HIGH WYCOMBE, England, July 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

The APM Group is delighted to announce its CESG approved Information Assurance (IA) Certification Scheme is now fully operational and potential candidates are invited to apply. APM Group is the first of three certification bodies, which were awarded contracts to work with CESG, to reach full operational capability.

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Chris Ensor, Deputy Director for the National Technical Authority for IA, CESG said, " I believe passionately that  upping the level of cyber security competence in the UK is hugely important and the implementation of the certification scheme is key. I am very pleased that APM Group has reached full operational capability."

Richard Pharro, CEO, APM Group said, "We are pleased to have completed our pilot successfully and we now welcome applicants who work in and for UK government. Improved  information assurance skills, knowledge and professionalism are objectives of the National IA Strategy and the Cyber Security Strategy. The certification scheme will enable government to better match public sector requirements for IA specialists and the competencies of the staff or contractors undertaking common IA roles."

The 'CESG Certification for IA Specialists' document provides the basis for the assessment of applicants. Applicants can be tested at three different levels for a variety of roles. The levels for each role are Practitioner, Senior Practitioner and Lead Practitioner.

The roles currently available are:

• IA Accreditor
• IA Auditor
• Communications Security Officer/Crypto Custodian
• IT Security Officer/Information Security System Manager/Information Security System Officer
• Security and Information Risk Advisor
• Security Architect

The scheme is designed for IA specialists who want independent assessment of their skills and competencies in their chosen role(s). APM Group's application process is entirely online. Visit http://www.apmg-ia.com to find out more and apply.

Further information

About CESG

CESG aims to protect and promote the vital interests of the UK by providing advice and assistance on the security of communications and electronic data. CESG delivers information assurance policy, services and advice that government departments need to protect vital information.
http://www.cesg.gov.uk

About APMG

The APM Group (APMG) is a global business providing accreditation and certification services. It has been assessing and certifying practitioners around the world in a variety of different professionalisms since 1993. Our experience has been brought to bear on the IA community and we have brought in a number of leading experts in the different roles of the CESG framework to advise on the assessment of IA practitioners. Our certification process is designed to help organizations and individuals to improve their IA skills through independent assessment and ongoing development.

The APM Group is the only organization offering professional qualifications in Programme and Project management with third party independent accreditation through the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

For further details about The APM Group's qualification and accreditation schemes visit: http://www.apmgroupltd.com or call +44-(0)1494452450 or email servicedesk@apmg-international.com

SOURCE APM Group