Networking or Security

I finish up my degree in MIS next year, and I need to start getting some certifications. I haven't figured out exactly what I would like to stick in, but I know I like Security and Networking best. I figure I have a bit of time to figure that out, since you need a background in networking to do security.

So here is my problem: I am reading up on certs as much as I can, but there are so many I don't know where to begin. A+ and Net+ seem to be the popular starting points, so I think I'm going to try to knock both out this summer. Where do I go from there? CCNA? Security+? What kind of cert path am I looking at?

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Comments

impelse

After the A+ and Net+ you can go to CCNA, with that you set a good fundation and decide your route, remember that for Security you need to know Network, servers, etc, etc, etc. You need to konw how to configure a network to know how to protect it.

That is my 2 cents

nel

I would try and figure out what you enjoy and want to do. Just because you are doing a MIS doesnt mean you have to go that field. Many folk have non IT related fields as their degree. If you are going a networking route many seem to get the routing and switching down and back it up with specialisations.

Good luck

Paul Boz

Do both. As others have said, you have to have a fundamental understanding of networking to be any good at security. You have to know what you're defending after all

I would go straight to the CCENT/CCNA. The A+ isn't really going to do much for you for what it sounds like your goals are. From the CCNA you should move to the CCNA-Security. Those two entry certs will at least get your foot in the door somewhere and let you see what your possibilities are.

RTmarc

Paul Boz wrote: »

Do both. As others have said, you have to have a fundamental understanding of networking to be any good at security. You have to know what you're defending after all

I agree. I hold the belief that you can't be competent at security until you know the ins and outs of what you are trying to protect. That's not limited to just networking.

msteinhilber

Network+ can be a good place to start, A+ perhaps as well if you are rusty with your basic hardware/software troubleshooting skills - but if you have basic skills in that area I would skip the A+ as I think the time would be much better spent elsewhere. Really though, as the others have said, it depends on what you want to do.

My suggestion if you are not already working in the industry, which from the sounds of things you are just starting to try and break into the industry - then I would really keep what exactly you want to do with your career in mind, but not set in stone. Certainly do not begin obtaining certifications that align with where you believe you want your career to be, not yet anyways. I would suggest pursuing some of the more basic level certifications that can be useful for a variety of positions such as Network+ or the CCNA. I probably wouldn't begin to go deeper into either a networking path or security path beyond that until you land an entry level job and begin to really get your feet wet professionally. I say this because I started taking courses nearly 10 years ago to get into particular area in the industry, needless to say I ended up taking a much different path than I thought I wanted to - and I'm very happy where I am trying to go. Once you actually get into the industry, your ideal career choice may change. Best to focus on the present and work on getting more value as a prospective entry level employee and then leveraging your experience professionally to both help determine what exactly you want to do and then begin specializing. I'm not saying that having longer term goals isn't bad, I just advise starting basic like you are planning but not thinking too far past that at least for now.