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Finding Student IT Security Placements in the Industry?

Posted by Cliff on from the finding-the-experience dept.

CABAN writes "I am a third year computer security and investigations student. My program requires a three month placement in the IT security and forensics industry. Finding an appropriate learning environment seems to be harder than I expected. Lack of security clearance, no real world experience and many companies, who just don't see a need for ITS, are the critical shortfalls right now. What tips does Slashdot have for finding organizations who are willing to let students get involved with sensitive security procedures and cases?"

13 of 273 comments (clear)

  1. No real answer. by FreeLinux · · Score: 5, Insightful

    My program requires a three month placement in the IT security and forensics industry.

    Your program should then have some mechanism to facilitate such placement. Most programs that require intenships provide assistance in placement. If yours doesn't, then you are being shorted. This isn't a DJB class is it?

    1. Re:No real answer. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      I agree with this assessment. I had to write a report (with a classmate) for a computer network class and we were encouraged to analyze real world examples. Well, the real world doesn't want outsiders (that have little to lose) poking around within sensitive areas. Everybody we approached was immediately suspicious and extremely guarded.

      The only solution may be within the school, since they require a placement. If they can't even offer you that, then they're being very unreasonable.

    2. Re:No real answer. by Evil+Adrian · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Not true. Most schools have a career center where they will try to help you find something, but ultimately it is the student's responsiblity to find a job.

      --
      evil adrian
    3. Re:No real answer. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      That certainly beats any freshman level weedout class, doesn't it?

      Student wastes three years of his life going into debt and then the school says "get an internship or fail to graduate".

      I guess life's not fair, but if I catch you moaning about socialism when people are talking about supporting those who were unable to get a degree and get employed, you'll find my boot shoved very far up your hypocritical ass.

    4. Re:No real answer. by NitsujTPU · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The guy isn't looking for a job... he can't graduate without an internship. Where I went, you could claim credit for an internship, but it wasn't a graduation requirement.

      Certainly if they're going to require you to find such a difficult to find position for graduation, they should provide you with placement or waive the requirement. This is a world appart from visiting your campus career center. The guy isn't trying to get a job, he's trying to get his diploma.

  2. Your school's IT Department by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    How about working for your school's IT department helping to clean and/or investigate compromised machines. They could probably use the help. Is .edu not real-world enough?

  3. unusual program requirements by bpuli · · Score: 2, Insightful

    a program that requires an internship that it is unable to provide support for? you might want to talk to the career center of your school....

    --
    BP http://www.card-central.com
  4. Re:Sorry your a security risk by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Oh please.... Honestly, what a lame comment, not that this should've been posted on slashdot to begin with.

  5. As someone who works in the industry by paranode · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I hate to say it, but this is a difficult thing to get into. The problem is getting your foot in the door, just as you are trying to do. Offer your services to some companies for free if you have to. That may be all you can do to get any experience in the field. It's good that you are in a program that specializes in security though, because it's harder to make the leap from a degree like Computer Science straight into IT security. Once you meet the requirements though, you absolutely must go get your CISSP (certification, you probably know of it) if you want to advance very far. It can be a lucrative field, but experience and certifications, rather than traditional education, are the biggest factors in being successful at it.

    1. Re:As someone who works in the industry by Saeed+al-Sahaf · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Offer your services to some companies for free if you have to...Right. Joe Blow Student walks in my door and offers his services in "security" for free. So I issue him a badge to get into the server room and of course he needs root. Right, sure, OK... Glad I don't work in your IT department. In truth, if he has to ask Slashdot how to get an internship that his program requires, than his program sucks shit. His school needs to be providing these leads.

      --
      "Who are in control, they are not in control of anything - they don't even control themselves!" - Glen Beck
  6. Join the Military by zman6911 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Although you might not like the prospect of it, ont of the easiest ways to get a security clearance and on the job ITS experience is to work for the Department of Defense, particularlly the Air Force.

  7. Re:Security Infinite Loop by jesuscash · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Or you could just enlist.

  8. ExtremeBlue Co-Op Program with IBM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Check out the Extreme Blue Co-Op program with IBM. I am sure they would have Project positions somewhere in the company for this skill set.

    http://www-913.ibm.com/employment/us/extremeblue/