An education with RECC guarantees you a thriving career in infocomm security. A former student reveals how the college has prepared him for a career in the fast-evolving industry.

By Philip Tnee and Nabilah Husna A. Rahman

“Cyber security” used to mean protecting a computer with a log-in password. But with computer users around the world becoming increasingly connected, infocomm security specialists are now expected to be more than technology gurus.

As Michael Chin, a graduate from Raffles Education Corp College (RECC) says, “It means having the ability to adapt to various situations and job scopes without getting tied down by a specialisation in a certain field.”

The wide-ranging career options that RECC’s course would set before him was the primary incentive for Michael to enrol with the school. “After finishing my ‘O’ Levels, I wasn’t sure where to continue my studies. During a career and learning fair, I was looking around for courses, and after making some comparisons, I found IT interesting with the content RECC offers,” he reveals. “I took up the course and have no regrets about it.”

“In the new IT industry, security is the new asset and knowledge that employers are looking at currently,” Michael adds. “RECC’s Infocomm Security course has incorporated numerous IT professional certifications which no other infocomm programmes offer.”

Strength in reputation
The course offers Advanced Diplomas leading to Bachelor of Science with honours degrees in Infocomm Security, and incorporates the contents of industry-acclaimed qualifications such as MCP, MCSA, MCSE, Security+, and CEH, accredited by Microsoft, CompTIA and EC-Council.

“These certifications, together with my academic qualifications, are internationally recognised, and raises my career prospects tremendously when I attend job interviews,” says Michael, who obtained an Advanced Diploma in Infocomm Security at RECC.

“The education at RECC has equipped me with the knowledge and skills that are very sufficient and essential for me to perform well during interviews, and now in work,” he adds, recalling that it only took him two weeks upon graduation to score full-time employment with a local company.

Being an infocomm security specialist requires one to stay constantly vigilant to deal with the latest threats and viruses. RECC helps its students to keep up with trends in cyber security through its partnership with Microsoft, the leader in IT software research and development, and EC-Council, a member-based organisation that certifies individuals in various e-business and security skills. For Michael, the ability to tap into Microsoft’s resources was as good as being put on the frontlines of current and future IT developments.

“From the courses in RECC, I had learnt to better ensure that the physical security of a PC system, network and cyber security is not easily compromised by unauthorised infiltrations,” he explains.

On top of this, RECC’s facilities and staff made Michael’s learning journey a most pleasant one. “The lecturers were approachable and the laboratories were spacious,” he describes. This allowed for enriching hands-on lessons that went a long way in preparing him for his field of study.

The ‘IT’ industry
Now working as a Networks & Computer Systems Administrator, Michael’s responsibilities include educating computer users on security, maintaining the strength of user passwords, and advocating the importance of updated anti-virus software as any user’s minimum level of protection.

“Applying the knowledge I had gained, I start by educating the user on the ‘dos and don’ts’ when working with data,” he elaborates. “Basic examples will be constructing strong and secure passwords and using up-to-date anti-virus software as a minimum protection.”

Michael also keeps abreast with the latest technological developments to equip himself with the necessary knowledge for protecting valuable data from being misused in cyberspace. He applies this knowledge to strengthen firewalls in his organisation’s computer systems and identify weak points or loopholes where security can be reinforced.

A flourishing career
Certainly, the future looks bright for Michael, as cyber security has become of such great importance that companies spare no effort or portions of their budgets in keeping their IT infrastructure secure. Being a relatively new discipline in Asia, the niche nature of InfoComm Security goes a long way in enhancing Michael’s employability.

All this is due in part to RECC, which was voted “Singapore’s largest and most global private education organisation” by Edupoll 2008/2009, reinforcing Michael’s stand that his experience there was “enriching and most definitely satisfying”.

However, he advises, “You need to have a keen interest in the latest IT trends. The course is for those who are looking forward to an exciting and fulfilling IT career in the future.”