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Vol IV, Issue 6: June 2011
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Letter from the Editor TOP
Security Arms Race a Boon for IT Professionals?
No matter where you turn, security is the single most important topic for anyone in IT. Cyberwarfare has been alive and well for some time, and the Chinese, who have been planning and deploying for decades (hence the Peoples Army having control of all things related to computers and technology) recently had the gall to call out the United States for cyberwarfare crimes. They claim that Google, obviously a tool of the American Military, was involved in launching various assaults on their information systems.
This is pretty typical for the Chinese, who responded to Google's claims in 2010 that they had hacked into Google accounts owned by US officials as "groundless." Misdirect, obfuscate, all the while continuing their efforts to dominate in any way they can…that's SOP for the Chinese.
Other countries have accused the Chinese military of similar affronts, which of course have been completely ignored or denied. Then again, if you had a top secret, cyber warfare operation going you wouldn't be wearing your 1#@3k bling while out clubbing.
Or would you?
Probably not, at least if you are part of some military operation, but I guess geeks just need a little attention. Lulzsec and Anonymous, two well-known hacker organizations, have recently announced "Operation Anti-Security" aimed at banks and government organizations, ostensibly for their roles in censoring or moderating internet traffic.
What does this have to do with you? Simple.
Security is by far the biggest concern in IT. Whether or not companies are putting enough resources into it is another thing altogether, but with hackers and government agencies and all the issues with moving things to the cloud, security is where the real opportunities are. While not everyone is instantly embracing the need for more secured computing, others are getting the message the hard way, like Hyundai Capital Services, Inc., South Korea's largest consumer finance company.
There is rarely a day that we don't see a news item on some government or financial institution being hacked. Most organized hacking groups are our era's bank robber…they are after credit card and other personal data that can be used to flush millions in cash out of consumers and businesses. That means security will continue to be in demand, and that means if you are looking for a career opportunity, you could do a lot worse than to focus on security and it's close sibling, forensic security.
According the EWEEK/Global Knowledge IT Skills and Salary Report, salaries for those holding a Cisco Security certification average over $80,000 per year.
Other security certifications (first number is the mean, second the median…dunno why they do that):
Obviously there is gold in holding security certifications. If you are looking for a new direction, or any direction for that matter, the internet is in dire need of a whole bunch of sheriffs and deputies to uphold the law and catch the bad guys.
What is your experience with security in your job? Does your company treat it like a red-headed stepchild or a Golden Child? Shoot me an email and let me know.
Ben Ice
Editor, The Cert Times
CTEditor@ExamForce.com
This Month's Puzzle TOP
They say that the best things in life are free. I don't know who they are, but I might tend to agree with them if someone showed up at my house with the keys and clear title to a Bentley Continental.
I'm of the mind that "simpler is better." That was also the concept behind last month's quiz.
Q. A real simple one for you. You've roads without cars, forests with no trees and cities with no houses. Where can you find this?
A. A map.
I didn't fool any of you it seems, but I did get an interesting, if not politically correct, response from William Hoyt..."From what I've heard, that's North Korea." Well William, I do believe they have roads and forests...it's actually food they are a tad short on. But I liked the comment so much that, if you read this response and email me, I'm going to let you have one of our video courseware products...on me...just 'cause I like those smart ass comments.
This month's winna's are (remember, check your email and if you see an email from me the word "winna" in the subject line, tell me what exam prep you want and send me your snail mail and phone) Cindy Gioffredi, William Parker, Curtiss Barrett, Wade Preston and Amie Sanyang.
Speaking of smart asses, this month's quiz highlights a particularly clever one...at least I thought so.
A man is sitting in a pub feeling rather poor. He sees the man next to him pull a wad of £50 notes out of his wallet.
He turns to the rich man and says to him,
"I have an amazing talent; I know almost every song that has ever existed."
The rich man laughs.
The poor man says, "I am willing to bet you all the money you have in your wallet that I can sing a genuine song with a lady's name of your choice in it."
The rich man laughs again and says, "OK, how about my daughter's name, Joanna Armstrong-Miller?"
The rich man goes home poor. The poor man goes home rich.
So, What song did he sing? Think you know the answer? Drop me a line at cteditor@examforce.com. Make sure to watch your email in case you are selected as a "winna." Also, don't forget to use the word "quiz" in the subject line. Otherwise I'm likely to delete it with the spam.
Send all entries to: CTEditor@ExamForce.com
Ben Ice
Editor-The Cert Times
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A.J. Axline's B1N@RY N@T10N TOP
There's No Business Like No Business
Occasionally, the four of us (Robert the Bruce, Red Sonja, Vector, and myself) decide to get together for a brainstorming session to come up with ideas for a new startup company, the popular theory (popular among us, at least) being that, given our collective smarts and creativity, we should be able to do what so many others have done and figure out a surefire scheme to chisel money out of reluctant consumers so that we can flip said coinage into the growing concern that is our mad empire of techno fetishism and baby monkeys riding on pigs.
The latest of our endeavours along these lines was conducted outdoors on a recent summer evening. We warmed up with a little blindfold bocce, which Robert the Bruce and I won handily over Red Sonja and Vector. Vector likes to come on all Sith-y, but when it comes right down to where the bocce ball meets the jack: I am the Master.
We then retired back to the patio with notepads and writing instruments of all colors and scents. Also present was a large easel whiteboard, several tablet devices and smartphones, a large trunk filled with various 'thinking caps', and a large bar cart. As always, there were two rules in place for the startup brainstorming session:
1) No idea is too crazy to not be mentioned.
2) Participants can drink anything they like, as long as it contains gin.
Read The Full Column
Send all comments to: CTEditor@ExamForce.com
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