Network Security Pro's..

[NJL]

Anyone here a network security, comp forensic inv, ect.?

As stated in another thread, i'm going back to school on a gov't grant and they are sending me to get a AAS in Network Security and Assurance. I've never been so excited to go back to school in my life. It's really interesting stuff!!

They are going to help with and pay for entry level certs: CCNA, CEH and Security+

Any advice on certs or things to focus on?

[NJL]

interesting, i thought for sure there would be some pro's here..

[Absentia]

Certs are hit an miss for me, yes it's good to know that the person took the time to get the certs but at the same time with all the bookcamps and braindumps most certified people have "paper certs" getting a cert studying all you need to know with out any real practicle expirience. So as soon as you hire them they are useless. Especially the computertraining.com ads all over the place gloyifying high salaries, job security, and happiness in the exciting field of IT.


Security+ is a good start it's not too difficult, like all CompTIA certs you can usually get them with a weekend of study if your fairly knowlegable.

MSCE (9 tests) is still good and after you get that you only have to take two more tests to get the new one for server 2008.

CCNA isn't the entry level cert it once was it's kinda a beast and pain in the ass now. don;t expect to pass it one time through.

Other than that get some old computers to set up a test network in your house and contribute to open source projects.

Oh and learn linux

[NJL]

Originally Posted by Absentia

Certs are hit an miss for me, yes it's good to know that the person took the time to get the certs but at the same time with all the bookcamps and braindumps most certified people have "paper certs" getting a cert studying all you need to know with out any real practicle expirience. So as soon as you hire them they are useless. Especially the computertraining.com ads all over the place gloyifying high salaries, job security, and happiness in the exciting field of IT.


Security+ is a good start it's not too difficult, like all CompTIA certs you can usually get them with a weekend of study if your fairly knowlegable.

MSCE (9 tests) is still good and after you get that you only have to take two more tests to get the new one for server 2008.

CCNA isn't the entry level cert it once was it's kinda a beast and pain in the ass now. don;t expect to pass it one time through.

Other than that get some old computers to set up a test network in your house and contribute to open source projects.

Oh and learn linux

I'm not at all worried about CCNA, more worried about CCNP... i'm taking semesters for a degree at a college, i have 4 classes of Cisco stuff - i'm sure that will make the CCNA much easier..

As to Linux - you bet!! I used to have a dual boot system, but time to get back on it. Time to get Fusion to I can run it as a VM on my MacBooks.

[VroomVroom]

Good for you! If the certs are free, by all means stack 'em up. Adding them to the resume will get you past the first round of recruiters, where you can demonstrate your "real" knowledge in an interview.

Absentia really said things better than I could - when I interview folks it's not about their certs, but whether or not they actually grasp and can apply the knowledge.. It's awesome that you're enthusiastic about this. I'd recommend applying what you learn as soon and as often as possible - volunteer your services with non-profits, school districts, etc. That looks good on the resume as well, plus when the grizzly old Eunuchs admin asks you for examples of troubleshooting broadcast storms, DoS attacks, etc., you'll be able to appease him. Good luck to you!

[NJL]

Originally Posted by VroomVroom

I'd recommend applying what you learn as soon and as often as possible - volunteer your services with non-profits, school districts, etc. That looks good on the resume as well, plus when the grizzly old Eunuchs admin asks you for examples of troubleshooting broadcast storms, DoS attacks, etc., you'll be able to appease him. Good luck to you!

We're totally on the same page.

Already helping out a non-profit. No pay, but i'd like to earn a nice recommendation from their big cheese, I think that's a fair trade-off.

[playinpearls]

certs are definetly a plus...i've got an aas in network admin...

every job i've applied for wants certs...in atlanta anyway...

my degree didn't come with any vouchers or anything, so now i'm in a community cert program that is giving me a review and some vouchers...

[gdthomas]

Certs are a good place to start, get VMware Server and some of the linux security distrobutions and start playing with them. Get wireshark and download some of the sample capture files that they have on the wiki site. That should keep you busy for a little while. Sign up for the bugtrack mailing list.

[NJL]

wireshark is on the list and i already have Cain for a windoze box (testing my own network at home).. i also got a linux security dist called backtrack.. not messing with it yet.. net to dust off my linux skills first..

i'm excited, i start school on Monday!!

