Wing Tang Wong

They Start Younger and Younger...

Let's face it. The last generation had to deal with the current generation, and the current generation is now dealing with a new generational wave of intelligent and young admins. How young? Try 11 years old.

Yup, you heard me right. 11 years old. Check it all out at the following news links:

• Network World Coverage
• Hard OCP Coverage
• Slashdot Coverage

Let's face it. The next generation is young and eager to take on the challenges that we currently face. And to be quite honest, a part of me is comforted to know that there are bright young lads taking on the challenge in a constructive manner! I'm cheering these new admins, who will be earning certification degrees before they earn their high school diploma.

In my mind, if we have individuals like this young student able to grasp and apply the concepts we are using now, then we have much to look forward to in the future. There is, in fact, a "standing upon shoulders" effect in play, not just in technology, but in the skills and abilities of people as well.

So... What Did He Do?

Lest you think this was a case of, "Oh... Daddy helped...", this budding network admin performed the following tasks:

• Scanned a network of some 60 computers, to determine what was on the net.
• Made a diagnosis that anti-viral software would be needed, and that the aging hardware would not be able to handle it, and thus recommended going with a security appliance.
• Ran several security appliances through a trial period.
• Leveraged MS's education upgrade program to upgrade the OS(s) of the 60 computers from Windows 98 to Windows 2000.
• Drafted a network usage policy, banning MySpace, to reduce risk and ensure load did not exceed the security appliance's capacity

That's quite a bit of work.

To top it off, he's aiming to get A+ certification by Summer.

Can we say future star administrator/CIO/CTO?

Want to learn more about networking?

Determination and a desire to learn will take you far. Check out the following for information about managing and securing a network.

• High Performance Switches and Routers
• Aggressive Network Self-Defense
• Troubleshooting Campus Networks: Practical Analysis of Cisco and LAN Protocols
• Security Sage's Guide to Hardening the Network Infrastructure
• Network Security Assessment: Know Your Network
• Network Processors : Architectures, Protocols and Platforms (Telecom Engineering)
• Quality of Service Control in High-Speed Networks
• CCIE Routing and Switching Exam Certification Guide (3rd Edition) (Exam Certification Guide)
• CCNP ONT Official Exam Certification Guide