CCNA Security

A Pattern Emerges from Recent CCNA “Specializations”

I’d been wondering recently why Cisco is expanding its ever-popular CCNA certification to include CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, and CCNA Wireless. Now I get it: Cisco also offers various professional credentials, including CCDP (Design), CCNP (Networking), CCSP (Security), and CCVP (Voice), as well as CCIE specializations (many of them in synch with the other areas already mentioned). In the near future, a plain-vanilla CCNA will no longer suffice to meet prequisite requirements for the CCSP and CCVP. You guessed it: the relevant specialist versions of the CCNA will be required to meet pre-requisites instead.

Given that coverage from one Cisco Professional cert to another varies pretty widely, I think this evolution in requirements makes sense, and also provides a way for entry-level professionals to start pursuing technical specialties closer to the beginning of their Cisco cert path. I’m a little concerned that fundamentals remain well-covered no matter what kind of CCNA one earns, but Cisco generally does a good job of ensuring its certified professionals have solid and comprehensive backgrounds in basic networking tools, terms, and concepts. Perhaps this means the company is simply adding a “merit badge” program, because individuals who seek the CCNA Voice, CCNA Security, or CCNA Wireless credentials must first earn the base CCNA credential, then take another exam in the area of specialization.

Finally, given the existence of a CCNA Wireless as well as a CCIE Wireless, does this mean that a CCWP might be in the offing? I can’t help but see this omission as a gap that Cisco will seek to fill, possibly even some day soon. For more information on various Cisco certifications visit www dot cisco dot com slash go slash <certname> where you replace the final <certname> with CCNA, CCNP, CCDP,…, CCIE to get to their home pages; or simply use certification instead of <certname> at the end of that string to get to the cert program home page.

Nearly Everbody Is a Winner! Cisco Flashcards & Simulator

Cisco Press gave me 5 licenses for each item for the contest, so I’m able to give the first 5 posters a license for the 640-533 CCNA Security exam. That means the following posters should contact me to obtain their license keys–namely:

• Rob M, Provo, UT
• Kathy B, Twin Cities, MN
• Yasir I, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
• Reggie G, Chicago, IL
• Juan L, Austin, TX

You’ll need to visit my Web page at www dot edtittel dot com and check the contact info to send me an e-mail with your contact information and phone number (except for Yasir I). I’ll call all the others and confirm your identity, then e-mail you your pickup link and license key. Congratulations to all of you, and condolences to Brett P from Central Wisconsin whose 6th place request exceeded my supply (if you want a license for the CCENT simulator, do let me know because I’ve got a couple of extra licenses to give away).

All of the CCENT Network Simulator requests will be granted, and should follow the same instructions for the 640-533 crowd (e-mail me a phone number so I can verify your identity, yada yada). These lucky people are:

• Carl W, San Jose, CA
• Kobi O, Brooklyn, NY
• Kelly K, Springville, UT

I’ve also got 5 licenses for the 640-460 CCNA Voice flashcards to hand out as well, so please let your friends and colleagues know that if they post a comment requesting same to this or any other thread where it’s mentioned they can pick one of those up for themselves as well, as long as they’re in the first 5 postings requesting one.

Thanks very much to all those who participated. This was fun! If any readers have requests for other cert study material give-aways like this one, let me know and I’ll contact the publishers involved to see if they want to help out. Consider it our small contribution to stimulating the economy!