TeleTrusT Information Security Professional
T.I.S.P. Preparation Course
Organizations need individuals whose expertise covers a broad spectrum of cybersecurity topics. In addition to technical content, this also includes legal and business issues. For organizations in Germany, national and European standards and requirements for the production, operation, and use of technology are particularly relevant. Given the rapid pace of development in cybersecurity, continuing education programs must take these aspects into account.
In terms of content, T.I.S.P. covers what an organization in Germany expects from an IT security expert. The T.I.S.P. certificate confirms this expertise for participants. The body of knowledge underlying the T.I.S.P. certificate serves as proof of qualifications for companies and professionals. In particular, it is recognized as proof of qualification for legal requirements (e.g., the IT Security Act).
T.I.S.P. is suitable for anyone in an organization who is responsible, as a specialist, for the planning, management, implementation, and execution of cybersecurity measures. For example, T.I.S.P. is aimed at security officers or managers and cybersecurity professionals who work closely with them. ESCF profiles relevant to T.I.S.P. include, for example, “Chief Information Security Officer” and “Cyber Legal, Policy & Compliance Officer,” as well as individuals with the profiles “Cyber Threat Intelligence Specialist,” “Cybersecurity Architect,” and “Cybersecurity Auditor” can also benefit from participating.
Fraunhofer SIT offers a preparatory course for the T.I.S.P. certification exam. The exam itself is administered by an independent service provider. The pass rate for the T.I.S.P. certification exam has been very high—over 90 percent—among participants who have taken the Fraunhofer SIT preparatory course.
Beyond the newly acquired knowledge of cybersecurity, the T.I.S.P. preparatory course and the T.I.S.P. certificate offer additional benefits for graduates and their companies. For example, companies are increasingly required to document and demonstrate that their employees are receiving continuing education in cybersecurity topics. In this context, there are also a growing number of industry-specific requirements for which T.I.S.P. certificates are advantageous for participants and their companies. For example, according to Section 390 of the German Social Code, Book V (SGB V), IT service providers for medical practices are required to obtain the appropriate certificates in accordance with the guidelines of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV). The KBV has stated that it may exempt these individuals from the certification exam if they hold a valid T.I.S.P. certificate (see Chapter 2.6.1).
The following aspects are relevant for T.I.S.P. and the T.I.S.P. preparatory course:
- Participation in the T.I.S.P. preparatory course: The preparatory course is offered either as in-person training in Darmstadt, online, or in a hybrid format. The dates can be found here. The preparatory course lasts one week, from Monday through Friday. Participation in the T.I.S.P. preparatory course does not obligate participants to take the certification exam.
- Certification exam: The exam is administered by DEKRA Certification GmbH. The exam dates are announced here.
- Prerequisites: Admission to the T.I.S.P. exam requires prior participation in a T.I.S.P. preparatory course. In addition, the service provider must be provided with proof that the examinee has at least 3 years of professional experience related to cybersecurity. This can be demonstrated, for example, by a letter of reference.
- Instructors: The instructors are recognized cybersecurity experts with ties to applied research who, in addition to their training duties, have contributed to various R&D projects aimed at improving cybersecurity for companies and government agencies.
- Scope: Participation in the T.I.S.P. program is equivalent to 36 CPE credits.
- T.I.S.P. Community: Upon obtaining a T.I.S.P. certificate, participants gain access to the T.I.S.P. Community, which includes access to additional information and networking opportunities.
- Note: Fraunhofer SIT reserves the right to reschedule the T.I.S.P. preparatory course. In this case, those who have already registered to participate will be notified.
For general questions about the courses: Email
Fraunhofer SIT complies with TeleTrust's guidelines for training providers. This is confirmed by the current certificate issued by DEKRA.
T.I.S.P. Participation
Selected Feedback from Participants
- “I really appreciated the exceptionally high level of technical expertise demonstrated by each of the instructors, as well as their consistently excellent presentation skills. The training was perfectly organized, and the atmosphere was excellent throughout. That’s what makes learning fun. Thanks to the seminar, I was able to reinforce and expand my existing technical knowledge and, beyond that, broaden my understanding to include numerous non-technical topics such as law, ISO standards, and business management aspects.”
- “The seminar provides excellent insight into all aspects of information security. For me personally, after 15 years of hands-on and more technical IT security work, it was a wonderful opportunity to take stock of where I stand regarding the various disciplines. Highly recommended! What I really liked about the training was that the instructors were very knowledgeable—at times, you could tell that “nerds” and “researchers” had been brought in to lead the training, to put it a bit provocatively. This meant we were getting information straight from the source and were trained by people who know what they’re doing. It doesn’t get much better than that.”
- “The T.I.S.P. certificate provides a holistic view of the world of IT security, which I encounter in my daily work as an IT security consultant on a wide range of digitalization projects for the federal government. I also appreciate the focus on European standards and norms—this provides me with valuable proof of competence for the many and varied security-related issues of our time.”