditional networks that use cables can provide some protection against external attacks. This is because without physical access to the cables, which are located throughout buildings, strangers cannot easily intercept or read data.

However, if you want to use a more practical wireless network, you run the risk of encountering security problems. Empty space is used instead of cables for transferring data, and the range is not measured by the length of the cable, but by the strength of radio signals. If a device in the wireless local network – better known as WLAN – sends data, a spy only needs a receiver within the range of transmitted radio signals to intercept this data. To use the wireless communication path without any worries, it is important to ensure you have good WLAN security.

What Is the Network+ Certification?

comptia network+ jobs no experience

Introduction

The labor market for information technology professionals will remain robust for the next decade. Market intelligence company International Data Corp. estimates that the IT industry will globally add more than 4 million well-paying jobs through 2027. In the United States, the U.S. Labor and Employment Bureau estimates that the computer and information technology sector will grow faster than the average across all sectors, with a 13 percent growth in IT jobs between 2016 and 2026.

Despite such high demand for IT professionals, it’s not guaranteed that you will find a job. Even if you’re not competing against a large pool of applicants, it’s important to prove to a potential employer that you’re qualified for the role. Professional IT certifications are a good way to show that you have the technical skills, and hiring managers often see them as performance indicators. And certifications can help you not only prove your skills and knowledge to a potential employer, but also advance your career and stay competitive.

If you’re interested in the network infrastructure field, CompTIA’s Network+ certification is a good way to demonstrate that you have the foundation required for an entry- to mid-level job. As a core-level credential, the Network+ certification covers areas such as network management, troubleshooting and configuration, skills which are necessary for many network jobs.

A nonprofit trade association, CompTIA is recognized globally as a leading provider of vendor-neutral professional IT certifications. Although the Network+ certification is geared toward entry-level practitioners such as network support specialists, network administrators and help desk technicians, it also provides the expertise that can be valuable in other IT fields.

What Is the Network+ Certification?

Established in the ‘90s, CompTIA is a membership association that has certified more than two million professionals since its inception. Its comprehensive training and certification programs range from basic to advanced and specialized areas. In addition to certifications, the association focuses on educational programs, networking events, research, advocacy and other activities that help advance the IT profession.

The Network+ certification is among CompTIA’s core offerings designed to build foundational skills. CompTIA reviews all its exams regularly to ensure they reflect the most current industry practices. The most current Network+ exam, N10-007, was launched in March 2018 and will be effective for three years. This version was updated to add new topics such as security and network resiliency.

The certification covers five domains:

• Networking concepts
• Infrastructure
• Network operations
• Network security
• Networking troubleshooting and tools

Who Should Earn the Network+ Credential?

CompTIA considers the Network+ as the next step after its A+ certification, another in its series of four core certs. While A+ covers the basics of networking, Network+ takes a closer look at aspects such as:

• Designing and implementing networks
• Understanding wired and wireless network technologies and topologies
• Implementing network security standards, configurations and protocols
• Configuring, maintaining and managing network devices such as firewalls, routers and switches
• Troubleshooting network configurations and other issues
• Understanding and implementing best practices for network operations, including disaster recovery and business continuity

This certification demonstrates that you have a basic understanding of enterprise technologies, making it ideal for anyone who’s in the early stages of their network career. However, those who want to advance to more senior roles should also consider it. Some of the jobs that will benefit from Network+ the most include:

• Computer technician
• Help desk technician
• Network support specialist
• Network administrator
• Network analyst
• Systems engineer
• Systems administrator or analyst

The certification can serve not only as a stepping stone for career advancement but also  provide a solid understanding of networking for other IT roles. Some of the other paths that the Network+ certification could fit include:

• Security specialist
• Web and network systems developer
• Information systems consultant

A review of PayScale’s data for Network+ certifications shows that the average salary earned by IT professionals who have this credential is $62,000, with job titles that include network engineer, IT director and IT manager.

Requirements for Obtaining the Certification

To take the Network+ exam, you do not need any previous IT experience. However, CompTIA recommends at least nine to 12 months of experience in the networking field. The A+ certification is also recommended but not required.

