RE: Value of certifications

["Craig Wright" <Craig.Wright () bdo com au>]

Most of the longer standing professional certifications are mirrored on
the CPE/CLE model used by the "controlled professions". This is a proof
of continuing education.

It needs to be remembered that there is a cost of running this outside
the initial updates. As an example, though I hate to say, people lie.
ISC, ISACA etc all have audit based controls. When people report, they
do this with a chance that they will be audited. If the person is
audited and is found to have embellished their response, than they lose
the certification and may face legal action. So it is a way to (attempt
to) keep people honest.

Technical certifications are different. To take a much maligned
certification, the MCSE. Now doing an MCSE on NT 4.0 does not in any way
help setup a 2003 Network. It is similarly no good stating that you did
a CCIE in 1991 when there are an entire range of protocols which are
totally new.

I obtained my BayNetworks certtificate in 1996. This was at their level
equal to the CCIE. BayNetowrks merged with Nortel and now there is only
Nortel. I have not updated my Nortel training since 2002. Should I still
be able to make use of it, to go for a technical network position in a
Nortel environment, I think not. (Well maybe as a junior, but nah)

Regards,
Craig



Craig Wright
Manager of Information Systems

Direct +61 2 9286 5497
Craig.Wright () bdo com au
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-----Original Message-----

From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com]
On Behalf Of Simmons, James
Sent: Thursday, 17 May 2007 5:41 AM
To: Hari Sekhon
Cc: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: RE: Value of certifications

I have to say that I agree with the idea of keeping current with a
certification. It ensures that you are... Well current. I do not like
the idea of having to re-take the exam, or at least pay a high price to
stay current.  I do like ISC2's way of addressing this issue. I would
prefer to tweak it a bit, which I will be addressing later, but compared
to the other alternatives, it is the better of two evils.

I do like your quote that "qualifications are the beginning." I will
have to use that. There is a lot of truth in that statement.


Regards,

Simmons

-----Original Message-----
From: listbounce () securityfocus com [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com]
On Behalf Of Hari Sekhon
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2007 8:10 AM
To: Brian Bemis
Cc: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: Re: Value of certifications

Hi Brian,

   I am in the same position. I think that expiring certifications are
__extremely__ lame. If you have earned something then it's not very
smart to take it away from you.

It's essentially a waste of time and a con trick to generate more
revenue by forcing to re-sit the same exams over and over again.

Qualifications are the beginning, not the end, and you should be moving
past them, not going back to their level all the time...

It was this that stopped me from bothering to get a CCNP. I have no
intention of ever re-sitting my CCNA exam and nor will I be doing any
other Cisco or other expiring exam, not unless my employer demands it,
is willing to pay for it and give me the time to go and do it...

I still have mine on there but my creds are dated as to when I got them
so someone can see I got it and that it is expiring/expired. I don't see
what is wrong with that, you earned it at the time and that shows on
your CV.

Hari


On 25/04/07, Brian Bemis <brian_bemis () hotmail com> wrote:
> I have a question that kind of follows a long the lines of this one...
>
> If you have a certification that lapses, can you still note it on your

> resume? I got my CCNA certification 3 1/2 years ago, but do to recent 
> time constraints, I wasn't able to go take the recertification exam. 
> Can I still list that on my resume, maybe with the year it expired, or
is that not cool?
> Just wondering what others thought about that...
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: listbounce () securityfocus com 
> > [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com]
> > On Behalf Of lalit.gupta () bt com
> > Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2007 1:18 AM
> > To: iccnt () yahoo ca; bert.knabe () lubbockonline com
> > Cc: security-basics () securityfocus com
> > Subject: RE: Value of certifications
> >
> > Certifications get you through Biodata scanners in HR :)
> >
> > Once you are through them, then only you are called for interviews.
> >
> > So, certs are important for career advancement.
> >
> > On another front, certs give confidence to your employer and client 
> > about your capabilities.
> >
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Lalit Gupta
> > CIISA, CISSP, CCNA, MCP, CCE, CNE
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: listbounce () securityfocus com 
> > [mailto:listbounce () securityfocus com]
> > On Behalf Of Doug Schlachta
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 12:44 AM
> > To: bert.knabe () lubbockonline com
> > Cc: security-basics () securityfocus com
> > Subject: Re: Value of certifications
> >
> > Bert,
> >
> > I suggest that if you are going to look at the Security+ cert you 
> > looking into the SSCP by ISC2 instead.
> > I have not seen much value given to Sec+ cert but I have seen value 
> > given to the SSCP.
> > It also gives you a good step towards obtaining your CISSP
eventually.
> > Regards
> > Douglas Schlachta
> > CISSP, SSCP, MCSE;Security, MCSE, CCNA, CFOT
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----
> > From: Bert Knabe <bert.knabe () lubbockonline com>
> > To: security-basics () securityfocus com
> > Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 1:18:11 AM
> > Subject: Value of certifications
> >
> >
> > My employer offers classes for 2 security certifications, CompTIA
> > Security+ and Certified Information Systems Security Professional. I
> > know that the CISSP certification is aimed more at management, and 
> > is worthwhile, but I'm not management (yet), so I'm looking at the
> > Security+, but I don't know if it's worth the time. Does anyone know
> > how much value it has? I've been able to follow the discussions I've

> > seen here, but I wouldn't call myself a security expert by any
means.
> > Thanks,
> > Bert Knabe


--
Hari Sekhon