Would past drug use be an issue in Network Security field?

Hi everyone,

I am interested in Networking, and, specifically, Network Security. I was wondering if my career would be limited by my past drug use? For example, for the sake of this discussion, let's assume I would eventually have CCIE Security level of knowledge; would a history of past drug usage stifle my career? How many of these network security jobs require security clearance (and would past drug use make it impossible to get said clearance)? Even if it doesn't require security clearance is it common practice to question security employees about these things?

I have no criminal record, by the way.

Before I fully commit to a career in Network Security I need to know if this is going to come back to bite me or be an issue at some point. I have no experience in how this industry operates so I don't know if it would ever even come up or not.

Even though they aren't my number one choices I am also very interested in Routing and Switching and Voip. If my past drug use will limit my Network Security career I am better off knowing that now so I know where to focus my efforts.

I'm interested in any thoughts you have regarding this.

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Comments

blargoe

I wouldn't think so, if you have a clean record, and you don't fail the drug test today.

Cisco Inferno

thats nothing, sounds like a normal teen/college student.

no records and not having it be a habit now shouldnt hold you back.
i seriously doubt anyones going to give you a lie detector test and go "oh you smoked some weed? back when you were a teen?, sorry we can't hire you."?

AlanJames

I know people in high end professional roles that still do that

hex_omega

AlanJames wrote: »

I know people in high end professional roles that still do that

LOL. I was going to say, the CEO of your company probably blazes up on occasion.

erpadmin

hex_omega wrote: »

LOL. I was going to say, the CEO of your company probably blazes up on occasion.

I don't know about "blazin'"....CEOs tend to go the Charlie Sheen/Robert Downey Jr, route.....they might "blaze" to come down some.

Seriously, you should be fine. Try not to cop to anything unless you MUST, and even then, just marijuana and chalk it up to youthful indescretions and that you have "seen the light about the evils of drugs in your adult life...."

I have never had drug use come up, and I never really discuss what I may/may not have done to coworkers, and it has never come up in an interview. The one time it came close was when my application stated I might be subject to a drug test....I am still waiting for that day....lol.

ehnde

Your chances of going through a polygraph chance are pretty slim. Your family and friends could be investigated for a clearance. Obviously you'll be drug tested for ANY job.

I don't think a polygraph is part of the clearance process. Just explaining on paperwork where you have been, who you know, and what you've been doing the past 10 years.

kula

Thanks for the input everyone. I am glad no one thinks this is an issue at all. One of the things that made me wonder was seeing several (though a small overall percentage) network security engineer jobs that required security clearance and I wondered how hard it was to get that clearance and if things like this in your past would disqualify you.

I also knew someone who, after several years of school for forensic science, was informed he would not be able to make it his career because of his past drug use (which admittedly is several degrees worse than mine). I never quite understood why they didn't catch this when he first started the program (it never made a lot of sense to me) but he basically had to change his major and it set him back quite a bit.

I know forensic science and network security are not related at all, but it is still possible issues of character and integrity could come up in a network security position. Or, at least that was my line of thinking.

Thanks for the responses.

DoubleD

I would hope not I did about 30 Es back in my time
but Im clean now

fss

I'll go ahead and disagree with those who say it won't be an issue. If your network security position has any sort of government security clearance as a requirement for employment it will most certainly be an issue.

For example, an SSBI requires reporting on drug use over the previous 10 years, or back to age 18. It won't automatically disqualify you, but it will lengthen the time it takes to get you cleared and increases your chances of rejection (if your clearance is denied that is a fairly significant employment issue).

Polygraph tests don't care about what drugs you did in the past. Polys are only out to see if you are telling the truth and extrapolate the results to determine whether or not that organization can trust you with their information.

Forsaken_GA

Depends on whether or not your need a clearance. I wouldn't lie about it to the FBI if asked, but if you don't have any charges for it, you should be good to go.

RockinRobin

Good thread. I was wondering about this myself. (Not about the drug use, but about things like downloading certain "stuff"). Would this become an issue with gov't related positions?

