Computer courses?

[Eric]

Has anyone seen of or taken a computer course designed for security people?
I know of certifications like CISSP, but that is not cheap.

Thinking towards the future (if not now) and talk of convergence between physical and computer security, more of us should be aware and be ready.

[inman]

All these sites have courses you can take, and they are all free. Lots of subjects. Might find something you like.

http://www.ualbanycphp.org/default.cfm

http://www.teexwmdcampus.com/index.k2?CFID=2683834&CFTOKEN=92280088

http://nccphp.sph.unc.edu/training/index.html

https://www.saferesponse.com/

http://lms.southcentralpartnership.org/scphp

http://www.training.fema.gov/

https://tx.train.org/DesktopShell.aspx

http://www.tcleose.state.tx.us/

http://www.dhs.gov/xfrstresp/training/

http://www.dna.gov

[msofin]

All these sites have courses you can take, and they are all free. Lots of subjects. Might find something you like.

http://www.ualbanycphp.org/default.cfm

http://www.teexwmdcampus.com/index.k2?CFID=2683834&CFTOKEN=92280088

http://nccphp.sph.unc.edu/training/index.html

https://www.saferesponse.com/

http://lms.southcentralpartnership.org/scphp

http://www.training.fema.gov/

https://tx.train.org/DesktopShell.aspx

http://www.tcleose.state.tx.us/

http://www.dhs.gov/xfrstresp/training/

http://www.dna.gov

Thanks Inman! I know I'll be looking into the training opportunities. I've recently found out about a security company named Day and Zimmerman. If it works out, it looks like I will be working for them. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[inman]

These are most of the certs that I have gotten online and all for free.


Have the following Certificates:


FEMA-IS-241 Decision Making & Problem Solving

FEMA-IS-242 Effective Communications

FEMA-IS-002 Emergency Program Manager

FEMA-IS-002 Emergency Preparedness,USA

FEMA-IS-015 Special Events Contingency Planning

FEMA-IS-240 Leadership & Influence

FEMA-IS-230 Principles Of Emergency Management

FEMA-IS-235 Emergency Planning

FEMA-IS-317 Introduction To CERT

FEMA-IS-139 Exercise Design

FEMA-IS-244 Developing & Managing Volunteers

FEMA-Certificate of Achievement(Professional Development Series)

School of Public Health/Univ. of Albany,SUNY-Terrorism Preparedness & Public Health

NYS Emergency Management Office-ICS 100

USFA Certificate of Training-Emergency Response To Terrorism(Self Study)

NERRTC/DHS/ODP-WMD Terrorism Awareness For Emergency Responders

NERRTC/DHS/ODP-Public Works:WMD Basic Concepts

NERRTC/DHS/ODP-EMS I:Basic Concepts For WMD Incidents

NERRTC/DHS/ODP-WMD Incident Management/Unified Command

NERRTC/DHS/ODP- Bacillus Anthracis

Texas Engineering Extension Service- Children and Nerve Agents

Texas Engineering Extension Service- Introduction to SNS and Mass Prophylaxis

Texas Engineering Extension Service- Medical Effects of Primary Blast Injuries

Texas Engineering Extension Service- Emergency Management Concerns for the First Responder in Terrorism and Disasters

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Radiation Safety: Disaster Preparedness

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Radiation Safety: Units

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Radiation Safety: Bioeffects and Standards & Radiation Detection

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Radiation Safety: Types of Radiation

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Chemical Weapons: Detection Basics(Part 1&2)

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Chemical Weapons: Protection Basics

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Chemical Weapons: Introduction & Classification/Chemical Weapons:Basic Concepts

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Incident Command Systems(ICS) For Public Health

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Crisis Leadership: Leadership at the Speed of Light

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Bioterrorism

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Chemical Terrorism

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Counterterrorism Incident Command

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness-Defense Against the Radiological Threat

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Food as an Effective Weapon of Terrorism

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Improving Your Communication Skills

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Managerial Communications

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Managing Conflict in the Workplace

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Practice-based Scenarios for Recognition, Detection and Exposure Assessment of Chemical Terrorist Agents

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Preparing for a Chemical Terrorist Event

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Recognition and Safe Handling of Chemical Terrorist Agents

