3/5/2003 -- Last week the International Information Systems Security Consortium (ISC(2)), proprietor of the CISSP security certification, announced that they have signed a five-year contract with the National Security Agency (NSA) to develop and administer a new credential for IT professionals that want to work for the NSA, either as employees or outside contractors.

The certification, called the Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP), will cover aspects unique to "the technical knowledge required of government information systems security engine," including processes and government regulations, ISC(2) said.

To obtain the ISSEP, candidates will be required to have four years of IT security experience and hold the CISSP.

A press release announcing the new title does not say whether all IT professionals who work with the NSA will be required to obtain the certification, or if it will be optional.

According to the press release, the ISSEP is still in the early stages of development. NSA will be providing subject matter experts to help develop the title's curriculum, and ISC(2) will build and manage the exam and program.

The organizations gave no timeline for the launch of the new title.

More information on this announcement can be found here. -B.N.