[NJL]

today's hardware class was cool.. the Prof told us, if we want to challange the A+ cert, he'll give us an A in the actual class. i'm going to try this mid-semester our college offers a testing center for CompTia, Cisco and MS - at a student discount rate of 50% off.. sweet!

tomorrow i'm taking two net sec classes and in one of them, we're going to be using network sniffers Wireshark, here i come for a formal way of learning how to use it.. gotta get my BackTrack LiveLinux CD ready, too..

he had us buy a 16gb thumb drive cause we are gonna be using some VMware and he wants us having plenty of space.

gawd i'm loving college this time around, plus the @$$ around campus is to die for

[rcarraher]

Originally Posted by NJL

Anyone here a network security, comp forensic inv, ect.?

As stated in another thread, i'm going back to school on a gov't grant and they are sending me to get a AAS in Network Security and Assurance. I've never been so excited to go back to school in my life. It's really interesting stuff!!

They are going to help with and pay for entry level certs: CCNA, CEH and Security+

Any advice on certs or things to focus on?

Well, the CCNA can be a challenge There's a good book, CCNA in Thirty Days. If you have a head for it, and study that book you won't have any problems with the written part of the test. The Security + is a Comptia Cert, and dead on easy. Its the equivalent t to to an A+ which means that if you have put a computer together in the last 6 months, you should be able to pass the test The Ethical Hacker test I am not familiar with, but it sounds interesting. I'd like to compare their study material with my 30 year old note book

[NJL]

well, since i'm taking 5 classes this semester and it's now tuesday, i've met all my classmates - we definitely have quite a few hackers there. i need to get a vpn solution for when i'm in class cause i don't trust any of them. LOL bastards

[gdthomas]

Originally Posted by NJL

he had us buy a 16gb thumb drive cause we are gonna be using some VMware and he wants us having plenty of space.

VMware is your friend..... if you have an older hard drive that you can put in an external case that might work better, 16 gigs is real easy to fill up with VM images.

[NJL]

Originally Posted by gdthomas

VMware is your friend..... if you have an older hard drive that you can put in an external case that might work better, 16 gigs is real easy to fill up with VM images.

my prof for my comp forensics class told us just to get a 8gb drive, but i got a 16gb instead..

i have plenty of externals, don't want to take them in unless i really have to, plus i take one of my macbooks to my classes with me anyway..

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by NJL

...i take one of my macbooks to my classes with me anyway..

Sorry bro, that is NOT a macbook you are working on in this picture, no matter what your friends tell you.

Is smoking allowed at all schools in Texas? Plus, you look more "Mexican" in person. This photo really fades you out.



-Mike

[NJL]

LOL hahhahah

i knew SOMEONE would leave that pic here at one point

[playinpearls]

Originally Posted by rcarraher

Well, the CCNA can be a challenge There's a good book, CCNA in Thirty Days. If you have a head for it, and study that book you won't have any problems with the written part of the test. The Security + is a Comptia Cert, and dead on easy. Its the equivalent t to to an A+ which means that if you have put a computer together in the last 6 months, you should be able to pass the test The Ethical Hacker test I am not familiar with, but it sounds interesting. I'd like to compare their study material with my 30 year old note book

I'd like to compare it with your notebook too...

[Humblerumble]

I am a server admin that does a little Cisco, (switches, WAAS, etc.) I have an A+ from 10 years ago and MCSE's in NT and 2000. They got me into this job, but there is no push at all to get any more certs. I have thought about upgrading the MCSE or getting my CCNA but it wouldn't mean anything at my present company. If I decided to leave I would definitely get up to snuff on my certs.

[adammazza]

IMO, If you really want to get into computer/network security and forensics you need to learn how everything works. I would suggest picking up TCP/IP Illustrated Vol I by Richard Stevens for networking and start to learn some programming language.

I'm not sure what the latest certs are, but I believe a CISP certification looks good on a resume. And of course the only other cert that really seems to matter is the CCIE, at least until they watered it down in the last 8 or 9 years.

Adam

[NJL]

i'm going to school to learn all this, plus will be doing my own volunteering.. they also have placements for student for the capstone - in San Antonio, there's lot's of Info Sec jobs available.