If you have experience in networking, you will find it much easier to prepare for the multiple-question certification exam. A variety of training and exam-prep options are available for those who don’t have a good foundation in networking or just want to brush up on their knowledge of current practices.

Which security certification is best?

security professional certifications

Cyberattacks are the fastest growing crime in the U.S., and they continue to grow in size and sophistication. Companies like Facebook, Panera Bread, Under Armour and Uber made headlines after having customer information stolen. With each breach, administrative fears and the demand for cybersecurity certifications increase.

These fears are not unfounded. Centrify found that 66 percent of customers in the U.S. would likely halt any interaction with a business that's officially been hacked.

As a company, you might find yourself scrambling to hire top cybersecurity talent or equip your IT team with cybersecurity certifications. As an IT professional, the demand for cybersecurity skills presents a huge opportunity to boost your résumé, stand out among candidates and increase your earning potential.

Ready to jumpstart your IT career? Explore cybersecurity certifications here.

But with so many IT security certifications out there, where do you start?

As the leading IT training company, we compiled the top cybersecurity certifications IT professionals need to earn in 2019:

1. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
2. CompTIA Security+
3. Certified Information System Security Professional (CISSP)
4. Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
5. Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
6. NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NCSF)
7. Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
8. Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI)
9. Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Security

Is Cwna a good certification?

cwsp certification

Wi-Fi has become a hallmark of the 21st century; the World Economic Forum estimates that there are 50 million individual Wi-Fi networks currently operating in the United States. A Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA) certification* qualifies a person to do the basic adjustments and maintenance tasks involved with running these networks in a commercial setting.

As an employer, you know you can't invest in every certification program that comes along; it makes sense to weigh the costs and benefits of a given program before signing your employees up for it. Here are just a few reasons why the CWNA course might be an excellent choice for a computer-based certification program for your company.

It Provides a Broad, Applicable Understanding of Wi-Fi Basics

The CWNA course teaches the key points about what Wi-Fi networks are made of, how they are installed and designed, what security measures they need and how to troubleshoot bugs in the network. Once someone has this base-level comprehension of how Wi-Fi networks function, they can use it to tackle many of the minor issues that regularly crop up in offices. Some of fixes needed might include:

• Fix problems with a weak signal that's interrupting your office's Internet connection
• Establish an authorized connection to new devices
• Set up a firewall

These are all things that a certified CWNA can probably figure out a solution to, nicely illustrating how handy it can be to have such a person in the office. Wi-Fi is a great tool, and the more your staff knows about it, the better they can use it to propel your business forward.

It's Vendor-Neutral

There are two main kinds of IT certifications: vendor-specific and vendor-neutral. Vendor-specific certifications are credentials that apply to only one particular company's networks and hardware - Cisco-branded certifications are a well-known example of this. They offer an incredible depth of knowledge and are often highly regarded for being so thorough, but are also so specialized in nature that they become obsolete outside of their intended contexts.

Vendor-neutral certifications like the CWNA designation, however, are not tied to any one company or brand. Rather, they are intended to provide general knowledge that will be relevant to learners using any of the wide array of product options on the market. This means that the skills your employees learn in a CWNA course will never be useless if you decide to change suppliers.

Your staff may never know quite as much about any one system, but you'll be thankful for the open-ended nature of this program if your company ever needs to change directions with its IT department. In that case, your existing CWNA-certified employees will be just as competent with the new systems as they were with the old ones.

It Can Serve As an Internal IT Funnel

Some companies hire externally for their IT needs, but others prefer to scout out talents for these positions from within their existing ranks. One good way to find promising prospective internal candidates for this move is to make entry-level certification courses available to your employees. The ones who take you up on the offer and excel in their classes are the ones you know you can put a little more investment into afterwards.

The CWNA certification is a good choice because it's intended to be basic and accessible to beginners, so as long as someone puts in the effort required to keep up, they should be able to pass the final exams with no problem. It also gives them a chance to try out some of the work they'll be doing in a low-risk setting where both of you can gauge how well they handle it. This way, you'll catch any mismatches early and save yourself a lot of time and expense.

