Time it takes to get CCSP?

I currently hold a CCNA. I have several routers, switches and one pix 501 firewall at home. My CCNA expires in 1.5 years. Is this enough time to bang out all 5 exams for the CCSP?

I'm 26, live alone and am currently single

I have a lot of free time, especially this winter

thanks in advance

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Webmaster

Hi and welcome on board,

It depends on a lot of obvious things like how much time you invest in it and your current level of knowledge and experience, but regardless, I think 18 months is very doable. The SND exam is very basic and considered very easy by those who passed the others. It's like taking the CCNA exam after the four CCNP exams. Even a CCNA with some basic knowledge of security (ie. security+ would help too) would know a lot already or at least something related to associate it with. In other words, if there's some overlap between the 5 exams making it more like having to study for 4 exams. "If" you would go for SND last. It's a good one to take first as well, in which case you will already cover bits for the other 4 exams.

I'm not sure of the 501 will be of much use. You might want to look into getting one that runs 7.0

Good luck and keep us posted.

DixieWrecked

Webmaster,
Thanks for the reply. I currently work as a security engineer. I do have TICSA, S+, CISSP and GCIH as far as security certs go. I do a lot of system security with my current job and some traffic analysis. I would like to get the CCSP because I think it would make me more marketable. I'm currently looking to move to another state in the next 2 years. I also love working with Cisco products.

what is the SND exam? I know it is an abbreviation. Is it the Securiing IOS networks exam?

Thanks for the advice on the 501. I'll try to pick up something newer that can handle a more recent OS. Sigh, time to spend more money.

Thanks again

Webmaster

The SND exam is the Securing Cisco Network Devices (they left out Cisco in the abbreviation).

www.cisco.com/go/ccsp

or more specifically:
www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/current_exams/642-552.html

I'm sure with your experience and current certs you will be familiar with most of the topic listed on that page. There isn't that much configurating and Cisco specific stuff in that exam. And the topics that are, are also covered in the other four exams.

In case you are not aware of it, CCSP includes up to 4 other certs:
Cisco Firewall Specialist, Cisco IPS Specialist, and Cisco VPN Specialist, and INFOSEC (including some sort of recognition letter from the NSA)

The SND is basically the 'core' exam for the three specialist cert, for example: CCNA+SND+VPN is Cisco VPN Specialist.

That's also why it may be wise to start with the SND. It seems to be a common one to save for last because it hardly requires any additional study after the other four, but if you take it first, you'll have a new cert with the VPN, the IPS, and the Firewall exam. Regardless of the order you prefer, it seems like the CCSP and these extra bonus certs will be a good addition to your current certs and experience.

Here's an page at our site with some TechNotes I wrote for the SND 551 version:

www.techexams.net/ccsp/SND_642-551.shtml

I do have TICSA, S+, CISSP and GCIH as far as security certs go.

We have a 'Certifications' field in the forums profile

DixieWrecked

hey thanks a lot for the info. I know at one time, doing 3 of the 5 exams made you a cisco certified firewall specialist. Is that still the case? Or was it replaced by the VPN exam

Thanks again for the links and info. I'm going to start studying this weekend

mikej412

DixieWrecked wrote:

I know at one time, doing 3 of the 5 exams made you a cisco certified firewall specialist.

The Cisco Firewall Specialist is just 2 more exams (after you have your CCNA).

The Main Certification & Paths web page has the links for the specializations if you scroll down. While you're working on the CCSP you also wind up with a bunch of CQSs (Firewall, IPS, & VPN) and the NSA letters (INFOSEC, 4011, & 4013). Check the Cisco Certification Tracking website (under your career certifications) for the NSA letter requirements.

Your CCNA gets recertified with almost any 642 level exam now, so you won't have to worry about that as long as you start the CCSP before the CCNA expires.

And in a year and a half - if you have that much free time - you could target the CCIE Security too.

HHHTheGame

I took the SND a week after the IPS exam (which I took as #4). Honestly I could have taken it that same day. It was very easy. They are replacing it with an updated exam so it might be a little tougher. The 551 SND exam dies at the end of this year. All in all it took me about six months for the CCSP.

Oh yeah, Cisco has an ASA5505 for $600 that runs the 7.0 OS.

DixieWrecked

Mike and Thegame,
Thanks for the responses.

Since they are updating the SND at the end of this year, I guess I should target that first and try to get it done? I'm assuming it's fairly easy. Do we have an exact date when the SND is being updated? Dec 31st 2006? I'd rather take it while it's easy since I work a lot of hours

Can you recommend study materials? I usually use sybex with boson exams. Should I purchase the cisco press book?

1. Just for verification, snd is 642-552? Or is it 642-551? Cisco site lists both, what is the difference

2. Also, just for verification again....as long as I pass one 642 exam, it renews my CCNA?

thanks again

ps: CCIE Security is in my sights, but not for a while. I heard you can pee with your eyes closed and never miss the toilet seat once you obtain CCIE status

DixieWrecked

one more question

# 642-501: Securing Cisco IOS Networks
# 642-511: Cisco Secure VPN
# 642-521: Cisco Secure PIX Firewall Advanced
# 642-531: Cisco Secure Intrusion Detection System
# 642-541: Cisco SAFE Implementation

Is SND on of the above? Or am I looking at the old CCSP? I currently have Cisco Press book 642-501.

thanks

Munck

No, the new SND is 642-552. After passing, you earn the title "Cisco Information Security Specialist" AND INFOSEC

(very nice IMO). More info on their website:
http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/le3/le2/le41/le85/le69/learning_certification_type_home_extra_level.html

You should get a new study guide. Preparing using old material dosen't work. Cisco Press probably releases a study guide in the next months or so. Good luck

mikej412

DixieWrecked wrote:

Or am I looking at the old CCSP?

That's the old list. Follow the link in

's post to the new CCSP exam page.

Webmaster wrote:

www.cisco.com/go/ccsp

DixieWrecked

Thanks guys.

I cant find the 642-551 book by Sybex. All they have is "All in one study guides". Will those do?

If not, can you please recommend a good book?

HHHTheGame

DixieWrecked wrote:

Thanks guys.

I cant find the 642-551 book by Sybex. All they have is "All in one study guides". Will those do?

If not, can you please recommend a good book?

There isn't a 551 book. It just builds off of everything learned in the previous four exams.

mikej412

DixieWrecked wrote:

I cant find the 642-551 book by Sybex. All they have is "All in one study guides".

I liked the Sybex All-In-Ones as backup and "lite reading" when I couldn't stand to look at the Cisco Press Books anymore..... but unless its been updated for the new exams, its just useful for the information -- not as a study guide for the exams anymore.

I looked and I didn't even see a Cisco Press Book for the SND exam(s) (old or new).

If the SND is the "new foundation" exam, then reading the old SECUR stuff could be a starting point.... then you'd at least have an idea what the exam blueprint topics really could cover. Then you'd have to hit the Cisco Documentation website to cover any of the new material in the topics that still look "strange."

Another option could be to read all the books for the other exams first and save SND and SNRS for last -- and hope they don't change too much else anytime soon.

DixieWrecked

thanks man, I will get the cisco press