New CCSP Cert Path

[gabrielshorn]

Hi Everyone,

I have a couple of questions about the new CCSP cert path. In looking over the new exams it appears that CCNA-Security is nasty difficult! Deep and broad! My questions are:

1. Can one take the other CCSP exams prior to CCNA-Security? I think there might be a benefit to this approach since the CCNA-Security is broad and the other exams appear more focused on limited subjects but deeper. It also seems like the other CCSP exams bleed over into the application, hands-on portion of the CCNA-Security, making CCNA-Security easier once you've mastered the info on the other exams.

2. I also see something about NSA INFOSEC certification related to CCSP training and am not sure I completely understand. Does the NSA bestow INFOSEC certification on CCSPs, or do you have to be a CCSP that has also taken the Cisco-approved classroom training to be eligible?

Thanks,

Greg

[lammle]

I don't know your answer to #2, but I do know the answer to #1

At GlobalNet Training, we have people go through the entire 2-week CCSP class, pass all their tests onsite, and then we provide the infromation and test voucher for the CCNA security for free. We do the same for CCVP/CCNA Voice.

This is because the CCNA Voice/Security are too hard to pass unless you have your CCSP or VP. Sounds weird, I know, but that is the best path for your CCNA Concentrations.

Buying the Cisco Press books will give you nothing for the CCNA concentration exams. I am not saying they are bad, but they only have information for voice and security that is good to learn. But to pass the test they say they are written for? That's a laugh riot! Not even close. Again, no offense to the authors, but the marketing for those books are totally misleading.

Cheers!
Todd Lamle

Cheers!
Todd Lammle

[gabrielshorn]

Todd,

Thanks for your response.

I talked to Wendy at GlobalNet a couple of months ago about coming to the CCSP course. I was hoping to pass CCNA-Sec first, but maybe I'll try your suggested route.

As far as the INFOSEC (CNSS 4013) certification is concerned, there's a bunch of info about it on the CCSP page on Cisco's website. It's just kind of confusing because one place talks about taking the Cisco-authorized courses and passing the exams and another place just talks about passing the exams to receive the additional cert. From all I can find it looks like you get the additional government certification simply for passing CCSP.

http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le...type_home.html

Greg

[lammle]

Well, what's good about my path (globalnettraining path) is that you get the the CCNA Security/Voice text book and voucher for free when you come to you CCSP/VP courses.

That is interesting news about the INFOSEC cert. I'll have to look that up, being that I am a CCSP!!

Cheers!
Todd

[Fuzz]

I've been reading a blog on Wendells Cert Zone, over on NetworkWorld.com, about the CCNA-Sec cert. In it, the author of the exam cert book explains what it's all about and what is included.

http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/29900

From what he is saying, a lot of the CCNA-sec objectives are covered on the ISCW exam, and most of it was lifted straight from the SND exam objectives. Looking over the ISCW objectives, it seems the only things on there not security related are MPLS and Cable/xDSL. Makes sense really, considering most threats are outside out network, but it leaves me wondering whether the CCNA-Sec exam will be as hard as it sounds once ISCW is attained? I'm assuming here that the other 3 CCNP exams have little in the way of security on them. The only thing I can see between the ISCW and CCNA-Sec is more switch/layer 2 based security on the CCNA concentration, which I assume will be at least touched upon in BCMSN.

Is CCNA -> ISCW -> CCNA-Sec a good way to go, rather than learning all the CCSP info before taking the CCNA-Sec? I ask because all my studying is self-learning based, and learning a whole suite of 2 certs material before even gaining an associate level certification for my efforts seems incredibly daunting. Considering that many companies are looking for people skilled with firewalls, security is an area I would enjoy going into, but I wouldn't want to put CCNP aside for an associate level cert. Is ISCW the answer for me?

[lammle]

I posted this above, but it is worth repeating:
At GlobalNet Training, we have people go through the entire 2-week CCSP class, pass all their tests onsite, and then we provide the infromation and test voucher for the CCNA security for free. We do the same for CCVP/CCNA Voice.
This is because the CCNA Voice/Security are too hard to pass unless you have your CCSP or VP. Sounds weird, I know, but that is the best path for your CCNA Concentrations.

I do have a seperate CCNA Wireless class, one that I am starting next week in Dallas. It is a super cool, but technical class. It is not an entry cert either, but I cover all the objectives and have a LOT of equipment! That is the key for all of these, lots of equipment and lots of hands-on!

Cheers!
Todd Lammle

[Fuzz]

Thanks for the reply Todd, but it doesn't answer my question.

I'd really like some information on how ISCW relates to CCNA-Sec. I can't afford the money or time it takes to do a boot camp, so self study is my only option to achieving my goals. I'm still set on getting CCNP certified, but I'd also like to delve into the security world.

Learning all the material for the CCSP cert, by myself, is an incredibly daunting task. If ISCW offers a good insight into the security path, enough to start the CCNA-Sec, then that's what I plan to do after CCNP. If ISCW isn't enough, I'll more than likely go down the design path.

