Certified people make a certified organisation – how can IBITGQ assist this process?

The last decade has seen an increase in people taking the path to professional certifications over and above their existing experience and tertiary qualifications. This gives them many benefits, such as career advancement, increased knowledge and skills, validation of theoretical and applied knowledge, and an expanded professional network. But how does a professional certification create a competitive advantage for an organisation, what is the process and, more importantly, why choose IBITGQ as the organisation’s preferred certification body?

The business environment is a rapidly changing space and organisations face challenges that restrict operations, productivity, and growth. Some challenges are outside an organisation’s control, while other factors can be addressed by employing or upskilling employees who can implement the appropriate systems and strategies. An organisation’s practices are directly linked to the employees they upskill or recruit. For example, to correctly implement project management, an organisation will need an experienced and qualified project manager. Following this example, organisations should be able to recognise the need to have certified individuals to implement the correct practices for increased productivity, resulting in a stronger reputation.

People can obtain professional certifications independently from their organisation or through their organisation. Organisations can help employees on their path to achieving professional certifications by enrolling them on a course conducted by a qualified accredited training organisation (ATO), after which they will take an examination; a person with the appropriate level of knowledge can take the examination without taking a course. Some ATOs offer multiple training platforms that include in-house training services, which are often bespoke.

IBITGQ operates in a similar fashion: certification examinations can be purchased through ATOs or included in a bundle offered by an ATO.

What can IBITGQ do for your organisation?

Certification leader: Leadership within the certification sector has been claimed by many certification bodies. However, only IBITGQ can claim to have been the first to develop and implement essential information security certifications such as ISO 27001:2022 ISMS qualifications. These were first-to-market certifications developed by information and cyber security subject matter experts (SMEs). IBITGQ continues to introduce first-to-market certifications to support compliance with new laws and regulations and to meet specific demands within the market.

Regulatory compliance: As the international business environment develops and expands, new laws and regulations are introduced to ensure organisations have the appropriate resources and structures to safeguard themselves, their customers and international relationships. IBITGQ offers a range of information security, cyber security, data protection and privacy certifications; employing people who possess these certifications or upskilling existing employees to achieve these certifications will provide evidence of efforts to comply, therefore reducing the risk of regulatory fines.

Risk mitigation: Employees who possess the theoretical and practical knowledge to mitigate risk, identify threats and vulnerabilities, reduce gaps and eradicate overlaps in processes can form a high level of resilience to costly breaches.

Strengthened reputation: Complying with legal and regulatory requirements and increasing security measures displays a commitment to upholding the law, information and cyber security, and business continuity. This increases the perceived integrity of an organisation, enhancing its reputation.

Competitive advantage: Organisations that implement enhanced information and cyber security measures and are early adopters of compliance have a strong competitive advantage.

Dynamic: The IBITGQ certification development process is highly agile. Certifications can be rapidly developed for new laws and regulations and to meet the demands of customers. Furthermore, the process allows for the reengineering of certifications as laws are amended to ensure an organisation’s compliance.

Complementary certifications and laws: The syllabi of ISO 27001 and ISO 22301 IBITGQ certifications can often be expanded into different and specific disciplines. These syllabi provide a platform for new regulation-specific certifications such as DORA, and complement existing regulations such as the GDPR. Organisations that already employ certified ISO 27001 ISMS or certified ISO 22301 BCMS professionals have a far better foundation to certify individuals to new certifications.

Reducing the skills gap: An organisation that encourages upskilling helps reduce information and cyber security skills gaps, thereby contributing to a more resilient and safer business environment.

IBITGQ certifications have been achieved by people who are employed by some of the largest international organisations. These organisations are facilitating the continuing professional development of their employees, the benefits of which include ensuring the organisation has the capacity to comply with international and domestic laws and regulations, and ensuring that employees can mitigate risk, respond to incidents, reduce vulnerabilities, eradicate gaps and overlaps, and enhance resilience against threats. This results in a safer cyber environment and business continuity.