How would I go about obtaining a job in IT security

Hey guys, been a while since I came on this site. I recently have come to a cross roads in my life and I'm kinda stuck in a dead end job after a university degree in games design and a diploma in software development got me no where fast.

I have always wanted to go down the route of network/ internet security. Like a white hat hacker as such. I kinda wish I had stuck with my CCNA at college but at the time I was more of a programmer than anything.

I'm currently thinking of going back into obtaining a CCNA certificate and getting a CCNA security certificate also. OK ill stop beating around the bush.

The question I am basically wanting to know is am I going about this all wrong should I aim for my CCNA and then go for some other IT security related qualifications ( I am not to sure whats out there ) or is there something else I should be doing. I'm 24 atm and really need to get on with this as its time to focus on a real career.

Any tips/help/links or resources would be greatly appreciated,

Kind regards, dami3n

You can either go back to school and get a Master's in Information Security, or you can do all the necessary cert work getting your CCNA/Architecture and a Certified Ethical Hacker (rather well respected).

Certifications

You might want to look into CompTIA certs as well. Getting Net+, Security+, CASP, etc. will really help with being in IT security.

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I will look into the Ethical Hacker Certification and see what prerequisites are needed and maybe do a masters home course. I'm not a solid supporter of university s to be quite honest with you especially the price for the masters course is at an all time high at the moment. I will also look into the CompTIA security+ I was going to go for the standard techie exam a few months ago but to be quite honest it seemed like a waste of money the tasks you do for them for the certificate seems like anyone can do it. Suppose Its something else to add to the C.V

Look in to CASP as well.

dami3n wrote: Thanks for the advice guys. I think I will look into the Ethical Hacker Certification and see what prerequisites are needed and maybe do a masters home course. I'm not a solid supporter of university s to be quite honest with you especially the price for the masters course is at an all time high at the moment. I will also look into the CompTIA security+ I was going to go for the standard techie exam a few months ago but to be quite honest it seemed like a waste of money the tasks you do for them for the certificate seems like anyone can do it. Suppose Its something else to add to the C.V

Yes, don't write off what Hellow says, either. I forgot about Net+, Sec+, and few others that are a little more down n dirty and very common amongst non-degree specialists.

Keep in mind though, that it's the skill behind the hacker, not the certs on his/her resume that gets him/her the job. Training hard and learning should be your first priority.

^this I only considered them because of the fact you can learn more. I can think of many different schools that will offer not only the ability to certify, but the classes to teach you what you may need to know in the future.

The skills are there and the method and learning potential is still strong. I really need the Certs to get a foot in the door I guess. Thanks for the help guys.

If anything, get them to learn. It can't hurt to have the knowledge to fix something somebody else might not.