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Entry level security certs?

Printed From: CertCities.com Forums
Forum Name: Security Certs
Forum Discription: Discuss CISSP, SANS and other security certifications here.
URL: http://certcities.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?tid=1879
Printed Date: 19 October 2007 at 10:55pm

Topic: Entry level security certs?

Posted by: ksc133
Subject: Entry level security certs?
Date Posted: 17 April 2005 at 1:15am

hi,

which is a betta choice overall?

CompTIA security+
CIW security analysts
Checkpoint CCSA

are there anymore entry level security certs?
thanks

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CCNA MCSA Linux+ Security+

Replies:

Posted by: Wildcat_Dude
Date Posted: 17 April 2005 at 11:56am

Yeah, a bunch of them, just do a google search for "entry level security certifications". Now whether or not I'd spend money on some of these, that's another story.

What's a better choice you say? Again, that all depends on your job market where you are and what you're trying to accomplish. You've asked a lot of questions about various certifications. But do you actually have a game plan yet?? Doing research on your own will give you a better idea on how to seek the answers you're looking for in that you'll gain some knowledge about the various certs available and comparing them to what businesses in your area may be wanting. You might still need to do some marketing of your skills if you decide on some of the other certs that a prospective employer doesn't know anything about.

Good luck on your venture, whatever that might be.

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MCSE:Security & MCSA:Security, MCDST, MCP XP, CompTIA Sec+, A+ & N+
USAF (68-77) SP K9 Vietnam Vet 1969-DaNang, 1970-Tuy Hoa, Retired Police Detective/Narcotics/K9

Posted by: Mike4kz
Date Posted: 03 November 2005 at 1:48pm

Actually the "entry level" certification here is Security+. It'w very generic and seems to be like "kindergarden CISSP".

To get Checkpoint CCSA you will need to have access to a CheckPoint firewall, VPN, etc. And even with all that it's pretty tough.

CIW Security Analyst sounds kind of "web security specialization". Nothing bad or good about it.

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CCNP, CCDP, CCSP, Cisco Voice, MCSE W2K, Checkpoint, Solaris, Security+, etc.
http://www.headsetadapter.com - headsetadapter.com

Posted by: jnghik
Date Posted: 23 November 2005 at 11:37am

Security+ is a good certification but its the most entry level security cert i know of.

I doubt even with a certification like that you can get a job in any kind of security related job without any experience in security or admin.

I would say get CCNA at least with the Security+. This setup is a good setup and focuses of different aspects of securing your computers.

one just wont do to get that entry level job. Trust me... its a hard market.... but you living in singapore with the 2 well known certs should do well. I dont know how advanced the technology is there and how well known the other certs are. employers want to hire people with familiar certifications that they know what it test for.

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"640K ought to be enough for anybody."
-- Bill Gates, 1981 ---

Posted by: walterbyrd
Date Posted: 30 December 2005 at 9:48am

I have found the Security+ to be 100% worthless.

I also have a+ and net+, and a degree in math with a computer science concentration. I have have years of experience doing security related work as a systems and network specialist with a top-secret security clearance.

From what I have seen, if you don't already have many years of experience as an information security specialist, and a CISSP - dont' bother, there is no place for you.

JMHO.

Posted by: nuthn2lz
Date Posted: 30 December 2005 at 10:28am

I say go for the Security+, many of the questions on the exam you would have learned in A+ and Net+...it might take a little more studying (as usual, I recommend the Mike Myers Passport books), but it is a great entry level security exam.

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A+, Net+, Project+, MCDST, MCDBA, MCSE - Security, MCP, Certified Ethical Hacker (EC-Council), Linux+, Security+, Novell CLP, HDI - HDA, and the ol' skool Sair-GNU Linux--YOWZA!

Posted by: Ubuntu4u
Date Posted: 26 May 2006 at 9:50am

walterbyrd wrote:

From what I have seen, if you don't already have many years of experience as an information security specialist, and a CISSP - dont' bother, there is no place for you.

JMHO.

So how do you suggest breaking into the field of IS? How can you get your first entry level job in IS to obtain the many years of experience you refer to. This is a serious question, not a mocking retort.

cheers

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/train

Posted by: BosonMichael
Date Posted: 29 May 2006 at 9:48pm

Ubuntu4u wrote:

walterbyrd wrote:

From what I have seen, if you don't already have many years of experience as an information security specialist, and a CISSP - dont' bother, there is no place for you.

JMHO.

He means that IT security jobs are not by any means an "entry level" job. One cannot secure what one has never administered. Prospective IT techs must work up to an IT security job by first getting an entry level job (like help desk or PC repair or field tech), then gaining systems engineer experience, then gaining network engineer experience, then gaining security experience.

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BosonMichael (formerly TMichael)
MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCDST, MCDBA, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
Served proudly, US Army, 98C Intelligence Analyst, '89-'92

Posted by: enjoinS
Date Posted: 04 December 2006 at 10:46am

I heard about the SANS Institute from a friend and decided to pursue their Security Essentials Certification (GSEC) first.

I went about it through their Portal program and was able to learn all of the material from home. GSEC covers 6 main categories:

- Networking Concepts
- Defense In-Depth
- Internet Security Technologies
- Secure Communications
- Windows Security
- Unix Security

I enjoyed the program and learned a lot. I feel that the information I learned was a good baseline for continuing on with other security certifications.

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B.S. University of Wisconsin

GSEC

Posted by: LizB
Date Posted: 11 December 2006 at 2:45pm

Hi,

I have a question. I already have A+ and Security+. I'm working on CCNA then I want to get the CEH. Do you think this is enough to go entry level (helpdesk) and then computer security without finishing my degree?

Liz

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LB

Posted by: Amikman
Date Posted: 11 December 2006 at 3:48pm

Quote:

I have found the Security+ to be 100% worthless.

I totally disagree with this statement and with this level of attitude. This certification brings an awareness to both employers and other professionals in the security field that the holder has at least proven that they have the basic security knowledge associated with this certification. To say it's 100% worthless is absolutely silly....

I agree with TMicheal that the security field is not an entry level opening. However, if your focus is to someday break into the security field then you have to start somewhere. Hense, here's where the Security+ certification come into the picture. This whole subject is about entry level security.....

IMHO.....

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Posted by: BosonMichael
Date Posted: 11 December 2006 at 4:16pm

Amikman wrote:

Quote:

I have found the Security+ to be 100% worthless.

Agree on both counts. Well said, Amikman.

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BosonMichael (formerly TMichael)
MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCDST, MCDBA, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
Served proudly, US Army, 98C Intelligence Analyst, '89-'92

Posted by: Cagekicker
Date Posted: 31 August 2007 at 4:18pm

walterbyrd wrote:

Wow, think you can find a more negative way of putting things? I'm going for my CIS - Information Security degree here in AZ and will eventually be going after my A+, Net+, Sec+ and a few other certifications along the way in order to benchmark my knowledge as I gain experience in the IT field.

Actually, the Security+ holds a lot more worth than what you give credit for. In 2009, there is talk of it becoming a requirement for anyone working in the C-TNOSC, (If you hold a TS and work in the IT field, I'm sure you know what that is), to have it. It may not hold water compared to the CISSP or the CEH or any of the other ones; but it isn't meant to. The Security+ is just supposed to display a higher than basic knowledge of Info Sec. (Kinda like the A+ shows a basic understanding of computers and the Net+ shows a basic networking understanding compared to the more advanced certifications).

Obviously, the COMPTIA certifications are a "starter certification". Otherwise there'd be a lot less people with it because it'd be harder to obtain.

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As for self-defense, I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.

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