Goals for 2022
If there’s one thing I find beneficial in maintaining this blog – and let’s be honest, there’s not a great deal! – it’s personal accountability. I think there’s a lot to be said for affirming your goals, documenting your progress, and the satisfaction in accomplishment. Though I’d much rather do it here in semi-privacy than on LinkedIn…
And so with that, my certification and career goals for 2022 are:
- Pass CEH by end of January
- Pass AZ-800 by end of March
- Complete OSCP by end of year
- Begin the journey to CISSP
- Reform cybersecurity at work
CEH
As predicted in my last post, the red tape delays around my employer paying for certification exams means I won’t be attempting CEH before the end of 2021, and will have to wait until mid/late January 2022.
I don’t think this exam is going to provide too great a challenge and I’m confident it will be fairly smooth sailing, especially now with a few extra weeks to study further.
AZ-800
Having completed the learning modules during Microsoft Ignite 2021, I received the free Microsoft exam voucher, which I redeemed against the new AZ-800 exam, Administering Windows Server Hybrid Core Infrastructure Beta. A stipulation of the voucher is that the exam must be attempted by no later than 31st March 2022.
I was in two minds about taking one of the more security focused exams on offer, but seeing as this certification is going to be immensely beneficial to my current organisation as we begin our first steps into the cloud in 2022, I thought it was a practical choice as I transition from an infrastructure-focused position to a cybersecurity-focused position. I don’t intend to spend too much time or money in pursuit of this certification; there’s a lot of crossover with my daily work, so I feel like I can study this on/off with free material and give the exam my best shot with very little pressure. I won’t be worrying or repeating if I fail!
OSCP
Where CEH appears to me as a glorified CompTIA Security+ exam, OSCP actually looks practical and useful. And I’m not gonna lie, the format of the exam sounds like a lot of fun. Although I have the CEH exam in a few weeks, I’m already working more towards OSCP in my day-to-day study. This is not a certification I want to rush, and am very much looking forward to it.
CISSP
I’m not 100% sure where my cybersecurity career will be heading by this time next year, but regardless of where I am, I think pursuing CISSP while employed at an organisation willing to pay for it is a wise move. I can’t say I’m massively looking forward to it – I’m much more of a hands on and technical person – but I can’t argue that CISSP would be a very beneficial both to my career and my current employer. I expect to be ready to at least put a study plan together by end of year after completing OSCP, provided this is the direction I want to take my career.
Reform cybersecurity at work
Maybe a bit of grandiose title, but having just started as Information Security Officer at work – the first time a dedicated cybersecurity position has existed in our organisation – I’m really looking forward to improving our cybersecurity up to a respectable standard, and having the mandate to do so. It’s a huge amount of work in a delicate environment, and a large part of whether I’ll stay on with my current employer will be based on whether I’m given the time to focus on the cybersecurity improvements that the organisation badly needs.
Until Next Year!
So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to anybody who might happen to read this. If this time next year I’m CEH and OSCP certified, happy in my new position at work, and with a plan together for CISSP certification, 2022 will have been an excellent year.