[lammle]

Let me have my Dan Aguilers, the best CCSP instructor -ever, take a stab at this and answer your question.
Thanks,
Todd

[lildeezul]

Fuzz, to answer your question. Yes the ISCW is very similar to the CCNA sec objectives.. IF you have looked at my other post, i plan to finish up my ISCW exam ( next 2 weeks or so) and then move on to the CCNA: Secuirt, and JNCIA then finish up my last CCNP exam.

But, i wouldn't reccomend, CCNA-ISCW-CCNA sec...

the CCNA security, will be hard. The iscw has commands that are based upon the foundations of the BSCI and BCMSN course, which has very tedious and hard commands to learn. I would reccomend taking the BSCI and BCMSN before attempting the ISCW exam.

[Fuzz]

Hi lildeezul

Thanks for the reply. It's not my intention to do ISCW right after CCNA, I have always planned to finish the CCNP cert first. Sorry, my explanation above wasn't clear on that.

My plan is to complete CCNA, then move onto BCMSN, as that topic is the most relevant to where I work - to my knowledge, a completely switch-based network - before moving on to BSCI where I have a genuine interest.

I may even take the same route as you, and leave ONT until after CCNA-Sec, but that 'Professional' title on the CV sure does sound too good not to get now!

[kkma227]

But how would one take the ccsp before the ccna security exam when the prerequisite for the ccsp is the ccna security exam? Or did they make some sort of change?

[gabrielshorn]

The way I understand it is that you can take the other CCSP exams before taking the CCNA-Security. You're just not a CCSP until they're all finished. My thought was just that, with the breadth of the information on CCNA-Sec, that it might be easier if you had already mastered SNAF, SNAA, SNRS, etc. There's so much high level knowledge you have to have for CCNA-Security, in addition to all the things you have to know how to configure on routers and switches, that it seems like mastering the configurations first would lighten the load for the CCNA-Sec exam.

[kkma227]

hmm, I didn't think the Cisco testing system would even let you attempted the tests without the proper prerequisites fulfilled. Can anyone confirm this?

[lammle]

You can take any test, in any order, but you just won't get your cert until you finish all the tests. You have one year to take all the tests from the time you pass your first test. This goes for all paths.
Cheers!
Todd Lammle

[gabrielshorn]

Woa. How did I miss that? You have one year to take the other professional exams after taking the first one? The CCNA-Voice/Sec don't count as one of these tests, do they? In other words, the year starts after passing SNAA, etc, right?

[Fuzz]

I've never heard of this 1-year start to finish either, I'm glad it's come up else I could have missed out on something there. Do they not last for 3 years, or is that just the final certs? I'm amazed that you'd need 5 exams within a year to become CCVP, for example. Looking at an average of three months per exam, working pretty much non-stop all year, makes this seem implausible. Does this mean self study is useless for professional level certs?

Edit: I just checked this out. You have three years to complete your CCxP track, not one year. Phew! I can stop the heart attack that was about to happen now!! The bottom line is, you need a valid CCNA to gain CCNP level. A pass of a CCNP exam will refresh your CCNA to three years. As long as your CCNA is valid, and Cisco do not change the exam structure, there is no deadline for getting your CCNP. If the exam structure does change, you will have a certain time period with which to use your existing exam passes to complete the track. If you don't make it in time, you will have to take the updated exam.

[gabrielshorn]

Youre right about the three years. Made me nervous too! I'm on about month 7 of CCNA-Sec. If they're all like this it'll take a few years to get CCSP done.

[lammle]

I am telling you the truth.
Once you get your CCSP, that last three years.
But, if you don't finish all your exams for a path in one year, you have to retake the exams that were passed over a year ago.
Once you pass your first test, you have one year to get your professional cert or you have to take the expired exams over.
That's why we do our CCSP in two weeks!
Cheers!
Todd

[Fuzz]

I'm not doubting Todd at all here, but I can't believe that exams this hard require you to complete them all in one year. There is no way I can complete any CCxP track within one year. I mean the CCVP requires 5 exams!! OK, so it only starts when you take your first exam, but that's still four exams takes within that year, including any retake of ones you may fail. If this is true I may as well stop studying as I will never make this short time frame.

I thought lildeezul was thinking of taking a break from Cisco to do Juniper, and then finish his CCNP track. Won't that mean he has to start from scratch again? I think this is very harsh.

Can I ask where this information is available? I'd really like to take a look at it.

[gabrielshorn]

I've read everywhere I can find on Cisco's website as well as the agreements in their certification tracking system. Here's all that I'm able to find.

Nowhere is a one year requirement stated. In cert paths where exams have recently been retired, it's stated that anyone that took these exams has three years from the testing date to apply them to their Professional-level certification. I can't imagine Cisco would allow more time to apply a certification exam that's deprecated.

Todd, I'm not questioning your integrity. You obviously have the highest integrity, and in addition really care about what you teach and your students. I just think you've crossed a couple of facts. We all do it. If you insist that you're correct, could you tell us where to find this info, because this is REALLY important to those of us pursuing professional certification.