Information Assurance

[BigJ]

So my university offers a CS specialization in Information Assurance. While they have a brief summary about the field on their website, I'd like to get some information from people that may have gone through programs such as this in their college and/or actually work in Information Assurance/Network Security/etc.

As far as what I'd like to know, just what your job entails (to the extent you can reveal the information), if you work for a federal agency, how hard was getting a job after graduation, what kind of internships you had; stuff like that.

 

[BigDH01]

Currently getting my MS in InfAs. I have a couple of contacts in DC, which really helps when you want to find a job. There's also the Cyber Corps Scholarship, but that obligates you to two years of federal service after you complete your education. Not that it's a bad thing, but it is an obligation. I think most people from my program go to work for a federal agency like the NSA or CIA, but many also go to private contractors, such as Northrop Grumman.

The classes are interesting. The program here actually involves classes ranging from Computer Science and Computer Engineering to Political Science and MIS. I'm more heavily geared toward the Political Science aspect as I'm more interested in the legal and ethical issues. My focus is actually in international affairs as I want to do more than just sit behind a desk. I believe most people end up in network admin types of jobs.

 

[SonnyDaze]

I don't work in the IA field but I am a federal employee (DoD). The network we use is run by the Navy/Marine Corps Infastructure (NMCI). They are contracted by the Navy/Marine Corps to do the networking. This is where the DoD IA guys come in. We just had our annual IA class a week ago and the two IA guys that came out to do it explained that their job is to make sure that NMCI is doing their job correctly ( 😕 ) and also to give security awareness classes. Their ratings were GS-12, that's pretty decent wages for Civil Service employees.