Recently in Certification Category

I was very pleased to receive word today that I passed the Offensive Security Certification Challenge. The OSCP is probably one of the hardest hands-on technical challenges that I have taken, and I was very happy (and somewhat surprised) to learn that I passed it.

I have said it before, and I'll be saying it again:The Offensive Security classes are excellent value-for-money for any security professional who wants to further develop their technical hands-on skills.

Don't expect lots of talk about policies, governance, compliance, risk, etc., but do expect to be spending an incredible amount of (quality) time on the command prompts of both Unix-like operating systems and Windows boxes.

Just a quick reminder: I will be starting a new SANS mentor session for Security 504: Hacker Techniques, Exploits and Incident Handling on January 7 out of Garden City, NY (Long Island). Some spots are still available, so please sign up if you are interested. We'll convene once a week on Wednesday evening from 7.30pm-9.30pm.

More information at: http://www.sans.org/mentor/details.php?nid=14803

Back in July, I blogged that I had passed my CISM exam. Today I was pleasantly surprised that all the paperwork had cleared and that I am now officially certified.

Dear Dr. Kees Leune, CISM,CISSP

Congratulations! We are pleased to inform you that on 31 October 2008 the CISM Certification Board approved your application and awarded you the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) designation.

What's next? We'll see. It's probably time for something more technical. Maybe a SANS class, or maybe something more off-beat, such as the training programs offered by Offensive Security. For the time being, I think I'll just ride the flow a bit and see what comes my way.

SANS courses have a reputation as being the best technical vendor-neutral security training available at the moment. I am pleased to announce that I have recently joined the SANS Mentor program, and I am currently preparing to host a SEC 504 Hacker Techniques, Exploits & Incident Handling class. The class prepares the attendees for the GIAC certified incident handler (GCIH) certification.

We are currently looking at starting the class somewhere around Christmas. Mentor classes run for 10 consecutive weeks for two hours a week, usually in the early evening.

If you are interested in taking the class through the Mentor program, and if you are able (and willing) to travel to Long Island (NY) to take the class, please let me know.

Exact dates and times have not yet been determined, so I can work with you on that aspect. For now, we are looking at holding the classes in Garden City, or in Hauppage.