Information Security Certifications (and others too)

Professional certifications are a hot topic, and quite honestly I don't feel many of them are very useful unless you simply want initials to add to your name. Most certifications simply bear little relevance to real world skills.

In the real world, we have access to books, the Internet, etc.

The GIAC Information Security Certifications stand out in my mind as extremely valuable however, because they are not only well done, but very real world. Unlike any other security certifications or other certifications I know of, they are open book, open Internet, open Google, just like the real world. There is no memorizing of stuff you'd never memorize just to "pass a test."

GIAC, The Global Information Assurance Certification is closely affiliated with The SANS Institute, a client of mine, but that certainly doesn't sway my opinion.

It also doesn't encourage me to list myself as Ted Demopoulos GIAC GSEC either, as my name is already long enough!

I wish other industry certifications would take a similar approach -- trying to mirror real life skills and problem solving as closely as possible.