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Using Risk Assessment in Chemical Emergencies to Protect Public Health

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Terrorism, Risk Assessment and Homeland Defense

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- The Terrorist Threat to Global Agriculture, Food and Water Supplies

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Managing Diversity Begins with You

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Communication Gap: Linking First Responders and First Receivers

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Planning, Implementation and Expolitation of a Field Exercise

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Biological Response Preparedness for Emergency Medical Services

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Guidelines and tandards for a WMD Response

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Communication Gap: Linking First Responders and First Receivers

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Hazardous Materials Response-Awareness Level

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Incident Management System-Awareness Level

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Evacuation Coordinator

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Emergency Response Planning

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Unified Command-Awareness Level

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Bloodborne Pathogens

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Container Inspections

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Hospital-Based Decontamination: Hazard Recognition

President's DNA Initiative - What Every Law Enforcement Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence: First Responding Officers

What Every Law Enforcement Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence: Investigators and Evidence Technicians

Communication Skills, Report Writing, and Courtroom Testimony for Forensic Analysts

[SecTrainer]

Has anyone seen of or taken a computer course designed for security people?
I know of certifications like CISSP, but that is not cheap.

Thinking towards the future (if not now) and talk of convergence between physical and computer security, more of us should be aware and be ready.

I take it that you're not talking about "security-related courses you can take by computer", but "courses about the uses of computers in security and security systems", which is a very different thing.

If so, the answer depends on what your current level of expertise is regarding computers, and how "technical" you want to get. You mention the CISSP, for instance, but the problem there may not be the expense (which if you check around is all over the board from simply the cost of a study guide/book to $XXXX), but the prior knowledge you need to have in computer systems (operating systems, network technologies, etc.) to handle the CISSP material and exam. For instance, you should probably have the Security+ certification before you take the CISSP, and you should really have Network+ certification before you attempt to do the Security+ cert...and you would do well to have the A+ cert (or a very solid background in the basics of computer hardware and operating systems) before you undertake the Network+ cert. And, if you see a CISSP course that says "no prior background needed", run away. Even if you squeak through the course, it's highly unlikely you'll pass the exam.

If you have a good knowledge of the DOS operating system and using the command line to do things on a computer, you could look at Computer Forensics and I can steer you onto a decent remote-learning opportunity there, but you're still talking $2500 or so...and a pretty stiff (but do-able) course of study.

Another approach might be Certified Information Privacy Professional (International Association of Privacy Professionals), for which you can also study independently (or in class if one is offered nearby), and which covers material about computer security from a fairly nontechnical view. This doesn't have a steep prior technical knowledge curve, but it might be much more oriented to privacy law than you are looking for. If you go to the page linked below and scroll down, click on the Table of Contents of the $65 study guide for CIPP (NOT CISSP!) and that will give you an idea of what the exam covers:

https://www.privacyassociation.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1098&Itemid=85

(There are a few other books also recommended for the exam.)

Yet another approach would be to see if a junior college/college in your area has a course in IT security that has no prerequisites. These courses are often taken by business majors, etc. and provide an overview of the IT security material from a conceptual (nontechnical) standpoint. American Military University has a couple of online courses in IT security that are of this type - no prior assumptions about technical expertise.

Or, you can study physical security systems (access systems, CTTV systems, RFID systems, etc.) and pick up the computer aspects that are integrated into such courses - kind of a "back door" approach.

So...the answer really is, it depends on knowing more about exactly what it is that you're looking for and where you're starting from in terms of your current knowledge and experience. Unless you have (or get) some basic background in computer technology, you'll find that most certifications/courses in computer-related security will be talking about things that are over your head and just waste your money.

[NRM_Oz]

Whatever you decide I would be sure it was accredited or of some use.

There are heaps of e-learning courses I have completed that were in the USA and whilst most of these are not accredited here, have been valuable sources of information in relation to learning about a few key areas.

If you are looking for PC courses for security - becareful how you specialise as some firms could be very modern whilst others are in the 70's still. Best example is data centres with SILOX and HALO systems - 1 will kill a fire with powder and the other 1 will kill you if you get caught / trapped in a confined area.

[auxitrooper]

These are most of the certs that I have gotten online and all for free.


