If you are not familiar with HISPI (Holistic Information Security Practitioner Institute) you may want to check it out. I just recently learned about them and was very fortunate to be able to attend the training class last week. I first found about about eFortresses when they started following me on Twitter. When I receive notice that I have a new follower I take a look at their profile and see if they are someone that I’d be interested in following also. I noticed that eFortresses was here in Atlanta so I checked out their web site and liked what I saw. Their  philosophy about security is very similar to mine. So I decided to send them an email to try and schedule a meeting over coffee. One thing lead to another and I ended up attending the training last minute.

The week was quiet good. Not only did I get to meet some new friends I also was “fire hosed” with information. Not in a bad way. There is a lot of information to cover in a week but the instructor, Taiye Lambo, did a great job in keeping it relevant and interesting. It was honestly one of the few instructor led classes that i’ve taken where I didn’t have to fight sleep. The HISP is a fairly new cert, I think it started in 2005, and is meant to compliment others such as the CISSP, CISA, CISM. It focuses on using the ISO 27000 series as a basis for your security program. They encourage the implementation of a Information Security Management System and the course is meant to help you attain that goal.

The certification also requires CPE’s yearly so there is a “keeping fresh” component to it as well. It’s not a “pass the test and put initials after your name” program. You have to keep it up with CPE’s to maintain certification. Of course it’s not the letters or the certification that holds the value it’s the incentive to stay current and relevant that gives it value. It’s also the focus on a structured program that will help you implement and maintain a secure environment that will meet the varying and moving requirements of many different regulations and laws.

Check it out and even if the class or cert aren’t for you I’d encourage to dialogue with the guys and eFortresses. They are a great bunch and will add value to your day.