Recently, I had the amazing opportunity to collaborate with (ISC)², the renowned cybersecurity nonprofit that specializes in cybersecurity certifications. Shortly after earning my Certified in Cybersecurity credential and becoming an (ISC)² member, I was invited to join them as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) and join other SMEs in a 3-day exam writing workshop to help develop items for their future Certified in Cybersecurity exams.
The Certified in Cybersecurity certification is the entry-level certification offered by (ISC)², so it was particularly great to work on a certification that will often be the first step for many people getting into the Cybersecurity industry. I wrote about this new certification last year, when they launched a free program for UK residents.
During this 3 day workshop, I worked with an international group of SMEs from all around, and we worked together developing and reviewing a number of exam questions. The workshop was hard work, but it was incredibly rewarding, and I found it was very inspiring to connect with peers who are passionate about cybersecurity and dedicated to advancing the field.
Throughout the workshop, we were able to tackle a wide range of topics which are covered in the Certified in Cybersecurity course materials (I can’t get into much more detail here!). After our writing sessions, we then focused on multiple review sessions, both in small groups of 2-3 SMEs, as well as wider groups led by PearsonVue staff members. These sessions were very enjoyable and helped review and polish the materials we submitted to the best standard.
I got to admit, writing test questions is generally a tougher job than it looks like. The (ISC)² has a strict style guide for content, acronyms, question structure and references which we needed to adhere to. Additionally, the Certified in Cybersecurity certification covers a broad range of topics, so each SME was assigned specific topics to focus on.
Overall, this volunteering experience was incredibly positive and I really enjoyed collaborating with this amazing organization and excellent group of professionals. By joining this workshop, I also earned 21 CPE credits (used to renew their certifications), as well as a very cool Credly badge 😉 It was also fantastic to see the impact that members and volunteers have within the (ISC)² organization. I look forward to collaborating with them again if I have the opportunity!
