Okay so I am going to the Open University, mainly so I can keep a job and study at the same time, but I need help picking what would be best for where I wish to be in my career.
Okay so this link provided is the Open Uni Computing and I.T page, you build a degree via the modules presented to you, so could anyone provide any information on which would best support me in Security and Incident Response hopefully.
http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/find/computing-and-it
Which would you suggest is best to support my path?
Many thanks!
If you're looking to get into cybersecurity, aim at Computer Science for your undergraduate studies as this will give you a decent foundation for the basic programming skills that will be required to move onto postgraduate studies. Post undergrad, I would look at doing a Master of Science (Cyber Security and Forensic Computing) or specialise in ISS, ICT etc.
There is a certain amount of skill involved in going down this path. You will be expected to be incredibly gifted with intrusion analysis to be able to write your own security software. As you'll be dealing with sophisticated attacks on multiple operating systems, networks, control systems and critical infrastructure - be prepared for long stressful hours of work. Security professionals I know have sought to get out of the industry fairly quickly - as it is a great stepping-stone to move into middle/upper IT management.
Here's a UOO link that may give you some insight as to what might be required.
If I were starting out again, I would skip CS and jump straight into IS. I started out with a CS degree and worked my way up to what I do no, which is work in Information Systems Management. Of course 15 years ago there wasn't an official label for a CIO or any IS degrees - but yeah save yourself the hassle of CS/programming/security - unless you're really into it.
Become a CIO - and get paid obscene amounts of money.
Well I want to work with security for more defense than anything else, I always thought it looked good on your CV also.
I think I will still follow CS, even if I do leave it rather quickly I still have the knowledge and skills for somewhere else, I also do not mind long hours, so what languages will you suggest I learn before I actually begin studying, and any good sites which I can get info from?
Should I also begin learning tools like Kali Linux also? so I can actually learn things, or should I focus on pure programming and scripting?
also out of the list on the Open Uni, which would you suggest would be best options?
Thanks!
"...out of the list on the Open Uni, which would you suggest would be best options?"
Stick with BSc (Honours) Computing and IT and choose math electives, rather than the open degree pathway.
My reasoning; Open Uni seem to be offering a more generalist style of studying compared with traditional methods, which might be useful for a variety of people currently employed and working. The prerequisite and basis of open learning doesn't seem to require as much foundation study as a school-leaver/undergrad would find on campus. I would hazard a guess that the majority of people studying via Open Uni do so because they would already have the required knowledge and skillset for employment in their given field/industry. In the past it was not uncommon for certain jobs to be filled with non-tertiary qualified employees hence the mass availability of such open learning courses - catering for advancement, promotions and or career moves.
I understand you would prefer distance learning over traditional on-campus learning because of work committments and what-not. Don't forget your local Uni(s) will also have distance learning courses available to you which might fit the bill and give you a better foundation.
There are some advantages of an Open Uni degree that I can see; One, is that they tend to be a lot less intensive than the traditional on-campus degree due to the generalist nature of each course. Two, you could use Open Uni as a stage of progress toward postgraduate study ie; Study with Open Uni, then move on to a respectable local or international Uni for a GradDip or Master degree in your chose field.
The disadvantage of E-learning compared with traditional learning as far as I can tell is you will need to be on-top of your game in regards to self-learning. Plus you will also need great time-management skills which goes without saying.
tl;dr Use Open Uni as a steppingstone to get into postgrad study. There will be plenty of Graduate positions available in both private/public sectors.
"...Should I also begin learning tools like Kali Linux also? so I can actually learn things, or should I focus on pure programming and scripting?"
You will need to have an elite/advanced knowledge of pretty much all operating systems, accompanied with an advanced understanding of hardware, networking protocols and devices, programming/scripting languages and systems architecture/design - I'm not even kidding, you will need to be l33t to have a competitive edge working in cybersecurity.