Month: January 2007

Expanding my horizons in 2007

I’ve decided that 2007 is going to be the year that I expand my horizons and diversify my knowledge. I’m going to get away from product-centric studies and take a more agnostic approach to my continuous learning. To give you some examples, here are some of the things I will be doing in 2007:

  1. Learning How To Program…Again.

  2. When I was younger I was never able to focus on programming as it bored me. I’m going to take another crack at learning the art of programming by starting with Head First Java, Second Edition by Kathy Sierra, Bert Bates.

    headBook Description:

    Head First Java delivers a highly interactive, multi-sensory learning experience that lets new programmers pick up the fundamentals of the Java language quickly. Through mind-stretching exercises, memorable analogies, humorous pictures, and casual language, Head First Java encourages readers to think like a Java programmer. This revised second edition focuses on Java 5.0, the latest version of the Java development platform.

    I am hoping this will take my knowledge of security to the next level by understanding how virus, worms, and bots function at the code level.

  3. Attain The CISSP Designation

  4. I’ve been talking about getting the CISSP since 2003 and I figure I’ve completely run out of excuses for not getting it. So far I have the following books to study from:
    cissp1Official (ISC)2 Guide to the CISSP-ISSEP CBK (Hardcover) by Susan Hansche (Author)
    Book Description:

    Official (ISC)2® Guide to the CISSP-ISSEP® CBK® provides an inclusive analysis of all of the topics covered on the newly created ISSEP Exam. The first fully comprehensive guide to the test, this book promotes understanding of the four ISSEP domains. This volume explains ISSE by comparing it to a traditional Systems Engineering model, enabling you to see the correlation of how security fits into the design and development process. It also details key points of more than 50 U.S. government policies and procedures, which need to be understood in order to gain ISSEP certification.


    The CISSP Prep Guide, Gold Edition (Hardcover) by Ronald L. Krutz (Author), Russell Dean Vines (Author)

    Book Description

    More and more frequently, corporations are requiring that their employees provide professional certifications to prove that they possess the core competencies to do their technical jobs. The Certified Information Systems Security Professional examination (CISSP) is the industry standard test for IT security professionals administered by ISC2. CISSP-exam experts, Ronald Krutz and Russell Dean Vines, have updated and improved their bestselling The CISSP Prep Guide, complete with inside tips and information on how to master the CISSP certification test.

  5. Learn Arabic and Travel to Egypt
  6. pyramids I am going to a wedding in Cairo, Egypt in August of this year. This is going to be a once in a life time experience and I see it as an opportunity to learn a language which has always interested me. I figure I’m going to start by purchasing an audio package from iTunes so that I can learn while I’m at the gym. I’ve also picked up an Arabic phrase book which should help me look like a tourist quite nicely.

    Those are the goals for now but for anyone who knows me, these could change by tomorrow morning 🙂

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