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Hello World! This is my first post, read it in your free time, because it's a bit long. Ok, bring a cup of coffee first, no problemo. Ready now? scroll down!
What do you think about a guy, let's call him Azure, who was reading about information security since the 9th grade, and was opening the voice and video files using Notepad and sees the result… He was interested in Data Recovery field, and he tried some stupid trials by deleting some files he really wanted just to push himself to the limits and does whatever it takes to recover it!
Also, he was fund of tracking the history of the files, and when an attached file came after tens of forwards in the social network he was always trying to knowing who created them from scratch, who sent the first email. Of course, he had no luck in finding out the source, except the "date created" =P
Azure went to college, and didn't find any specialization fit what he wanted, even Computer-related departments. He wanted to work part-time in this field, but in his country there was no such part-time job. Also, even after graduation, business firms are not fan of newbies, they want ready experts. So they hire people from overseas, or people who trained themselves from their own pocket.
He kept in mind that he has either to train himself, or to forget about a job in Data Recovery & Computer Forensics.
Azure graduated a year and a half ago from MIS department in the Industrial Management College… A department where you take everything, from Networks and Coding, to Economics and Marketing! The result is rounded skills, but no specialization. Again, not the favorite candidate for companies who are looking for Plug & Play employees!
In the Career Day, he found a company from San Jose who liked his major and the representative told him "we don't want you to be specialized"!
he shouted! but it was a semi-Eureka, since they wanted himto be an Account Manager, which is a bit different from Computer Forensics person! mrgreen
Azure joined Cisco Systems as an Account Manager and brought $2 million sales in the first year. In the early beginning of the financial crisis, they decided not to renew the contract of the last patch who joined them, which included your friend, Azure.
The day after his contract ended with Cisco, Azure joined a consulting company as a Service Developer for the Incumbent operator in his country. They wanted a person who know how to communicate in two languages, and know how to present. Task We give you a title, you research it and give us a presentation/ awareness session about it!
"Fair enough", Azure said to himself, "Since they're happy with my work and I'm getting paid!". Yet, this wasn't the happy ending! A senior engineer in GPRS network, which doesn't, as I thought, mean Global Press Release…. Sandwich (I was stuck with the S! mrgreen ) left the company. The wise management thought that Azure will be the ideal candidate for this position!
Azure worked as a Router! A task comes to him, he checks his list and finds the qualified person for it and send it to him! Ok, this means he didn't replace the "senior engineer"! He worked for a week, an it was a conscious-torturing week! He told the management that he can't do it! As plain as that! But they said "it's either you or nobody". hmmmm… Azure thought that Nobody might be more qualified than him! At least, Nobody won't screw things more due to a bad GPRS-related decision!
Since the management didn't accept any change and any clarification, Azure decided to resign! This week, he notified the management that he will resign after a month.
Azure recalled his ambition to be the reference of Data Recovery and Computer Forensics! He spent a lot to achieve one certificate, and he realized how expensive it is to have a training! In addition, some very important courses require experience, like EnCase courses.
In the past, he found a course called CHFI but it has a pre-requisite- CEH! He took a week vacation and traveled to study how to be an Ethical Hacker, but hey, it was a bit advanced. Also, it made a financial crisis inside Azure's pocket! It was better if he took Security+ before it! Ok, now he's reading Security+, it should be self-learning this time! Azure just hopes that it will be all worth it to reach his goal!
He sought other jobs in his country or abroad to work. He doesn't mind leaving his current job as a reputable highly-paid "consultant" to a junior entry-level technician in Data Recovery to pave his way to the Computer Forensics field.
Now, Azure is writing this post in Forensic Focus forum and wishes to hear others thoughts and ideas.
Kind Regards,
The GPRSandwich Senior Engineer.
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In the past, he found a course called CHFI but it has a pre-requisite- CEH!
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There is no pre-requisite for CHFI.
Thanks 4 the reply.
Prerequisites
It is strongly recommended that you attend the CEH class before enrolling into CHFI program.
Source
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Also, BT (British Telecom) requires it as a pre-requisite.
I only skimmed your message. Way too long to get to the point (let's hope your forensic report summaries aren't that long - but the detail is good)
My advice, in regards to certification - Forget the CHFI, go for the CCE.
- No documented pre-reqs necessary
- It includes practicals (which arguably, demonstrate a greater proficiency in the field)
- It has better name recognition
- Lots of people talk about how great the mailing list is, and I personally know of folks who have found forensic jobs as a result of it
And in regards to switching careers, I suggested the same thing to someone else who asked on the forums here a very similar (albeit, shorter) question. My advice was to do what you love to do. Even if you have to sacrificae a higher salary for a period of time to make it happen (as long as you can), it's worth it. People should do what they love to do; our society would be the better for it if they did.
Jeff
Oh, and unless your question involves pornography or something illegal, talking in the 3rd-person isn't necessary. D
People should do what they love to do; our society would be the better for it if they did.
Yeah, except the pesky talent scouts at all the premiership football clubs seem to disagree, no matter how much i tell them i'd love to be a footballer! wink
People should do what they love to do; our society would be the better for it if they did.
Yeah, except the pesky talent scouts at all the premiership football clubs seem to disagree, no matter how much i tell them i'd love to be a footballer! wink
I know you're just poking fun, but I still stand by what I said. If you like soccer that much, then get a job related to soccer. Even if you're not good enough to be on the field, I'm sure doing marketing/finance/logisitics/medical/coaching/administrative work for a soccer club would be more rewarding than other things you could do, if soccer is what makes you happy.
Or in the least, I'm sure there are smaller clubs that exist (kind of like our Triple-A baseball league here in the States or "Arena Football"), which you could join, if you were really dedicated.
Thanks a bunch Jeff!
As for the long message, well.. This is the Sales effect! =D It's fading out, hopefully my reports will be summarized enough!
As for talking as a 3rd person, this was to make you picture the story! ) A part of storytelling techniques… Whatever.
I didn't know about the CCE before. Thanks again.
Greetings,
I second/third/nth CCE. I came from a long career in IT and the CCE really helped me develop a computer forensics foundation which eased professional transition considerably.
Respect for the CCE seems to be growing and the ISFCE is developing an MCCE (Master CCE) certification as well.
I'd suggest going from there into a certification in your favorite tool, or what is the favorite tool in the area you wish to get into. EnCE is big in the corporate and law enforcement world, but Access Data's certification is good, and X-Ways is a superb tool, and then Helix. The SANS courses are supposedly great but I've not taken one yet.
-David