Security Specialists in Short Supply?

[imported_Tek Weasel]

Security Specialists in Short Supply

Security experts speaking at a cybersecurity conference in Washington D.C. expressed concern that the country is going to need many more skilled IT workers to protect the critical infrastructure than are presently available. The military faces shortages of skilled IT workers because many command higher salaries in the private sector. In a related story, cyber forensic specialists are increasingly in demand.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0902/090402td2.htm

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...rensics08.html


And we are told our field is getting over crowded. My only suggesting is to start polishing up your resume and chase that green. $$$$$$$

[MrLinus]

Tek Weasel,

Thanks for the info. Those are excellent articles and should help for me to create a degree program that will bring more people into the security industry. The only thing that would be of concern is that they are trained well enough. I don't want to see lax security admins that know just a little bit.

[Chuck56]

I think computer security is THE area for the foreseeable future. The industry is changing by the day and new technology brings new threats. Wish I were 20 or 30 yrs younger.

[roswell1329]

I sure agree with you, chuck, but I've been surprised lately at the seemingly lack of motivation by the private sector to increase cybersecurity. I remember recently reading a poll about how a great percentage of corporations are now viewing cybersecurity as a necessity, but so few of them are actually adding to current security procedures and personnel. My guess is that it's gonna take an attack of 9/11 scale in the cyberworld before the real demand for security professionals is seen.

[avenger_jcc]

Im confused. Why did he get Negged?! I dont see a thing wrong with that post. >
I think it has to do with the Newbie status ....
Anyway, Great post. And about the feild being overcrowded.... ABSOLUTELY.
damn "paper MCSE's" and others who read and never do, but get the certs...
ANYONE can memorize questions and answers, but its so very interesting to set them in front of a broken machine and say "Fix".... or even a working one and say "Do:"
they look lost.

[HavangerSr]

i agree with avenger. you see all these mcse ppl out there and you ask them a question on security, and they don't know it. also, there are these "colleges" out there that are 90 weeks long. how can you teach someone everything they need to know in 10weeks. come on. they might know a little bit, but the ins and outs, they don't have a clue.

[Chuck56]

I've read that the field is overcrowded, too. The problem is, overcrowded with competent people or people in it for the $$$$$? I'm as technologically adept as an ant, but if I had a piece of paper saying I was qualified, I'd be going for the money, too.

As for being negged, I've been negged for just POSTING on a thread that somebody didn't like. I got the negs for something I didn't even say. You learn to live with it and hope that the positive points outweigh the negative.

[Juridian]

When it comes to the mcse's and security...for the most part the mcse just makes sure you know how to use the product. It does give you some networking knowledge and some of the security features and how to use them, but it isn't overly focused on giving you a good knowledge of defense in depth with ids systems, intrusion detection, incident handling, etc. There are some new security certs out there and I hear rumors of possibly more coming but it is still no replacement for some real security training.

If anyone gets the chance I really reccomend the SANS classes. I just started them and I'm learning a ton.

[zaggy]

Originally posted here by Chuck56
I think computer security is THE area for the foreseeable future. The industry is changing by the day and new technology brings new threats. Wish I were 20 or 30 yrs younger.

You are only as old as you feel. Certainly computer security is a field that you can work in long past the age that you could work in a lot of physical fields.

It is certainly strange that there is such a lack of IT personel, as I know many in the field looking for permanent work. Maybe the employers aren't looking in the right place.

[Chuck56]

If this is off topic, I apologize, and just delete or ignore this post. How do the various classes relate to a computer science course, of do they at all? Our local Community College offers courses in computer science. I doubt I have the math background to qualify, but have considered looking into it. Would it be worthwhile?