Some how I could not just say something. The value of certs? Hmmm Lets see I went into my first data center in 1969. Yes this new thing called IP was not there. I remember the Main Frame was dead and open systems was the only place. I do think it is important to stay current with the direction of the technology. I did my ccna and half of my ccnp before I ever logged into a router. Now I do not list or even attempt to keep them current. It gets expensive unless you have a company paying for the recerts. Today I focus more on the Info Sec certs. I aggree that experience is better teacher than just pure theory. I have seen bright young people with their string of letters. Get stumped when thing as planned. Project wise or troubleshooting wise. Something changes after you have worked on many many problems and projects. College grads do not have it. Even ISC2 has changed the requirement to say that your degree will not get you the CISSP. I guess it depends on where you want to got. Into management where for some reasons all managers think techs want to go, or senior technical. Mangement CISM or PPM or the like. Technical CEH, LPT or the like seem more valued. In any case the need to stay current (are CEU's the answer). No I think it is a desire to learn and keep working on the things that are pertient to your job. Those two lines do not mix. My CISSP was a lot of work. My LPT was also. Which I like best would be the LPT train. That will change as this new IP thing appears to be catching on it my just last. Even if V6 is the real answer. Just a thought.
