In a world defined by constant evolution and rapid cultural and technological transformation, Singaporean professionals’ ability to swiftly adjust, learn, and innovate has never been more crucial. While adaptability has emerged as the cornerstone of success for professionals in the city-state, Singapore’s dynamic business landscape demands a new approach to adaptability—one that goes beyond traditional skill sets.

This article will delve into the profound significance of adaptability in the context of Singapore's highly competitive business environment—and how professionals can be more adaptable by adopting what are known as Critical Core Skills. By uncovering the multifaceted aspects of adaptability and its symbiotic relationship with Critical Core Skills, we aim to provide a brief guide that will hopefully empower Singaporean professionals to thrive amidst uncertainty.

What are Critical Core Skills?
Critical Core Skills (CCS) is a framework developed by SkillsFuture Singapore that places 16 work-critical soft skills in three clusters, namely Critical Thinking, Interacting with Others, and Staying Relevant. The soft skills can be thought of as the skills that you need to build other skills, which makes them important for allowing you to better adapt to an increasingly fast-paced and volatile work environment.

These skills are evergreen and will be valuable throughout your professional career. Possessing them not only enhances progression within your current roles, but also equips you to transit into new roles when the opportunity arises. In contrast, other professionals who only have strong hard skills may struggle to advance and may eventually see their skills become obsolete.

Comprehensive CCS training covers the following areas:

Critical Thinking

• Transdisciplinary Thinking
• Creative Thinking
• Decision Making
• Problem Solving
• Sense Making

Interacting with Others

• Building Inclusivity
• Collaboration
• Influence
• Customer Orientation
• Communication

Staying Relevant

• Adaptability
• Developing People
• Global Perspective
• Digital Fluency
• Self-Management
• Learning Agility

How Critical Core Skills enhances your professional resilience
As a regional tech hub and a nexus of international trade, Singapore is always among the first places to feel market and technology disruptions. Having relevant Critical Core Skills will be effective in withstanding these disruptions and uncover meaningful opportunities.

Here are a few ways CCS training can help you readapt to new developments that affect your career:

1. Facilitates career advancement. Developing your Critical Core Skills can help you to understand different perspectives and experiences within your industry. An ability to view one’s industry from other people’s perspectives—as well as within a wider context—is very helpful. It can empower you to better appreciate your own career and find the ideal paths for advancement within it.

2. Strengthens human connections. Unlike hard skills, which are often automatable, CCS taps into the essence of what makes us human, which can never truly be replaced. By honing these skills, you cultivate resilience and foster enriching interactions with stakeholders, resulting in fruitful outcomes.

3. Discover unexpected connections. Adapting to change often involves getting out of your comfort zone and tapping into knowledge areas that seem to have no apparent connection to your industry. Having CCS will help you see the value of practices employed by other industries, allowing you to make the connections necessary for innovating within your field.

4. Keep abreast of new trends and technologies. While Singapore is ahead of the pack in the development of a smart nation, technology and work culture often move at a pace many organisations struggle to keep up with. A deeper mastery of Critical Core Skills will give you the mental clarity to be a first mover, enabling you and your team to capitalise on opportunities and avoid incoming threats to your profession.

5. Makes you a better version of yourself. Adapting isn’t always about reinventing the wheel. Sometimes, it’s simply a matter of becoming better at what you already do. Among many skills, CCS training teaches you how to be more creative, how to communicate effectively, and how to manage your internal resources. Taking a CCS course can, therefore, directly help with your current projects and help you overcome any existing roadblocks that are keeping you from moving forward in your career.

Critical Core Skills provide a firm foundation for your career
If you’re considering a change, CCS courses may be the key in helping you redirect your professional path. Regardless of your industry or obstacles you’re facing, improving your abilities to think critically, interact with others, and stay on top of current developments will open new ways for you to adapt and excel.

Moreover, unlike hard skills, critical core skills will always be transferrable and provide meaningful value, regardless of the career path you ultimately choose.

