From: Craig Wilson (cwilsonppilearning.com)
Date: Sat Aug 08 2009 - 10:27:06 CDT

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So its more a case of do as I say than do as I do.

I'd suggest getting a degree, any degree, which shows an aptiitude to learn and stick with something, then go out and gain an understanding of security and supplementing with CISSP.



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Craig Wilson
Senior IT Network Administrator & Support Analyst
PPI Learning Services
T. 0207 264 5113
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----- Original Message -----

From: listbouncesecurityfocus.com <listbouncesecurityfocus.com>
To: pen-testsecurityfocus.com <pen-testsecurityfocus.com>
Sent: Fri Aug 07 12:19:15 2009Subject: Re: To go to University - For the CISSP etc. - Good idea/Bad idea???

Ahmad Taha Zaki wrote:
> Hy,
> IMHO it is the best choice that you can make, I encourage you to
> study computer science as it will make you understand things better than
> you do now as I found through my personal experience, I've been
> graduated with a major in accounting in 1998 then I achieved CCNA, MCSE,
> MCSA, MCDBA, CISSP and passed CISM exam, then I wanted to know more
> about how processor process the command we give it through software so I
> studied a post graduate Computer Science diploma in which I knew more
> about microcode and opcode, heap, buffer and buffer overflow, which
> helped me achieving the OSCP and the GCIH and currently I'm studying a
> Master of Computer Science for achieving better career. I see that
> university and academic studies is the key of success in the future.

While I agree that a degree is pretty much an essential step towards a
successful IT career these days, I think the above demonstrates how one
can go too far in that direction. Collecting qualifications and letters
after your name is fine if you want a career in academia, but otherwise
at some point you have to stop educating yourself and start actually
doing something productive. Something that clients will pay for.

I would suggest the OP, under the age of 18 remember, goes for a general
computer science degree, thereby keeping his future options open (as
discussed by others in the thread). Then find a suitable grad-training
job for a couple of years.

It'll likely be 2015 by then, and the IT world will have changed, so who
knows if he'll still like the idea of IT security? If he does, look at
the courses and qualifications clients are asking for then.


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