CHFI Versus CCE Cer...
 
Notifications
Clear all

CHFI Versus CCE Certification

41 Posts
19 Users
0 Likes
2,886 Views
(@cjaveni)
Posts: 2
New Member
Topic starter
 

Hello,

Was hoping someone could point me to a reference or have information regarding the difference between a CHFI certification and a CCE Certification. Right now I am stuck between InfoSec CHFI and Vigilar's CCE training and certification.

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks,
Chris

 
Posted : 07/05/2007 12:11 am
hogfly
(@hogfly)
Posts: 287
Reputable Member
 

I guess it depends on what you're after. If you want a cert for the sake of having a cert, and only want to pass a test, then get the CHFI.

If you want a cert that has a solid community of actual professionals, and you have to pass 4 tests to get it (3 practical exams) then go for the CCE.

My honest opinion is that anything without a practical component for certification just isn't worth it, unless all you're after is a cert.

 
Posted : 07/05/2007 2:45 am
(@armresl)
Posts: 1011
Noble Member
 

I'm pretty sure you just offended anyone who has the CHFI.

I'll chime in on the CCE. Certs are only as good as the people who make up the questions and who say that you are right or not on the questions that don't have a clear cut A B C answer, or where you have to put down procedure's and someone else might believe your procedure's are not up to their standards.

Maybe it's time for me to hang up the ole write blocker and HD, cause I have neither of those certs………..

I guess it depends on what you're after. If you want a cert for the sake of having a cert, and only want to pass a test, then get the CHFI.

If you want a cert that has a solid community of actual professionals, and you have to pass 4 tests to get it (3 practical exams) then go for the CCE.

My honest opinion is that anything without a practical component for certification just isn't worth it, unless all you're after is a cert.

 
Posted : 07/05/2007 6:11 am
hogfly
(@hogfly)
Posts: 287
Reputable Member
 

That really wasn't my intention, however I don't think multiple choice or written tests prove anything. Along the same vein I don't think certs are all that important to begin with as they are typically proficiency exams and not much more. I guess what I'm trying to say is that taking a multiple choice test doesn't prove proficiency, whereas something practical stands a better chance of proving proficiency. It doesn't matter if it's GCFA,CHFI,CIFI,CCE blah blah..without a practical portion to the exam, it's just taking a test - which proves little. It's like taking a firearms proficiency exam, if you can't shoot the gun and operate it safely, then you can't carry one.

In regards to procedures being up to someones standards…the entire industry is based on this, especially when the law is involved. At least that portion of the CCE is closer to the real thing.

 
Posted : 07/05/2007 9:24 am
(@olddawg)
Posts: 108
Estimable Member
 

Yep, that was pretty offensive.

I have a CHFI and I think I'm a professional. At least, I've made my living in the computer industry for the last 22 years in the fields of software engineering, project management, technical support, systems analysis design and implementation and training. I think that, along with all of my education in computer science, including the CHFI course, makes me as professional as anybody out there, including you and "your" professionals.

The CHFI, and the CCE for that matter, are just a scratch on the surface of computer science in general and digital forensics in particular. I think a smart practitioner would do the CHFI, then the CCE and then pursue whatever else interests them (all the while voraciously reading everything CF related they can get their hands on). Education in this field is a never ending requirement. One certification, even a CCE, means next to nothing in the larger scheme of things. Anybody that get's a CCE or a CHFI and stops there is fooling themselves.

I disagree with some aspects of the CCE process, but you won't see me bad mouthing another persons qualifications here.

 
Posted : 12/05/2007 5:41 am
hogfly
(@hogfly)
Posts: 287
Reputable Member
 

Again, that wasn't my intention, so I do apologize. Allow me to eat my foot and say that I think I misrepresented myself with my initial statements. In no way did I mean to state that a person with a CHFI is less professional than a person with a CCE and I certainly didn't intend to badmouth another persons qualifications. When I said "a strong community of actual professionals", I meant that there exists a community of professionals that is in contact with each other on a daily basis. The creators of the CCE made the effort to make this possible. To my knowledge, this doesn't exist for CHFI's other than in forums such as this. It's not a matter of "me and my professionals" as you put it, but rather the fact that the CCE fosters a community of professionals whereas the CHFI does not. In addition, CCE's tend to get together at the Southeast CyberCrime Summit to network and rub elbows. If I'm wrong and the EC-Council provides this, then correct me please.

In addition, as I've said in other settings many of the best and brightest in the industry do not posess a certification and they don't need to in order to be "qualified". Certifications are proficiency exams and are really not much more than that.

I realize that what I said can easily be construed in that manner, and it obviously has so that's my fault for not providing a clarified statement. My statements were directed at the certifications themselves and not the people that posess either of these two certifications, the training received, or any other certification for that matter.

Your points are all valid and I too disagree with aspects of the CCE process but I will maintain that an exam with a practical component stands a better chance of proving proficiency than a multiple choice test.

At this point I offer a final apology to those who are offended.

 
Posted : 12/05/2007 8:59 am
cfprof
(@cfprof)
Posts: 80
Trusted Member
 

My wish is certainly NOT to cause more hard feelings or offense, only to ask a follow up question.

I'm curious both of you mention that you don't agree with parts of the CCE process. Which parts do you disagree with and why?

Thanks in advance …..

 
Posted : 12/05/2007 5:38 pm
cinux
(@cinux)
Posts: 21
Eminent Member
 

My 2 cents on CCE exam
I m currently in the process of giving the CCE exam. Passed the online exam a few days back. To be honest, I just feel the whole set of questions werea big dissapointment. How many question can u ask about BIOS and ASCII and then at this level, am I supposed to be questioned abt what RAM and BIOS stand for???
Neways, sent the answer to the first practical exam yesterday and got <80. I asked the examiner abt where I made mistakes but he is not willing to do so..
Pretty frustrating.. huh??
I m kinda losing interest in all cert exams!! P

 
Posted : 14/05/2007 12:32 am
(@olddawg)
Posts: 108
Estimable Member
 

Here is the problem I have with the CCE process

CCEs talk about how the CHFI (and some other certs) focus on testing of scientific knowledge, computer science, and don't emphasize practical testing. My problem with the CCE is the apparent focus on practical testing to the detriment of testing for scientific knowledge. One can easily memorize CF techniques without knowing the underlieing science. In the programming world, sophisticated tools such as Visual Basic and Java Script have allowed non-programmers to hack together WYSIWYG code and pass it off as "programming", to the detriment of the industry. I call these people "Script Kiddies". So too can sophisticated tools allow someone to appear to do computer forensics while in "Script Kiddie Mode" when they don't understand what it is the tools are doing.

I am not saying that anyone here is a CF Script Kiddie, but focusing on how to use a sophisticated tool without having the proper intellectual underpinnings can also be a detriment to our industry. And certainly, anyone who thinks they are superior based on some kind of cert ought to keep it to themselves or they risk alienating their fellow workers. This is still too small a community for that stuff.

So, as I've said before, a CCE is just the beginning, as is a CHFI or any other cert.

 
Posted : 16/05/2007 8:53 pm
 ddow
(@ddow)
Posts: 278
Reputable Member
 

Jerry, you have good points about the need for deeper knowledge. If you were to "set the standard" for certifications, what would you like to see in the certification process to ensure people have the greater depth of knowledge?

 
Posted : 17/05/2007 12:25 am
Page 1 / 5
Share: