help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

[getanshub4u]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

Understanding the protocols that drive the network is essential. In addition to your schooling, I'd go with some of those Cisco certs, Networking+, and Security+.

So should i go for all the courses on my hitlist.
A lot of work to do in just two years.

[getanshub4u]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

In most other discussion communities and links i learnt that if one is going for ccna then he/she shouldn't go for network+ as ccna covers all aspects of network+.
I am completely undecided in this regard.Help me out.
Which linux certififcation is the best?
I came across this certification-CEH Certified Ethical Hacker.
and this post
http://it.toolbox.com/blogs/security...ification-9639

[Melesse]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

Network+ is easy, and it was done really quickly for me. Took less than a month, and it was mostly terminology for concepts I already knew. That's always been a problem for me. Someone asked me what DHCP stood for the other day. I could accurately describe what it was and did, but couldn't remember the acronym *sigh*. As I understand it, and I haven't begun studying for it, CCNA is significantly more involved, goes into more detail, and does it specifically for Cisco and for the Cisco OS. Network+ is vendor agnostic and concerned with protocols and hardware. Even some very old ones.

I have heard from multiple people over multiple years that CEH is a joke, and some people on this board have said they throw out resumes with that on there. I dunno, I never really looked into it.

Mel

[xor]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

I basically don't know that much about Certs but I'll give it a shot.

1. Experience rules.

2. College BS Degree in Information Science, or Computer Science, or Information Technology, or ...etc. First, a college degree is something that never goes out of style, never expires, and no one can ever take away from you. Unlike Certs which expire. Most good jobs require a college degree. The tougher the job market the more important that becomes. It will at least get you in the door. Programming language skills are a must. You at least have to be able to script.

2. Military experience in a technical field of endeavor. If you have a Clearance, Clearance jobs are that much easier to get.

3. CCNA which is a prerequisite for CISSP would no doubt start you down the Cert road . Plus you will learn a lot. However, if you aren't already actively working with Cisco gear, it's hard material to retain.

4. Linux, Redhat is king, and it's expensive. The The LPIC(1, 2, 3) Program is cheaper and you will learn lot.

5. Metasploit & Backtrack have excellent street cred, are cheap, and you will learn a lot.

6. Anything Microsoft & Mac.

I'm sure many will disagree with me, but there ya go.

xor

You should be goggling the job you want and see what is required. If you can't search, you are next than worthless as an IT Professional. Also, be less whiny, and uber independent. Get a handle that people can actually pronounce to.

Oh and less I forget, communication skills, most important. With email the currency of IT, being able to write well, is oh so important. Something that definitely doesn't come easy for me.

[cronek]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

1. Experience rules.

certainly, certs are just bling, and having multiple certs and no experience at all is just plain ridiculous, it may indeed get you past the preliminary HR screening, but you'll fall through easily. The training/knowledge required for these certs is rarely of any use.

Spend the money on some surplus network & security hardware instead and mess around with it as much as you can, 'borrow' some very expensive sec/net software and mess around with it (checkpoint, various enterprise antivirus/endpoint security solutions, everything that is popular and has lots of buzzwords), set up a Windows domain as you'll most certainly encounter it practically everywhere, set up the network as good as you can, run nessus or any other vulnerability scanner you choose, fix whatever it reports, configure more stuff, scan again, notice the new vulnerabilities, fix them, release some malware on your windows systems, fix them, and then do it all over again, but differently. That way when you'll have your first interview you'll at least be able to show some experience in network management and enterprise level security software, which is way more valuable than any cert.

And if you really want the certs on your wall then let the company pay them after they hire you. It'll make HR think you're a more valuable asset.

2. College BS Degree in Information Science, or Computer Science, or Information Technology, or ...etc. First, a college degree is something that never goes out of style, never expires, and no one can ever take away from you. Unlike Certs which expire. Most good jobs require a college degree. The tougher the job market the more important that becomes. It will at least get you in the door. Programming language skills are a must. You at least have to be able to script.

While all of this is true I must admit that when I was interviewing for jobs nobody ever asked me for it. And to be honest, you won't learn many useful things there, and usually the first thing they teach you is how to implement many buffer overflows and format string vulnerabilities into your code. I stayed at home most of the year, messing around with my network, instead of going to the courses, and just went to the exams. It all worked out.

