(ISC)² Celebrates Volunteerism during Volunteer Appreciation Month!

[isc2jade]

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month in the United States, and (ISC)² would like to take the opportunity to recognize and thank the thousands of volunteers around the globe who help support our organization.  It is the passion, dedication and expertise of our volunteers that help us advance our vision to inspire a safe and secure cyber world. Through community service, local and professional leadership, and knowledge sharing, our volunteers make a valuable impact in their local and professional communities. (ISC)² provides a variety of volunteer opportunities for members and non-members to give back, including short and long-term commitments to accommodate people’s interests and availability. Below are just a few examples:

• Community Service: advocating for cyber safety by becoming a presenter or translator for the Safe and Secure Online program by the Center for Cyber Safety and Education, serving on scholarship review panels, fundraising to promote cyber safety within the classroom, and generating awareness among corporations and other organizations. 

• Knowledge Sharing – contributing expertise to help develop (ISC)² exams, mentoring students, teaching young professionals, participating in research studies, advocating for underrepresented groups, etc. 

• Local Leadership – becoming a leader with an (ISC)² Chapter to develop and expand a professional network within the local community and provide educational opportunities to those who are new or experienced in the field. 

• Professional Leadership – getting involved in an (ISC)² working group, advisory council or board of directors to advise on industry initiatives, policies, views and standards.

Throughout the month of April, we will be posting discussions on the Community about these various volunteer opportunities available at (ISC)² and encourage you to share your experiences with us, ask questions or provide suggestions about other volunteer options you would like to see us offer.

Also, you can earn a badge by replying below or creating topics about volunteering and tagging them as “Volunteer Appreciation Month 2019”. Our Community team will award a badge at the end of the month for all those who used the tag.

To kick things off, tell us what you value most about volunteering?  Why do you volunteer and what opportunities would you like (ISC)² to offer?

[dcontesti]

Volunteering allows me to give back.  When I first started working in Computer Operations (too many moons ago), it was expected that I would fail or that I was a programmer.  I was told on almost a daily basis that I should go home and let the real experts do the work.

On my first tech job, I was handed an hand set, a screw driver and directions to the mill location....my task was to install a CRT on a phone line ... no training, just a go do it.....yes I almost quit but there were  a few people (thanks Richard and Doug), who supported me.  The support came in the form of mentoring after hours, hands on training and showing me the ropes, helping me work through the angst and telling me I was doing a good job.  Both of these folk taught me to give back not only to the industry but to others that might need assistance. 

Volunteering and sharing also has the added benefit that I learn almost daily.  As a member of the Advisory Council of North America (ACNA), I learn from others on a daily basis through information sharing and conversations.  Typing and reading here on the Community is also a learning experience, it is a chance to catch up with people from all over the US/Canada and some global folks and learn what is important to them.....and sharing like experiences.

As a exam developer, I was able to learn about areas that I had no experience in....

So to me Volunteering whether it be for (ISC)2 or ISO or the Red Cross , is a win-win situation.

I would love to see more mentoring opportunities with students or returning workforce folk that some of us dinosaurs can help even it is only to provide a listening post.

Regards

Diana

[CISOScott]

I volunteered for the CISSP Exam Writing experience with ISC2. It was very eye-opening to the length and quality of what goes into the exams. It made me appreciate the CISSP experience even more. It allowed me to network with several of my colleagues and expand my network of peers. It also made me think more about how I can give back to the community through more of these experiences. I advise anyone who gets that opportunity to take advantage of it.

[Lisav821]

One of the things that I value most about volunteering is being involved with and meeting people who share a similar passion.  After all, it really takes passion about something to devote time to it.  

Over the last couple of years, I've had the opportunity to volunteer in many ways:  teaching cybersecurity awareness (thanks to Safe and Secure Online for providing wonderful materials!) and scratch coding to elementary kids, writing and re-developing (ISC)2 CISSP exam questions, and volunteering at the 2018 Security Congress.  I've also spent some time volunteering in efforts that raise awareness about diversity, inclusion, and equality in the cybersecurity career space.  Every single volunteer opportunity in which I've participated has allowed me to learn, grow, and meet great people.  I'm quite sure it has enriched me more than any value I could have added through the volunteer effort!

As far as (ISC)2 goes, you guys offer many ways for all of us to volunteer, and I thank you for your efforts.  I know that providing these opportunities does not come without really hard work on the part of all of you!  Your boss should give you a raise!

Lisa

[canLG0501]

I volunteered for the CISSP Exam Item Writing Workshop experience recently as well.   The opportunity allowed me to see how exam questions are selected and screened.  I have a new found respect for this type of work.  I was able to network with peers from around the globe.  I hope in the future that more volunteer opportunities are provided that will allow professionals to share best practices to ensure industry growth is influenced in the right manner.  

[rslade]

In Canada, this is National Volunteer Week ...

[Caute_cautim]

@isc2jadeWell its a two way street, you assist others rather like the laws of karma, what ever you give out, comes back around eventually.  In some ways volunteering is a means to provide professional giveback, and to demonstrate your appreciation of the level, you have personally achieved, and to assist the next generation of people coming through to achieve even better results than yourself. 

In support I regularly act as an assessor for the ISC2 sponsored University grants, which helps others to achieve their personal goals, sometimes with extreme difficulties they have overcome or fighting their way through. 

Regards

Caute_cautim

[Del]

I was fortunate enough to be invited to Job Task Analysis & Item Writing workshops for both SSCP & CISSP ... most recently in March 2017

These workshops were, without doubt, the most rewarding volunteer work I have ever done.

It's hard work, especially if you do it right, but you get to share with and learn from really good people.

Meeting and working with great people like Diana (dcontesti), Rich Nealon, Ben Gaddy, Larry Chaif ... among many others, is something I will always be proud of and grateful for.

What I learned from these people is this ... giving back to the security profession is simply THE best way to coach, mentor and ultimately develop yourself AND those around you.

[lbeeby]

I would be new to the volunteering aspects for ISC2.  I would like to look into the exam writing options.  I will explore and look to volunteer!

Thanks

Lori

[dcontesti]

@Del 

Derek those are very kind words

d

[Kwicks]

Volunteering not only helps others but also makes us feel better too! Its a win/win for everyone. Although I haven't been able to volunteer as much in the past year as I would like I have made it my goal to do more this year.

[Caute_cautim]

I have copied this original piece from the CISSP study group:

I volunteered to oversee a CISSP study group yesterday, which was being run internationally, as you do in large corporate organisations doing their best to promote self-discipline etc. Once again, I want to emphasis the importance of understanding the underlying subject matter. It is not just a question of reading, memorising the study material, but actually learning to apply it. My suggestion, whilst studying for the CISSP, is go back put your security hat on, and for instance under Domain 4 Communications and Network Security, make sure you know exactly what the many protocols do and list their weaknesses, and the attacks against them. Do this in a mindmap, or you do it in your way of representing your personal notes, doing it this way reinforces your learning and understanding. If you can replay and articulate this to others, helps your understanding, and puts them into a real world context rather just soaking up the knowledge itself. Apply it.

Simply, doing a praise' and replaying it back via a PowerPoint does not fully embrace the content of the study guide or represent your understanding of the material. You need to understand the why, what, how and when you should apply judgement, so that you can advise others and justify why we simply do not use certain protocols in certain circumstances.

Regards

Caute_cautim