Paul Boz

They can only use what you tell them against you.

fss

RockinRobin wrote: »

Good thread. I was wondering about this myself. (Not about the drug use, but about things like downloading certain "stuff"). Would this become an issue with gov't related positions?

If they asked you during a polygraph and you lied about it, it would be much worse than if you told the truth. You can also take steps to show that this was in your past (if it indeed was) and that you don't do it anymore.

Paul Boz wrote: »

They can only use what you tell them against you.

...and you are legally obligated to answer their questions truthfully. If they don't ask, you don't have to tell. Pirating certainly falls under the "Have you performed any other illegal activities?" question that is fairly standard in the clearance process.

hypnotoad

Don't even bother trying to get a security clearance and/or security-dependent job. You can't abuse schedule I substances in these situations. Lotta deal breakers there.

Paul Boz

fss wrote: »

...and you are legally obligated to answer their questions truthfully. If they don't ask, you don't have to tell. Pirating certainly falls under the "Have you performed any other illegal activities?" question that is fairly standard in the clearance process.

You don't need a clearance for the majority of security jobs. I would not advocate lying or concealing information on a clearance procedure.

JDMurray

Although a true security clearance is not required by most security jobs, the basic screening process used by employers today is on the level of a DoD Secret clearance. This level of screening is now possible because of the enormous amount of our personal history that is available easily and quickly online.

Not having a criminal record or bad credit record is essential for passing a background check. Your past drug use would only be a problem when a clearance requires interviews with people that know you (e.g., friends, family, co-workers, teachers, neighbors), or an employer requires you to disclose such information as terms of employment. In the case of a polygraph test, you may not be asked any questions that reveal your past drug use. On some polys you are shown the questions before the exam and allowed to have some questions of your choosing removed from the list.

Security clearances are like "certifications of trustworthiness," so if you are caught in any lie during the investigation process you'll flunk big-time. Once you are cleared, you have to keep your nose perpetually clean (e.g., no arrests or bad credit) or risk loosing your clearance (and possibly job), or not getting additional clearances when required by your job.

You are also never truly anonymous on the Internet, so discussing aspects of your past in public discussion forums could come back to bite you too.

Forsaken_GA

JDMurray wrote: »

Security clearances are like "certifications of trustworthiness," so if you are caught in any lie during the investigation process you'll flunk big-time. Once you are cleared, you have to keep your nose perpetually clean (e.g., no arrests or bad credit) or risk loosing your clearance (and possibly job), or not getting additional clearances when required by your job.

You are also never truly anonymous on the Internet, so discussing aspects of your past in public discussion forums could come back to bite you too.

And of course, putting pictures on Facebook with your face inches away from a bong and a big smile on your face is probably a bad idea too.

You'd think that wouldn't need to be mentioned, but I keep running across the slashdot articles....

RockinRobin

forsaken_ga wrote: »

and of course, putting pictures on facebook with your face inches away from a bong and a big smile on your face is probably a bad idea too.

You'd think that wouldn't need to be mentioned, but i keep running across the slashdot articles....

lololol

kula

Thanks for the comments everyone! It seems some of you work in Information Security so I appreciate the responses.

Paul Boz

Forsaken_GA wrote: »

And of course, putting pictures on Facebook with your face inches away from a bong and a big smile on your face is probably a bad idea too.

You'd think that wouldn't need to be mentioned, but I keep running across the slashdot articles....

This is what truly kills me. I see people get popped for bad facebook content constantly. When I was at LSU there were three girls who posted some pictures of them doing "less than savory" things on facebook and they were all in-line for brand new teaching jobs. a local school board found the pics and guess who shot their entire college careers in the foot because of some FB pics.

At my last place of employment our business was screening the Internet for data we could use in pen tests and social engineering attacks. We screened potential employees the same way and 4/5 of the candidates failed the Internet check. One dude had a myspace with tons of fairies and bondage gear on the site. Not exactly awful material but not what we were looking for. There is a reason why I update facebook to keep my family in the loop and nothing else. If its PC enough for my grand parents it should not cause me professional harm

Computadora

I found this website, which shows decisions made on certain security clearance cases:

Industrial Security Clearance Decisions