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In this digital era where a considerable portion of our day-to-day activities from education and communication to banking and finances depend on information technology, a significant rise in cyber crimes and cyber threats can be witnessed. In order to avoid and prevent the risks posed by malicious activities such as phishing, DDoS, and data breaches, various cybersecurity systems have been developed and implemented by many organisations at present.

Along with the establishment of various cybersecurity solutions across businesses, the demand for cybersecurity professionals who are capable of operating and maintaining them has also shown rapid growth. If you are searching for a promising career path that comes along with many benefits, cyber security can be considered one of the best options ahead of you. In this blog article, we will reveal 10 reasons why you should consider obtaining the CISSP certification to become a professional in cyber security.

What Is CISSP Security Certification?

The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is a globally recognized program offered by the International Information System Security Certification Consortium, or ISC2. It is more like a PR certificate that grants you access to enter the cybersecurity industry. It is an indication of your possession of knowledge and skills in the subject, along with the ability to design, implement, and manage security systems that minimize the risk of cyber threats. The first step to obtaining this certification is to enroll yourself in the ISC2 CISSP course, which we offer at NTUC LearningHub. Covering the basic areas such as security and risk management, asset security, identity and access management, and more, this course will ensure that you are well prepared to enter the vast job market of the cybersecurity sector. 

Becoming ISC2 certified in cybersecurity in a digitally advanced country like Singapore can significantly boost your career growth. Here are 10 reasons why you should consider following a cybersecurity course in Singapore and obtaining the CISSP certification. 

1. Job Opportunities

Completing the CISSP certification opens doors to various job opportunities in the cybersecurity field. Some of the roles you can pursue include cybersecurity analyst, security consultant, IT auditor, security architect, security manager, and chief information security officer (CISO). 

According to a Job Vacancy Survey conducted by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM), the demand for cybersecurity professionals in the job market has increased by 30 to 40% from 2015-2020. At present, organisations across industries, including finance, healthcare, government, and technology, actively seek CISSP-certified professionals to secure their systems and data.

2. International Recognition

As it is offered by the ISC2, the CISSP certificate is recognized globally as a standard of excellence in cybersecurity. Whether you're based in Singapore, the United States of America, or any other country, the value and recognition of your CISSP certificate will remain unchanged. It demonstrates your proficiency in cybersecurity principles and best practices, making you a desirable candidate for employers worldwide.

3. Career Advancement

Earning the CISSP certification offers you valuable opportunities for career advancement. At present, many employers prefer or require CISSP certification for senior-level cybersecurity positions. By becoming CISSP-certified, you can differentiate yourself from other candidates and position yourself for promotions and leadership roles within your organisation. 

4. Attractive Salaries

CISSP-certified professionals often receive higher salaries compared to their non-certified counterparts. According to industry reports, the CISSP certification can lead to a significant salary hike, with some professionals earning up to 25% more than their non-certified counterparts. By investing in CISSP certification, you effortlessly secure a lucrative career in cybersecurity. Here’s a general overview of annual CISSP salaries in Singapore:

5. Industry Credibility

The CISSP certification enhances your professional credibility within the cybersecurity industry. It signifies that you have the knowledge, skills, and experience to effectively address cybersecurity challenges and protect organisational assets.

6. Continuous Learning

Maintaining CISSP certification requires ongoing education and professional development. The ISC2 requires CISSP-certified professionals to earn continuing professional education (CPE) credits annually to stay current with the latest trends, technologies, and best practices in cybersecurity. This commitment to continuous learning ensures that CISSP-certified professionals remain at the forefront of the industry and can effectively address evolving cyber threats.

