I have been asked by a fellow IT consultant about how-to get a solid education in the Security Knowledge Area – in the broader sense of both physical and IT – but not overly in-depth IT/computer detailed.

Short answer and what I think professionally is a good solid approach:

• certify in CompTIA Security+
• BUT first certify in CompTIA Network+, and I would further suggest CompTIA Project+

This gives you vendor neutral security service language. This way you learn anindustry standardized approach to security that has a strong requirement of network security knowledge area and provides a good knowledge base of physical security. (For more details to the my blog: http://i4Aid.WordPress.com/)

Why?
One CompTIA is basically vendor neutral. Most of the major software platform heavily bias their certifications course to their vendor service language and marketing language usage. In today’s market place most of the software have reached an on-par implementation of industry standard deployment. Thus, you avoid limiting yourself to one particular vendor current implemented platform approach and you can comply with many of the government security certification requirements. Furthermore, this industry standardized service language knowledge based education will last you into the foreseeable future (possibly 10+ years or more) and make you more flexibility for career advancement and changes.