Security Basics mailing list archives
RE: University Degree or CISSP
From: "Spahn, Louis" <LSpahn () wilsoncook com>
Date: Wed, 31 Aug 2005 10:16:19 -0400
I have been in industry for a while and just obtained my CISSP and I have an Associates degree, working toward BS now. The reality is certs and degrees are just a HR function. You can be very qualified on paper and not have the necessary skills to do that job. I have seen this in both cases but more so with degree people and low level certs (such as A+ or Network+) than high level certifications such as CCNP/CCIE, RHCE or CISSP. I do have to disagree with one thing though. Certain certifications, such as the cissp, require much more study than almost any college class I have ever taken and cover a lot of information. There is no midterm gauge of how you are doing, you test- then pass or fail, period. Also in college you have a peer group to work with which generally is not available to people seeking high level certifications. This, in my opinion, helps build confidence in the material and your ability which is key to success in almost any field. College does force you to learn skills outside your technical base which are important. I have to write security briefings for our VP once a month so the English and technical writing I took in college is important. I guess the reality is you have to be well rounded as well as have technical expertise. You need both. I would find a program that prepares you for the CISSP while obtaining your degree. Kill two birds with one stone. Lou Spahn Network Security Engineer CISSP,MCSE,CCNA -----Original Message----- From: nds2a () alumni virginia edu [mailto:nds2a () alumni virginia edu] Sent: Tuesday, August 30, 2005 10:33 AM To: security-basics () securityfocus com Subject: Re: University Degree or CISSP I'd go for the University degree. I think it gives you a much better understanding of a larger range of material than a certification. For example, you may get to spear-head your own computer security projects, possibly working within a team, conduct tests and report results to an actual audience. Although this could be done in your spare time, it's much more meaningful and you may gain more experience from doing it in an academic environment. As far as industry acceptability, it's important to realize that more people are getting degrees nowadays. Therefore, it may definately be to your future advantage to have one as well. Also, its certainly possible to do some certifications while you're getting your degree. But I don't think studying for a certification is in anyway comparable to earning a degree.
Current thread:
- Re: University Degree or CISSP, (continued)
- Re: University Degree or CISSP Kelly Martin (Aug 30)
- Re: University Degree or CISSP Leif Ericksen (Aug 31)
- RE: University Degree or CISSP Kumar, Snehal (HP Security Services) (Aug 30)
- Re: University Degree or CISSP nds2a (Aug 30)
- RE: University Degree or CISSP Brunner, Mark (Aug 30)
- RE: University Degree or CISSP Nidschelm, Robert (Aug 30)
- Re: University Degree or CISSP Dave Aronson (SecBasics) (Aug 30)
- RE: University Degree or CISSP Christopher Carpenter (Aug 30)
- Re: University Degree or CISSP bgreene (Aug 30)
- Re: University Degree or CISSP Steven Kalcevich (Aug 31)
- RE: University Degree or CISSP Spahn, Louis (Aug 31)
- RE: University Degree or CISSP Francis Kaitano (Aug 31)
- RE: University Degree or CISSP Christopher Carpenter (Aug 31)
- RE: University Degree or CISSP McKinley, Jackson (Aug 31)