Working on my BA in CS now, advice on my certs please!

MJK9550

Hey guys,

I recently took my A+ 901 and passed, doing the 902 on Friday so should have A+ then!

Afterwards I am thinking of doing them in the following order but also not sure which ones to take. I'm going to write out my list and any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

Net+ or MTA Net Fundamentals 98-366? or both?
Sec+ or MTA Sec Fundamentals 98-367? or both?
MCSA Windows 10 70-697
Linux+
CEH
OSCP
OSCE
GPEN
CASP

Should I throw in any cisco certs?

Advice Please!

Thanks Guys

shortiebs

Are you working yet? what exactly are you looking to do? networking? security? Systems administration?

MJK9550

I'm currently an entry-level network engineer at a fairly large company. I've been doing this for about 2 months now so I'm still in the process of learning quite a bit and self-study at home after work for hours. I want to get into InfoSec, mainly Pentesting. I've got decent knowledge of the process so far from home practice. I have labs set up at home, practice with kali, and Linux in general. I use windows mainly. Beginner level knowledge of python but am continuing to teach myself more and more. I use windows server 2008 R2 and 2012 R2 at work.

TechGuru80

I think one of the biggest things is to not set in a stone a path and be flexible. With that being said your list has good options but it depends what you want to do. Based on your list though...don't do MTA, as CompTIA will be better unless you really just want more certs.

As far as MCSA...I would do server not OS as it is more in demand. Put GPEN before OSCP or possibly in between OSCP and OSCE. Also if you want CASP I would probably take it before the CEH but in general it doesn't show up in a lot of job ads at least currently.

MJK9550

I'm definitely up for being flexible, still trying to get an idea for how I should do things. I was planning on doing Comptia but wasn't sure how well the MTA certs sat compared to them. I'm going to do a server MCSA as well but a future job opportunity requires one Microsoft OS cert so I figured I might as well do the Windows 10 cert since it's the newest and most up to date. I've also been using Windows 10 since released. So GPEN first then, sounds good. That one is open book correct? So CASP is easier than CEH? I figured that was one of the most expert level certs as far as InfoSec is concerned.

danny069

CASP was tougher than CEH, I did the CASP first and CEH was a lot less difficult for me.

MJK9550

How difficult is the CCNA? I've heard the cisco certs are pretty tough.

danny069

Very difficult, and what you've heard is true. It also depends on what kind of training you have and if at work you use cisco routers and switches, configure them, etc.

MJK9550

We do use cisco routers and switches, but I'm still new to this job and this is my first IT job, I got lucky enough to land it while still in school and with no certs. I'm just now starting to delve into them, I'm the only guy here at the location so I maintain the server rooms and everything. Still getting used to stuff down here. I manage 5 locations all relatively close by, the furthest being 40 minutes away.