Any networking & security resource recommendations for private study?

[Akagi]

Hi guys, I'm 18 and currently have 9x A* to C GCSE's and a Level 3 extended Diploma in computing.

I have applied for some I.T technician apprenticeships so that I have some "recognised" work experience to put on my CV, and apparently there is a good chance that the employer will take me on full time upon completion of my apprenticeship.

However this isn't really what I want to be stuck doing in the long run. I do like fixing PC's, but there just isnt that much money in it anymore. In a couple of years tops I would like to be looking into taking some kind of networking & security degree at university.

Does anyone have any recommendation for material I could use in private study so that I don't attempt such a course while relatively clueless? I'd like to know more about how large computer networks work, how client PC's interact with the servers, different types of network security, how to set up different types of networks and network security and so on to begin with. All things that I covered at some level in college, but you know how easily these things get forgotten if you never use what you learn.

I can set up home networks with static I.P's, set up basic servers, fiddle around with router settings and configure basic security etc, but past that level it is a bit hazy. I tried to use a Windows Server OS at home for 'server things' before but I just didn't know where to begin.

In terms of equipment I do have a few PC's, a dual socket Dell Precision which I can install a Server OS on if need be, plenty of ethernet cables and a switch, so I can play around at home if needed.

Thanks all.

 

[daveip]

Google CBT Nuggets or Trainsignal

These guys have great resources

 

[Akagi]

Google CBT Nuggets or Trainsignal

These guys have great resources

Thanks, i've bookmarked those two and i'll probably get a subscription with one of them at some point

Anyone know of any free resources?

 

[V-Spec]

have any recommendation for material I could use in private study so that I don't attempt such a course while relatively clueless?

It really depends which side of the industry you want to work in, from what I can tell it seems like you've dabbled in basic networking and servers, in the real world this mostly means you should aim to get a industry based certification relevant to what you do, or what you want to do.

You could go down the Microsoft track:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/certification-overview.aspx

Or you could go down the networking track and start with Cisco:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/certifications/index.html

All can be studied for privately, you just need the books and some simulators/software to practise on and you're mostly good to go.

My friend is 22 and just about finished his MCSE, went from £18k a year to £35k a year in a new job, so these things are still very worthwhile, I'm a Cisco guy - been doing networks for 13 years and there's a lot of opportunity available across the whole spectrum of I.T.