Americans have frequently expressed disgust with the bicameral legislative branch of the federal government, which seems to have been mired in gridlock and partisan bickering for at least a decade now. Even with partisan political gamesmanship stalling out President Biden's infrastructure bill, however, there's one congress that you don't have to feel aggrieved by, or find yourself distastefully reluctant to embrace.

Information security professionals, in particular, should not hesitate to cast a vote in favor of the upcoming (ISC)2 Security Congress event, to be held Oct. 18-20 in Orlando, Fla. Turning the page from last year, when COVID precautions resulted in a virtual conference, Security Congress 2021 will be a hybrid event, offering a full in-person slate of events with virtual attendance available to those who would prefer to congress from home.

The in-person ground zero for Security Congress 2021 is Orlando's AAA four-diamond Hyatt Regency Hotel. Among the activities planned is an escape room challenge that will be available both live and online, as well as Panoply, a virtual hacking challenge that will let cybersecurity professionals test their skills with prizes available.

The ongoing clash between data and network protection professionals and the digital malefactors of the world grows more heated every year, and business and government organizations desperate to secure their digital frontiers need security workers with impeccable credentials. Career development is more or less mandatory for anyone in the cybersecurity trade.

Security Congress is an ideal resource for certified security professionals who recognize the importance of keeping their knowledge current and their skills sharp. Each year, (ISC)2 brings together thousands of security industry colleagues who learn, discuss, collaborate, and push at the real and imagined boundaries of cybersecurity vigilance.

If you hold (ISC)2 certifications, then Security Congress offers an opportunity to earn up to 40 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits toward recertification. There are also two days of intensive pre-conference training opportunities (Oct. 16-17) for security professionals who have had their sights on (ISC)2 certification, but haven't yet toed the line.

Now, you may look at the October dates of Security Congress and think, 'No rush. I've got plenty of time to take care of registration.' And that's true — unless you like saving money. If you lock in your plans during the early registration window (open through Aug. 13), then you can save $200!

You can also save on the overall cost of registration by becoming a member of (ISC)2. For example, you could shave $300 off the cost of an all-access pass by becoming a member. Think about all the things you could do with an extra $300 that you didn't have to spend on registering to attend Security Congress! You could get a brand-new luggage set for your flight to Florida, or upgrade the monitor that you'll be using to participate from home.

You can jump over to the Security Congress website to seal the deal, as well as view the Security Congress agenda and finalize your plans. Don't hesitate to advance your cybersecurity career by attending a first-rate professional conference.