3. CCNA which is a prerequisite for CISSP would no doubt start you down the Cert road . Plus you will learn a lot. However, if you aren't already actively working with Cisco gear, it's hard material to retain.

CCNA isn't really a prerequisite for CISSP, having CCNA just reduces the "mandatory" 4 years of prior security experience to 3 (iirc). You still need 3 years though.
CISSP (at least here) is made to look like a very big deal in the security field for some reason. To be honest I didn't find it very challenging though, spent a few hours reading the book the evening before, then went to the pubs and drank way too much, arrived at the exam with a hangover and smelling of beer, spent about an hour coloring the dots, handed in my answers (the proctors looked at me like I was a miserable failure because I handed it in so early, a lot of people took the full 6 hours to finish) and passed.
However some contracts require CISSP to even qualify for an application, so it might just be a necessary evil.

Oh and less I forget, communication skills, most important. With email the currency of IT, being able to write well, is oh so important. Something that definitely doesn't come easy for me.

Most certainly, this can not be stressed enough. You can have all the knowledge in the world and people will still think you're an ass if you can't explain yourself properly. And you Americans have it easy, we have to be able to do it in at least 3 languages. ;-)

[getanshub4u]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

In india we have to attend college regularly.
Not enough time to practice at home.
We get time only during the summer to do some "out-of-the-college-syllabus" studies.
So what courses(2) should i opt for from the following during this year(summer approaches in 2 months)
1)CCNA
2)LPI
3)NETWORK+
4)LINUX+
5)SECURITY+

I M VERY NEW TO THE NETWORK SECURITY FIELD.DONT WANNA MAKE ANY MISTAKES

[theprez98]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

In india we have to attend college regularly.
Not enough time to practice at home.
We get time only during the summer to do some "out-of-the-college-syllabus" studies.

I thought Ankit Fadia was teaching you guys to be ethical hackers!

[getanshub4u]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

I thought Ankit Fadia was teaching you guys to be ethical hackers!

Ankit Fadia is a great hacker but he is concerned mainly with windows-based operating systems.He is not much good when it comes to linux/unix/mac etc.But there are others more talented than him.Ankit has started a certification in ethical hacking:AFCEH
http://www.relianceworld.in/afceh_4.html
(note: you will find more windows based security topics than any other os)


This is a very good ethical hacking learning institution:
www.innobuzz.in
check out this link and tell me your comments about this course's topics:
http://www.innobuzz.in/ethicalhackingadvanced.html

should i do this course??????????

[theprez98]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

Ankit Fadia is a great hacker.Ankit has started a certification in ethical hacking:AFCEH...

He named a certification after himself.

Seriously.

[getanshub4u]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

He named a certification after himself.

Seriously.

Yeah,but who cares?
He's not the only hacker in India.There are a lot of people who know more hacking than him.

[theprez98]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

Yeah,but who cares?
He's not the only hacker in India.There are a lot of people who know more hacking than him.

That was my point.

Clearly my humor was not coming across...

[getanshub4u]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

That was my point.

Clearly my humor was not coming across...

Your humour is clearly visible.(Even i think the same about Ankit)
Well,lets not stray away from the track this thread is about.
I need the worthful guidance of all the network security gurus at defcon forums to help me out.
I am really very confused.

[theprez98]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

....sigh....

[shrdlu]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

Whatever.
Thats not what this thread is about.
I need the worthful guidance of all the network security gurus at defcon forums to help me out.
I am really very confused.

I can be reached at getanshub4u@gmail.com
getanshub4u@yahoo.com

Normally, I'd report the post, so as to have your email removed, out of pity.

In this case, I simply want to point out that you've used the wrong word here. You're not confused, you're rude, pathetic, and for some reason you think that people here HAVE to help you. We don't. Open a book. Use Google. GO AWAY

Oops. Need coffee. Still, I don't regret a single word.

Pity this isn't Usenet. *plonk*

[getanshub4u]

Re: help me: how to become network engineer [was:getting started in security field]

Normally, I'd report the post, so as to have your email removed, out of pity.

In this case, I simply want to point out that you've used the wrong word here. You're not confused, you're rude, pathetic, and for some reason you think that people here HAVE to help you. We don't. Open a book. Use Google. GO AWAY

And what makes you think i've not googled enough on this topic??????/
And about the rudeness,its clearly visible which post has rudeness in it.
I respect the members out here a lot and i'm sure someone will surely advise the best for me regarding my career.