GIAC Security Essentials
The GIAC Security Essentials (GSEC) is an exam that is essentially the same as learning five certifications in one. These certifications include the CompTIA Security+ and CySA+, and the Certified in Cybersecurity from ISC2. They also include the Network Defense Essentials from EC-Council, and the AWS Cloud Practitioner – Foundational. These are some of the certifications that are in the GSEC.
There is a case that maybe the LPI Linux Essentials certification is in there as well. I think that it is not deep enough for my taste. The main reason for doing this at this point is that the GSEC is comparable to five certifications for my skill set. I have created a study plan that will take me six to eight months to complete to take this exam. The study plan can be viewed at the following link.
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7336753004370415617
This study plan provides a way to train for the five certifications. It is an additional certification that will help me in the long run. I have calculated the cost for each certification voucher and the recertification cost that will provide significant savings on both. It is four years instead of three years to recertify the GSEC. This is an additional year with the cost savings as well.
Training Update
My training has not changed that much. I am going out longer on the certification prep for the GSEC. I am currently reading the GSEC All-in-One Exam Guide and am almost halfway through. This will be the 17th book this year that I have read when I finish it. I am working on the CBT Nuggets, LinkedIn Learning and Udemy courses and I am focused more on cybersecurity.
There are many things that I could do in my training. The things that I am doing in my training are to do more CTF’s, less CBT Nuggets and more Beacon. Beacon is the Palo Alto training platform. For CBT Nuggets I am sunsetting it in November to focus more on the CTFs and to help with my training budget. I have some interest in Network Penetration Testing and Network Defense along with wanting to be a Network Security Engineer.
Conclusion
The things I want to do are becoming more nuanced and are helping me transition more into the Network Security Engineer role. I am doing more work on firewalls and attending to the CCNP ENCOR training material. Thinking about doing the CCNP ENCOR after I get done with the GSEC certification. Having more conversations in my personal life about working again and might start looking for a job in the next few months.
Leave a Reply