ITPG News

Q & A

What does ITPG do?

Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Vienna, Virginia with offices in Hong Kong, London and Tokyo, ITPG is an award-winning provider of world-class professional education and certification programs for organizations throughout the world.  Offering a broad range of services, ITPG is positioned as “the company behind the company” in assisting associations and companies educate and certify professionals as well as manage end-user and customer awareness programs, events and association membership sales and marketing.


What kind of organizations does ITPG work with?

ITPG’s customers are professional associations or businesses that offer certification and/or educational programs for its members or employees and partners.  Since 2001, ITPG has managed the educational and certification programs of the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium (ISC)2, the global non-profit leader in educating and certifying information security professionals and the certifying body for the Certified Information Systems Security Professional, considered the “gold standard” in the field. 

Utilizing an impressive list of subject matter experts to develop curriculum on a variety of topics and maintaining a highly professional instructor corps, ITPG has delivered (ISC)2 curriculum to some of the world’s leading government agencies and businesses.  These include various agencies in the U.S. federal government, including the Department of Defense, Department of Commerce and Department of the Interior, as well as other government entities worldwide such as the Malaysian Cyber Security Agency; and major corporations with international operations such as Microsoft, Cisco Systems and Deloitte, as well as NTT Communications in Tokyo.   

The firm has garnered two consecutive awards for its (ISC)2 educational programs from SC Magazine, a leading information security trade journal.  ITPG also provides educational and certification services to professional associations and private companies outside the field of information security, including Hewlett Packard and the Business Continuity Institute (BCI).

ITPG’s partnership with BCI, a global business continuity management association, includes the development and administration of the Associate Business Continuity Institute (ABCI) certification program, which consists of a certification examination and an e-learning education component, based upon the BCI Good Practice Guidelines (GPG).


How are ITPG’s services different than association management companies?

Most association management firms focus on running the “back office” for membership associations, including human resources, dues collection, membership communications, financial reporting, and legal and IT services.  ITPG focuses on managing the process of education and certification for membership organizations, from curriculum development to student registration and administration, course scheduling and logistics, student database management and instructor management. 

Through its partner Schroeder Measurement Technologies (SMT), ITPG can also offer independent test development and management.  SMT and ITPG testing and certification programs for (ISC)2 have met the stringent requirements under ANSI/ISO/IEC 17024, a national and global benchmark for the certification of personnel.  ITPG can also conduct sales and marketing outreach for the organization’s educational and certification programs, as well as manage annual meetings, educational seminars and other events.

In addition, ITPG will also partner with select clients to share in the investment and rewards of an organization’s education and certification program, events or membership development activities, reducing financial risk for the client and increasing the commitment by both parties to attain common goals.


Why should a professional association or business consider outsourcing its education and certification programs?

Many professional associations find that their membership want their organization to be a trusted resource for education and certification but associations often lack the personnel to deliver these programs.  With its work with (ISC)2, ITPG has shown that not only can members better achieve their professional goals through an outsourced educational and certification program, but the organization will see a consistent revenue stream to help expand its membership and influence in the industry.  The non-profit (ISC)2 saw its revenues increase from $6 million to more than $23 million annually since the organization outsourced its educational and certification programs to ITPG.  Businesses that wish to educate and certify partners on their products and services can also benefit as well.


Who are ITPG’s competitors?

While there are many association management companies and testing services, ITPG is relatively unique in offering outsourced services for broad-based professional certification and education. The nature of testing generally does not allow those companies to offer educational programs that support the test, while association management companies generally do not have the expertise or inclination to offer these programs.


What other services beyond education and certification management does ITPG offer?

With its extensive expertise in the security field and a wide range of knowledgeable instructors, ITPG can offer companies and other organizations both end-user and customer security awareness programs. As recent studies, as well as news headlines, have demonstrated the importance of employees understanding security policies, ITPG can develop and manage an awareness program that matches the needs of the organization. It can also develop engaging e-learning tools to educate customers on security best practices as well. Both types of programs can reduce breaches, protect privacy and reduce the possibility of investor or customer lawsuits. ITPG can offer awareness programs in other areas as required and can assist in association membership development as well as market new products and services to help associations build revenue.