Hello
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=5364
Printed Date: 19 October 2007 at 10:55pm
Topic: Hello
Posted by: Cagekicker
Subject: Hello
Date Posted: 30 August 2007 at 4:56pm
| Hello all! Just wanted to drop a line and say hello to my new forum community! :) I'll be hanging out in here for awhile, hopefully. I'm a U.S. gov't contractor and work as a DC Admin right now. I'm going to school for Information Security and will hopefully start working on my certifications here shortly. Luckily I stumbled across these forums in my Google search and like the few posts that I have read so far. I am fairly new to the IT world because after 6 years in Law Enforcement, I decided to do a career change into the IT world. So far, it's been a pretty cool experience. I'm definantly not used to my biggest dangers being carpal tunnel and arthritis..Oh, and my butt falling asleep from sitting in a chair for too long. Hehe. Anyhow. Anyone have a suggestion for what a good list of Security-related certifications would be aside from the ones I already know? (Security+ and CISSP and some of the MS ones) I look forward to reading more posts in here later. Meanwhile...it's quitting time and I have a 3-hour class to go to. :oT ------------- As for self-defense, I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. |
Replies:
Posted by: BosonMichael
Date Posted: 30 August 2007 at 6:11pm
| Welcome! Security-related certifications are great, but there's really no security work to be done when starting out in IT. Security-related certifications are generally higher-level certifications - in fact, the CISSP *requires* (not suggests) something like 4 years of real-world security experience. There are a ton of security certifications out there, such as the CCSP, Check Point certifications, SonicWall certifications, CEH, and many others. Best of luck to you! Keep us posted on your progress! ------------- 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: Wildcat_Dude
Date Posted: 30 August 2007 at 6:40pm
| Welcome to the forums Cagekicker. I retired after 24yrs of law enforcement, but had started my IT career just prior to retiring in 94. I currently work for a local city government. My butt doesn't get tired, my legs do. Some weeks its slow, other times like the past 3 weeks, probably handle 20-30 or so calls/assignments a day. Finish your school course first would be my suggestion as it sounds like you haven't had 3-4 years of experience (4-5 for CISSP) just yet. ISC2 is now requiring 5 yrs direct related experience - you can get up to 2 yrs waived if you meet certain requirements https://www.isc2.org/cgi-bin/content.cgi?category=1187 - CISSP Professional Experience Requirement But you should be used to sitting in that chair bit for long hours (I hated surveillance duties)  . But sounds like you might already have a game plan.Have you've worked long enough to decide on what part of IT you want to work in? Personally, I like what I do now, as its a broad spectrum of duties, moving about, not too much phone and only occasional minor irritations. One hour I might configure a switch, install/or replace with a new server, configure print servers, repair broken applications, diagnose problem pc's, install surveillance cameras and microphones, assist the television production manager with his junk (we have our own TV station - in my opinion a waste of taxpayers money), deploying VoIP phones, making cable runs, CatTV runs, the occasional configuration of the firewall and exchange server filters - the list just goes on and on. So its nevery boring, different every day. Only thing I don't do is do anything with our web server (except the occasional posting of the lunch menu on our web site). Now what exactly is a DC Admin (domain controller?) which is what some companies would refer to as an AD Admin (active directory) or Network Admin (along with a host of other names). Usually most people wouldn't consider a security certification until they've had several years of experience (except for Security+), they usually progress from other certifications along the way. So how did you migrate from law enforcement to the IT sector? ------------- 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: Cagekicker
Date Posted: 31 August 2007 at 10:45am
| I'm not quite sure what field exactly I want to go into. All I know is I want to get into the Info Sec. field somewhere. I kind of have a plan started and I'm in a good place to get a broad area of experience for the next few years while I'm in the area. (Ft. Huachuca, home of the Army's network division). Yes, I'm a Domain Controller Admin, or AD admin. I decided to switch from LE to IT because I was pretty much black-listed and couldn't get any of the special assignments that I wanted. (To be blunt, I pissed in the Administration's Cheerio's too much. I was a big "Officer Safety" advocate and they don't like being told that their institution is run like crap.) Plus, with some medical issues that I've had stemming from jumping out of airplanes in the Army, (Ex-Airborn Infantry)..I decided it was time to have a career change. I started on our Help Desk doing customer service, moved to our Windows Management Team for just under a year and then requested to go to the AD team so I could get a bit more broad experience. So far, I like the IT world...I'm finally getting to the point where my "cop urges" are changing over to IT urges..so that's a good thing, hehe. My primary focus for now is to get my degree in Info Sec and then I'll probably look for a job over in the East coast to do something Info Sec related. Being a contractor is alright, but there's not much in the way of longevity when the contract ends and a new company wins the contract; you basically have to start all over again. I want to get employed with a solid company where I can grow and enjoy working until I retire, ya know? ------------- As for self-defense, I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. |
Posted by: Cagekicker
Date Posted: 31 August 2007 at 10:46am
| Oh, and thank you for the welcome. :) ------------- As for self-defense, I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. |
Posted by: BosonMichael
Date Posted: 31 August 2007 at 12:57pm
As well as the home for the U.S. Army Intelligence Center. We called it "Fort We-Gotcha!" ------------- 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: 04 September 2007 at 4:10pm
| Yup, sounds like you know this place, hehe. :) Sierra Vista is a lot like Fort We-Gotcha...Once you come here, you never end up living. I've left here twice and ended up coming back again. Hopefully, once I move to the east, that'll change..hehe. :D ------------- As for self-defense, I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. |
Posted by: BosonMichael
Date Posted: 04 September 2007 at 6:23pm
| I never got to visit We-Gotcha... when I was in, we did our Intel training out at Goodfellow AFB, TX. :) If you're ever out east near Nashville, let us know! WD and I would be glad to meet ya! ------------- 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: 14 September 2007 at 2:14pm
| Sure will! I'm planning on heading to the East once my Associates is completed and then continuing with my Bachelor's/Master's over there. So I'll definantly end up in the area at some point. :) ------------- As for self-defense, I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6. |