It Unlocks Other Certification Pathways

The CWNA certification is very low-level, true, but all IT professionals have to start somewhere. In this case, getting this initial certification allows a person access to all of the other, more specialized offerings from the Certified Wireless Network Professional organization. These include the CWSP (security), CWDP (design), CWAP (analysis) and CWEP (expert) credentials, all of which cover their designated topic in significantly more detail than the coursework for this certification does. Students aren't permitted to sign up for them without first beginning with the basics, though.

All of these higher-level skills are immensely valuable in a modern IT environment and greatly extend the computer capabilities of your company. If your goal is to eventually have your employees master all of the intricacies of the IT industry, this is a small but critical step on your path to achieving it.

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If you think your staff could benefit from CWNA certification in any of these ways, why not check out Infotec's CWNA Certification Course*? Contact us today to discuss your company's needs and how you can get a better grasp on the fundamentals of network technology. 

How do I become a cyber security professional?

network security professionals

The growth of cybercrime puts businesses and government agencies at the risk of constant threats to their crucial business data, customer data, financial information, and other trade secrets. Cybersecurity professionals play an important role in protecting businesses from cybercriminals. The demand for cybersecurity professionals is constantly increasing and is expected to rise by 28% between 2016 to 2026, as listed by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Who is a cybersecurity professional?

Cybersecurity professionals are responsible for securing the information systems of an organization. They determine the access points, processes, and people to the information and then coordinate and implement information security policies. By applying multi-layer security policies using their skills they defend the IT infrastructure from web threats, malware, viruses, DoS attacks, phishing, etc.

Why cybersecurity professionals matter?

There is no business sector that is not attacked by cybercriminals. Cybercriminals cause severe damages to intellectual property, network, business data, and services by theft, viruses, intrusions, data mining, etc. They are responsible for resolving highly complex security issues and keeping cybercrime at bay. They secure businesses and ensure their continuity by applying their skills of analysis, reverse engineering, incident handling, forensics, to monitor and diagnose vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity professionals also recommend mitigation of cyberattacks and recovery and protection of software and hardware issues.

As a matter of defense strategy, they install firewalls, monitor the process of data flow, and regularize access to protect the network and secure data. They also train staff members on security awareness and best security practices so that the policies and procedures, as drafted by them, are implemented throughout the organization. The reports submitted by them serve as guidance to the management and executive staff.

CompTIA A+ certification demonstrates competence as an entry-level IT Technician.

a+ certified salary

CompTIA A+ certification validates entry-level skills in today's essential IT domains, including computer repair, software & operating systems, network administration, information security, cloud computing, and troubleshooting of both desktops and mobile devices. A+ certified technicians also learn customer service & communication skills in order to effectively interact with technical and non-technical employees.

CompTIA A+ certification is an ideal starting point in the learning plan of a new IT professional because:

• The A+ certification exam demands no prerequisites.
• A+ certification introduces candidates to the essential IT domains.
• A+ certification is globally recognized as the mark of a skilled entry-level technician.
• A+ certification is a mandatory hiring requirement for a variety of entry-level IT jobs.
• A+ certification is a requirement or elective in the advanced certification paths of leading technology vendors, including Microsoft, Cisco, Novell, HP, and IBM.

There are numerous accredited degrees, professional certificates and self-paced online training programs featuring A+ certification exam prep and related coursework. Research and compare A+ training programs in the U.S. and online below.

Skills Measured by CompTIA A+ Certification

Here are the key skills and knowledge areas measured by the A+ certification exam. A+ certified professionals:

• understand the basics of computer and mobile device hardware, software, networking and security.
• can identify PC hardware, peripherals and network components in a business environment.
• can categorize and explain multiple types of data storage devices and backup media.
• can describe in detail the types and features of motherboard components.
• know how to follow proper computer safety procedures and best practices.
• have interpersonal communication skills to better interact with peers and customers.
• can setup and manage popular operating systems inc. Windows, iOS, Android, Apple OS X and Linux.
• can install and configure input devices, e.g., keyboards, mice, bio-metric scanners and touch screens.
• can implement a variety of troubleshooting techniques to fix system errors and connectivity issues.

Download the CompTIA A Plus Exam Objectives below for a more thorough curriculum.