Have the following Certificates:


FEMA-IS-241 Decision Making & Problem Solving

FEMA-IS-242 Effective Communications

FEMA-IS-002 Emergency Program Manager

FEMA-IS-002 Emergency Preparedness,USA

FEMA-IS-015 Special Events Contingency Planning

FEMA-IS-240 Leadership & Influence

FEMA-IS-230 Principles Of Emergency Management

FEMA-IS-235 Emergency Planning

FEMA-IS-317 Introduction To CERT

FEMA-IS-139 Exercise Design

FEMA-IS-244 Developing & Managing Volunteers

FEMA-Certificate of Achievement(Professional Development Series)

School of Public Health/Univ. of Albany,SUNY-Terrorism Preparedness & Public Health

NYS Emergency Management Office-ICS 100

USFA Certificate of Training-Emergency Response To Terrorism(Self Study)

NERRTC/DHS/ODP-WMD Terrorism Awareness For Emergency Responders

NERRTC/DHS/ODP-Public Works:WMD Basic Concepts

NERRTC/DHS/ODP-EMS I:Basic Concepts For WMD Incidents

NERRTC/DHS/ODP-WMD Incident Management/Unified Command

NERRTC/DHS/ODP- Bacillus Anthracis

Texas Engineering Extension Service- Children and Nerve Agents

Texas Engineering Extension Service- Introduction to SNS and Mass Prophylaxis

Texas Engineering Extension Service- Medical Effects of Primary Blast Injuries

Texas Engineering Extension Service- Emergency Management Concerns for the First Responder in Terrorism and Disasters

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Radiation Safety: Disaster Preparedness

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Radiation Safety: Units

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Radiation Safety: Bioeffects and Standards & Radiation Detection

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Radiation Safety: Types of Radiation

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Chemical Weapons: Detection Basics(Part 1&2)

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Chemical Weapons: Protection Basics

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Chemical Weapons: Introduction & Classification/Chemical Weapons:Basic Concepts

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Incident Command Systems(ICS) For Public Health

North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness- Crisis Leadership: Leadership at the Speed of Light

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Bioterrorism

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Chemical Terrorism

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Counterterrorism Incident Command

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness-Defense Against the Radiological Threat

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Food as an Effective Weapon of Terrorism

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Improving Your Communication Skills

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Managerial Communications

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Managing Conflict in the Workplace

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Practice-based Scenarios for Recognition, Detection and Exposure Assessment of Chemical Terrorist Agents

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Preparing for a Chemical Terrorist Event

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Recognition and Safe Handling of Chemical Terrorist Agents

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Using Risk Assessment in Chemical Emergencies to Protect Public Health

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Terrorism, Risk Assessment and Homeland Defense

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- The Terrorist Threat to Global Agriculture, Food and Water Supplies

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Managing Diversity Begins with You

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Communication Gap: Linking First Responders and First Receivers

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Planning, Implementation and Expolitation of a Field Exercise

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Biological Response Preparedness for Emergency Medical Services

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Guidelines and tandards for a WMD Response

South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness- Communication Gap: Linking First Responders and First Receivers

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Hazardous Materials Response-Awareness Level

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Incident Management System-Awareness Level

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Evacuation Coordinator

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Emergency Response Planning

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Unified Command-Awareness Level

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Bloodborne Pathogens

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Container Inspections

Michigan State University School of Criminal Justice- Hospital-Based Decontamination: Hazard Recognition

President's DNA Initiative - What Every Law Enforcement Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence: First Responding Officers

What Every Law Enforcement Officer Should Know About DNA Evidence: Investigators and Evidence Technicians

Communication Skills, Report Writing, and Courtroom Testimony for Forensic Analysts

do you list ALL of those at one time on a resume or application??

[FlaSecurity1234]

S2

Also try S2, tons of online good stuff there.

http://www.s2institute.com

[inman]

do you list ALL of those at one time on a resume or application??

Yes I do. I will even attach copies of the certificates if asked.

[Eric]

Good points and helpful, thanks.

I would like a better grounding as we see physical and computer security merging in areas of access control and possibly even management in some circles.

Unlike people under 35, I did not grow up with a keyboard and one of those ejecting cup holders.