7. CISSP Member Benefits

By becoming a certified cybersecurity professional, you will be entitled to various exclusive benefits offered by the ISC2. They include:

• Networking Possibilities
• ISC2 Discounts on Education 
• Free Webinars
• Journal of Information Security
• Free and Discounted Events 

8. Networking Opportunities

The International Information System Security Certification Consortium often hosts events, conferences, and virtual forums. CISSP-certified professionals can make them valuable opportunities for networking, connecting, collaborating, and sharing knowledge with peers. This way, you can receive insights, support, and career advice throughout your journey. 

9. Engage with a Global Community

The CISSP certification grants you membership in a global community of cybersecurity professionals. As part of this community, you will have access to resources, tools, and forums where you can engage with like-minded professionals from around the world. 

10. Contribution to Organisational Security

Moreover, investing in CISSP training for employees is an important step for many organisations to further bolster their organisational security posture. Here are the key reasons why upskilling employees with CISSP certification and promoting a culture of cyber awareness is pivotal for companies:

• Improved Protection of Sensitive Business Information 

When employees are enrolled into the CISSP certification course, they learn how to protect sensitive business information from malicious hackers. Employees will learn the strategies commonly used by hackers to steal important information. For example, hackers will often attempt to circumvent established security methods to make off with sensitive information. During their CISSP certification, employees will learn how to avoid them successfully. 

For example, during phishing attacks employees may be lured into opening a malicious link when hackers disguise themselves as a credible source. These malicious links may contain harmful viruses and malware which can cripple organisational workflows and ultimately the company. Other commonly used attacks include social engineering attacks where employees are deceived into revealing sensitive information over emails or phone calls. Hence, CISSP training creates awareness amongst staff so they discern between credible sources and potential threats.

• Risk Identification and Mitigation

The CISSP course will also empower employees to critically evaluate a business network to pinpoint potential areas for a security breach. Vulnerabilities can exist in various forms within the business network including the hardware, software and backend operational systems. 

For example, a vulnerability in software can include an expired antivirus protection which heightens the risk of viruses and malware. On the other hand, a risk in hardware can present as a malfunction within the organisation’s computers or hard drives. These can lead to a loss of important data and unnecessary downtime for the business. Hence, when employees are able to proactively identify these vulnerabilities, it helps organisations to address and mitigate these vulnerabilities.

• Enhance Company Reputation and Client Trust

Any organisation that is holding onto confidential user information is tasked with securing these details, hence the leaking or theft of data can cause untold damage to the company’s reputation. This will erode customer trust which is quite difficult to regain. When employees are trained in CISSP certification, they are taught how to take proactive steps to protect client and business-related information. 

CISSP Requirements: How Can I Get My CISSP Certification in Singapore?

If you are interested in advancing your career in cybersecurity, you can simply get started with the ISC2  Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) course at NTUC LearningHub. This is a SkillsFuture cybersecurity course in Singapore that gives you eligibility to sit for the CC exam. This course is open to anyone, especially those who are coming from a security or ICT background. Unless you are entering the course just for knowledge, it is recommended that you possess the following requirements at enrollment:

• A minimum of five years cumulative paid work experience in two or more of the eight domains of the CISSP CBK
• A four-year college degree, a regional equivalent, or an additional credential from the ISC2 approved list

However, if you do not have the required work experience to become a CISSP, you still stand a chance to become an Associate of ISC2  by passing the CISSP exam. 

Upon completing the course with a minimum attendance of 75%, you will receive a valuable Certificate of Completion from NTUC LearningHub and a Statement of Attainment (SOA) from SkillsFuture Singapore. Depending on your professional goals and interests, you can pursue further qualifications by sitting for the CISSP exam conducted by the ISC2 once you complete this course. 

Join NTUC LearningHub and Be a Professional in Cybersecurity!

Ready to take your cybersecurity career to the next level? Join NTUC LearningHub and start your journey today! Along with our CISSP course, we offer various other courses related to it, such as the Implementing and Administering CISCO Solutions (CCNA) course and the EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) course. Whether you are looking to reach new heights in your career or seeking knowledge on the subjects of your interest, visit our website and explore the endless opportunities awaiting you.