Amr Cybersecurity

CREST Cybersecurity Certification

Origin

CREST (Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers) was established in 2006 in the United Kingdom by a group of cybersecurity professionals and industry representatives. It was created to address the growing need for standardized, recognized qualifications in penetration testing and cybersecurity services. The organization emerged from concerns about the quality and professionalism of security testing services, aiming to provide a framework that would certify both individual practitioners and the companies that employ them.

Industry Value

CREST certifications are highly valued in the cybersecurity industry because they demonstrate a practitioner's technical competence and adherence to professional ethical standards. Many government agencies, financial institutions, and large corporations specifically require CREST-certified professionals when procuring penetration testing or security assessment services. The certification provides assurance to employers and clients that certified individuals have been independently verified to possess the necessary skills and knowledge, and that they follow established codes of conduct. This makes CREST credentials particularly important for cybersecurity professionals working in regulated industries or seeking to work with organizations that have stringent security requirements.

PCI DSS Certification

Origin

The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) was created in 2004 by the major credit card companies: Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, and JCB International. These companies formed the PCI Security Standards Council in 2006 to manage and evolve the standard. PCI DSS was developed in response to increasing credit card fraud and data breaches, establishing a unified set of security requirements for all organizations that store, process, or transmit cardholder data. The goal was to create consistent security measures across the payment card industry to protect sensitive payment information.

Industry Value and Importance

PCI DSS compliance is mandatory for any business that handles credit card transactions, making it one of the most critical security standards in commerce today. The certification demonstrates that an organization has implemented robust security controls, including network protection, access management, encryption, and regular security testing. Non-compliance can result in severe consequences, including substantial fines (up to $100,000 per month), increased transaction fees, loss of payment processing privileges, and reputational damage following a breach. For IT professionals, PCI DSS expertise is highly valued as organizations across all industries need qualified personnel to implement, maintain, and audit these security controls.

CHECK Certification

The CHECK (CHecklist Evaluating Computers and Key security) scheme was established by CESG (the UK government's National Technical Authority for Information Assurance, now part of the National Cyber Security Centre) in 1997. It was created to provide a structured framework for conducting information technology security assessments and penetration testing within UK government and critical national infrastructure environments. The scheme was designed to ensure that individuals performing security testing on sensitive systems possessed verified skills and adhered to established standards and methodologies.

The CHECK certification is highly valued because it represents government-endorsed validation of a security professional's ability to conduct rigorous, methodical security assessments. Organizations handling sensitive government data or operating within critical national infrastructure sectors often require CHECK-certified testers to ensure compliance with UK security standards. The certification's importance stems from its strict vetting process, which includes security clearance requirements and demonstration of technical competency, making CHECK holders trusted to access and test sensitive systems where standard commercial certifications may not suffice.