Taking the road less traveled???

In Management?

I suggest investing some funds in a few Dilbert collections :)

I've spent time in security, though there are others here who are more current(some in healthcare too).

You will always get a few people who think that security is a waste of time and energy. This same people will yell that they should be exceptions and the rules should not apply to them.

In management, its a different set of stresses. In reality good managers shield their employees from some of the more idiotic and demanding requests, so it may be more stressful.

Still, it all depends on your specific work environment. It merits further investigation.

James

I wouldn't take it based upon what you said. If all they do is setup AD/Exchange accounts and tinker with GP then that's not security in my book. Sounds more like AD admin. Just how many user accounts are created every day? How often is GP tinkered with [hope not often]?

Security management imo is development, implementation and administering, computer security policy from the user on up to the WAN links corporate wide and keeping abreast of the new technology in computer threats and security to mitigate those threats.

If you want low stress, the create AD accounts and Exchange accounts sounds pretty stress free. Tinkering with GP can get scary unless you have a test network to play on. Then it's just fun.

You will never have more stress than when you are responsible for security.

If the duties really are as simple as you outline, then why do they need a group with a manager for it? Seems more like a single part-time employee could handle what you're outlining.

Oh, and if you think management is low-stress, just wait till you try it. When you manage, not only do you have to deal with idiots, but you have to take responsibility when one of your own staff does something idiotic/unbelievable, even if you yourself had nothing to do with it.

You say it all your self "I'm happy at my current job". So why leave? Stessful idiots are everywhere, and at all levels.

The only reasons I would leave:
1. Forced to from some outside event.
2. Unhappy with current job.
3. Unhappy with current location.
4. Unhappy with current income.

As no one else can chose for you and keep you happy.

But from your description here this [b]Isn't Anything at all to do With Security[/b] unless you consider keeping the workers out of the data that they need to access. There is no mention of what precautions are involved to prevent intrusion into the system from outside.

Personally I found Security a very stressful position to be in and doubly so when there where Medical Records involved as there are different Laws that apply there and if there is a break in it's the Security Admin who cops it in the neck for the break no matter what the reason or how much they attempted to have something put in place to prevent the intrusion.

Granted I walked out of that position 20 odd years ago but now I understand that the Security Person can cop Jail Time here if the system is breached in any form as it is a breach of some new Privacy Laws here which are extremely strict.

Network Admin can be a breeze if you handle it right and don't have to constantly tinker with the system for perceived improvements. If that's the case it can be a nightmare to administer the system and particularly if you are constantly playing with Group Policies on the main system without a Lab to test in before applying on the main system.

As far as Tech Management goes this depends entirely on the company involved. If they value their staff [i]most don't[/i] then you have an easy job and only have to direct staff under you to do things and cop the blame when it is perceived that they have messed up even if they haven't done anything wrong. You also have to be a Buffer between Higher Management and the Tech Support Staff as you don't need your staff constantly in fear of loosing their jobs because some middle or upper manager gets their nose out of joint because something that they demanded to be put in place backfires. It also depends if you are really running the department or just a low ranking management type who sole function is to order that the work gets done and have no control over the departments budget and what is purchased that your staff needs to make work in the manner that it was thought it would when it is totally unsuitable for the job.

If you are really the Department manager you'll get very little time to actually get your hands dirty so to speak as you'll be tied to a desk doing paperwork most of the time, having to find time to interview new staff as the need arises and making the hard decisions of who to let go when cut backs are ordered by Upper Management who think that they will save money by having fewer staff who can continue to produce the same results. You'll also need to be able to drop all the technical stuff when it comes to arguing for your Budget as you'll need to break down everything to the last cent to justify the cost of doing something as apposed to doing it in a different cheaper way.

If you think that working Tech is bad that is nothing compared to Management where you are far more likely to be Burnt Out and thrown away when the decisions that you have no control over don't yield the wanted results.

The last place that I ran the Service Department for insisted that I could loose 2 of my staff and retain the current profitability and save the costs of the transportation involved in allowing those staff to drive around to service the companies products and bring in money from that service as well as selling spares and suggesting ways to improve the current installations or a complete new system installation and exactly what would be required.

Personally I found neither much fun and have long since walked away from those positions where I didn't have sufficient input to the actions of the Upper Management which directly impacted on my department. It never ceased to amaze me how they could justify laying off a staff member who brought in money from their work but would willing put on more people in Accounts who did noting to improve the bottom line.

Col