Looking for some suggestions.

Post by **Big-E** » 17 May 2007, 19:58

Hello,

I am definately new around here, relatively new to the scene also. I have limited knowledge of networking and security and I am currently trying to broaden my perspectives. My ultimate goal is to attain a position of network security, either freelance or with a company as a full time job. I have attended one year of University taking Computer Science, I have all the math needed and such aside from advanced numerical methods and blah blah, all that stuff. I honestly feel that this is not the correct path for me to take, regardless of what people have told me (mostly people in the faculty I am in, probably to just keep me around and keep up enrollment). Well my question is as follows, what would be my best path to attain my goal? Gather up some cash and get a whole bunch of certs? Sit on my computer in all my free time and work a job on the side? Give me some suggestions, perhaps some of you ran into similar problems and could offer me some of your wisdom.

Thanks in advance,

Big-E

Post by **bad_brain** » 18 May 2007, 04:28

well, you can take 2 directions when you want to go into the network administration direction:
- pay your ass off to get MS certifications
- learn you ass off to get Linux certifications

I recommend #2...

join the LPI and become a certified Linux expert, it's cheap and the certificates are internationally accepted as proof of your skills:
http://lpi.org/
you only have to pay for the exams (about 100 dollars, on special occasions like Linux conventions it's even just 50%). of course this is not a gift certificate, so you have to learn a lot...but the knowledge you gain there is exactly what you need as sysadmin. and if you show up with a level 3 certificate companies will kiss your ass to have you in their team..

but of course you should improve your skills in other directions (like programming) too....to make it short: learn as much as you can! because (at least at the beginning) you can't be choosy and have to do jobs which are not really your direction. I am for example a server/network admin, but if there is an opportunity to make some money by creating a website I take it....even if I really don't like webdev.
a good practice is to create your own website, which is imo inevitable anyway....

toast · Post by **toast** » 18 May 2007, 16:39

If your looking for a challenge try obtaining your CISSP license. I tutored my daddy, so he could take the test and understand the concepts behind it. It takes a detailed background but eventually it pays well.
It sounds difficult, but its not hard at all. I find it easy actually.

This gives you a general over view:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CISSP

Its work, but the process is fun.

Toast

Post by **Big-E** » 05 Jun 2007, 09:29

bad_brain wrote:well, you can take 2 directions when you want to go into the network administration direction:
- pay your ass off to get MS certifications
- learn you ass off to get Linux certifications

I recommend #2...
join the LPI and become a certified Linux expert, it's cheap and the certificates are internationally accepted as proof of your skills:
http://lpi.org/
you only have to pay for the exams (about 100 dollars, on special occasions like Linux conventions it's even just 50%). of course this is not a gift certificate, so you have to learn a lot...but the knowledge you gain there is exactly what you need as sysadmin. and if you show up with a level 3 certificate companies will kiss your ass to have you in their team..

but of course you should improve your skills in other directions (like programming) too....to make it short: learn as much as you can! because (at least at the beginning) you can't be choosy and have to do jobs which are not really your direction. I am for example a server/network admin, but if there is an opportunity to make some money by creating a website I take it....even if I really don't like webdev.
a good practice is to create your own website, which is imo inevitable anyway....

Thank you for the reply, it is much appriciated. I was recently in contact with a network security specialist here in town who happens to be the boss of one of my buddies. We chatted about particular routes you can take...currently this is what I plan on doing.

Finish my BA in History - As a fall back, if all else fails, or to say I have a degree to get one up on the next guy.

Between tech school and my BA, I plan on learning as much as possible. Andrew Hay, the guy I was talking with said he will be offering some low cost classes in tcp/ip protocol network this fall..I might take that.

** Possibly attend a 1 year tech school, if need be - get a good backround in network admin

If I have not already attained my Network+, Security+ I will do that..get my CCNA, perhaps work on my CISSP as the next guy suggested...and bridge from here.

How does this sound for a plan to get into the feild, based both on usability/demand of the aforementioned certs, and the information I can attain while studying for them?

Post by **bad_brain** » 05 Jun 2007, 10:26

sounds good, and I highly recommend to join the TCP/IP classes....it will give you a basic understanding of networking which will be very useful for many computing/networking purposes and will be a good base for all further studies...

Post by **Big-E** » 05 Jun 2007, 16:28

bad_brain wrote:sounds good, and I highly recommend to join the TCP/IP classes....it will give you a basic understanding of networking which will be very useful for many computing/networking purposes and will be a good base for all further studies...

Sweet, thanks dude.