Re: Getting In

[chort <chort () amaunetsgothique com>]

On Sat, 2003-08-09 at 04:28, Mike West wrote:
> Guys
>
> I know you have probably been asked this question many times but here goes.
>
> I am currently a security enthusiast and employed as a software developer
> for a large Telco company however I would like to get into the security
> field but I am finding it a very tight market to get into.
>
> How would be the best way to make a start in the Security field. As I have
> found that most company's will not look at your CV unless you have had 2
> years proffesional experience/certification and you can't get a
> certification until you have the experience etc.
>
> Thanks in advance
> Mike

For me it was dumb luck.  I jumped out of University half way through a
CIS degree to get started in tech during the boom.  Initially I was an
advanced troubleshooting technician for an ISP, then I moved to another
ISP, then to an e-mail hosting provider where I spent several years.

After the hosting provider laid me off for the second time I did the
usual round of posting resumes on job sites and re-motivating myself to
self-educate.  I finally finished reading Building Internet Firewalls
from O'Reilly, which turned out to be a very smart move.

By dumb luck one of the leading e-mail security companies contacted me
(because of my e-mail background) and thanks to the fact that I was
aware of security best practices and techniques, I got the job.

Now I'm loving InfoSec.  It's everything I always wanted to do, but
never thought I had enough experience for.

My advices is to read some good books (such as Building Internet
Firewalls, and Hacking Exposed) and take some time to play around with
setting up different operating systems at home, then locking them down
and connecting them to your network (it helps to buy cheap old boxes at
a used computer shop or on eBay).  Obtain an entry level certificate if
you have the time and money (maybe the Security+ or SSCP).  Then just
cross your fingers and hope for an opportunity.

-- 
Brian Keefer


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