Expert's answer

I would recommend to start looking at the job boards for positions similar to what you would like your next job to be. Depending on the size of the company your next position will be at, the job might be network admin only, security admin only or maybe a combination of the two. It is good that your current boss is being supportive; not everyone enjoys that kind of situation.

A plan is always a good thing, and can show the right employer your motivation for moving up and improving yourself. I would suggest talking so recruiters/headhunters looking to fill those kinds of positions to see what kind of experience you will need for the positions they are trying to fill. Depending on the particular recruiter and prospective employers he or she is representing, you might just find a company that is will to give you a chance to move into the kind of position you are looking for with a little less experience.

Getting what experience you can now will be good in the long run. Make sure to document that as well as you can. Consider getting a certification or two along the path(s) you are thinking of pursuing. While this won't make up for a lack of hands-on experience, it will show a perspective employer that you have the ability to learn new roles - and show that you have a baseline of knowledge that has been verified either by an independent source (i.e. Comptia in case of Security+) or by a vendor (i.e. Cisco in the case of one of the switches you are working with).

To help make up for a perceived lack of experience in the fields you are looking to move into, you might have to consider a job that pays the same as - or even less than - what you make now and working your way up. It might also be a possibility to take a position where your "new" duties are only a part of your total duties in order to get your foot in the door.

As to your current degrees, I would suggest de-emphasizing the biology one unless you happen to be pursuing a job with a biology-related company. Some companies, right or wrong, could see you with two bachelors degrees as being "over qualified" without even looking at your other qualifications or experiences.