RE: Career Choice

From: Britton, Jeff B. (JBBritton_at_LMUS.LeggMason.com)
Date: 03/08/05

  • Next message: Bryan Allen: "Re: see which programs are opening ports" 
    To: 'Richard Kirk' <saviente@gmail.com>, security-basics@securityfocus.com
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 13:11:42 -0500

    I've been in security for appx 2 years now, and I can't begin to tell you
    how much programming experience helps. An overall programming language
    class is critical - to understand the building blocks of all languages, both
    sequential and object oriented.

    Not only do you become capable of automating many parts of your job (which
    in turn saves time and $$...something every manager likes to see) but you
    are also able to get a much better handle on specific vulnerabilies/expoits
    and how they directly affect whatever you are investigating.

    Be very careful when you get into MIS or CIS... I was a COSC major and can
    tell you that CIS and MIS are much broader degree's, and for lack of a
    better term, much easier than COSC or similar. If you want to break into
    the security industry right out of school, you'll probably need one of two
    things...
    1. A darn impressive resume
    2. An inside contact to get you a job

    Best of luck.

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Richard Kirk [mailto:saviente@gmail.com]
    Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 8:10 AM
    To: security-basics@securityfocus.com
    Subject: Career Choice

    I am currently a student at DeVry University studding Network
    Communications Management. My true concentration is in security
    forensics.

    In any case the more I looking into vulnerabilities and network flaws
    the issues come from within the programming of the
    application/protocol etc. and most assaults use multiple programming
    languages to execute these attacks.

    I have two questions, the first is should I be learning how to
    program? My current studies have only one programming language course
    (Intro to Java). Second, will the Bachelors degree I'm getting help me
    get into the field I'm looking for or should I change my major to
    something else such as MIS or CIS?

    Thank You for your time
    Best Regards

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  • Next message: Bryan Allen: "Re: see which programs are opening ports"

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