Project Management: Critical Skills Every Cybersecurity Specialist Needs

Hi, Liz. I feel #Project Management is an important skill in many disciplines even beyond cybersecurity and general information technology. For senior personnel, more of the work tends towards project-based in nature; less so for the entry-level roles. For example, let's say that a sysadmin (in general) completes a variety of tasks ranging from recurring (e.g., backups) to projects (e.g., replacing servers). Depending on the depth and breadth of a server replacement project, it's likely that a manager, the senior sysadmin and one or more junior sysadmins are all involved in that server replacement project. But what roles require project management skills? I'd say all of them to some degree and others in the industry agree. According to Katharina Gerberding, writing in a Hitachi Sytems, Inc., blog post, "A project management practice can help your cybersecurity project to be on budget and on schedule." Now, who doesn't need to meet cost and deadline considerations? Thus, I view project management skills in the same way that I view communication skills or people skills. We need to bring these skills to the table so that we can be effective cyber professionals.

#Project Management

Couldn't agree more. I think many times people mistakenly assume that Project Management is just for those leading a project, when in fact it can help everyone involved in a project to improve and do a better job regardless of their role. I'm signed up and can't wait.
Lee

Wanted to share an article I wrote that appeared a while back for Certification Magazine's website. You can view it at: http://certmag.com/teaching-project-management-across-disciplines/

Liz Wannamaker said:

Thank you for sharing this article. I am curious Steve, where is the project management course typically found? Is it within IT, Business or is it a Gen Ed? Is it considered a course requirement for IT disciplines or a elective?

Also like that you frame Project+ as a "stepping stone" to PMP. I didn't realize how strict the prerequisites are for PMP. This is very helpful. Thank you!

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The problem is it isn't typically found, but should exist, with Business Departments. The rationale for having it in the Business Departments is obvious. At least in the community colleges, business administration is typically the most popular major, providing an opportunity to add this certification to their line of courses. The question is, what efforts can be made to get colleges to add a project management course that includes PK0-004 content? That is where an effective marketing program needs to be initiated. Here is where I think CompTIA, relative to providing free faculty resources, could make some headway. Perhaps the package could include access to the "train-the-trainer course", a free certification voucher, and the standard textbook used by most instructors.

What would also make sense is creating useable content in terms of a course outline that includes links to free online content, course syllabus, and even an online certification exam preparation class for faculty. CompTIA needs to do more than follow an "if we build it, they will come" approach to the Project+ certification. That's my $0.02.