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CCVP vs CCSP which is hotter?

x_Danny_x

which is hotter in the market CCSP or CCVP??

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Networkhead

You get certified based on what you can do or want to do.
But, I would say CCSP is more respected and popuplar.

x_Danny_x

so right now there are more job opportunities available with CCSP than CCVP?

Slowhand

I'd say that the hotter of the two, right now, is CCVP. VoIP is becoming big business, as are things like QoS, for example. While security is a more broad topic, and has been a longer-established field than voice, the demand for CCVP's has sky-rocketed lately. The competition is tough when getting a related job for either of them, but right now you're more likely to get a higher-paying job as a Cisco voice specialist rather than a Cisco security specialist. Keep in mind, that when you're a "security expert", that pertains to networking, to systems, to best practices, and everything else under the sun. Being hired as a security admin based only on CCSP leaves a lot of gaps, like secure coding and hardening servers, for example. Cisco's done a fairly good job of covering what you need to be a "complete" voice-guru with the CCVP, and you'll be better prepared for the full onslaught of challenges you'll face in the job-market with that cert, alone, than you would be going into security with only CCSP, or little else.

As an example, take a look at a job posting like Dice and put in searches for things like "VoIP", "voice", and "pbx"; then try doing a search for "security", "firewalls", etc. You'll see what I mean about the security field being broader and expecting a lot more varying skills than you could get with just the CCSP. Also, since CCVP-related work is the "new thing", there is also a shortage of qualified voice-engineers in comparison to the sudden demand. The salaries reflect that.

mikej412

x_Danny_x wrote:

so right now there are more job opportunities available with CCSP than CCVP?

Without experience, you probably get to do more with the CCVP then you would be with the CCSP.

You might let the newbie CCVP build a backup CallManager server.... but do you really want that newbie CCSP to "learn from their mistakes" on your live network?

I'd say Security is still hot if you have the experience, but Voice is HOTTER.

supercooldude

Slowhand,

Thanks for a great mind-opening post.

SCD

Slowhand

supercooldude wrote:

Slowhand,

Thanks for a great mind-opening post.

SCD

You're very welcome. I'm glad that my ramblings become coherent enough, from time to time, to be helpful to the other users on the forum.

x_Danny_x

thanks Slowland, thanks Mike, thank you everyone!

i was so into CCSP and CCNP but im in a tight pickle here and I need to know which cert helps me the most. Im very interested in CCVP anyhow. So CCVP it is, hopefully it will remain hot while i become certified with it.

how do i get experience in this though? i got a job that has nothing to do with networking but just application support and windows support. is their any projects or assignments i can get my hands on that deals with the material that CCVP covers? do they have such a thing? even if its only for a few weeks?

Slowhand

Well, now. It's going to be a little out of my league to give direct advice on where to get experience with CCVP kinds of things. Really, the only thing you can do is to try to get work with a company that uses Cisco Call Manager and other Cisco VoIP technologies. The other side of the sword is that, while voice technology is hot, it's harder to get into than regular networking. This, of course, is true for any "specialty" type of field, like security, voice, design, storage, messaging, you name it.

This is probably the reason why you'll hear a lot of people tell you to do the CCNP first, and go into the speciality certifications from there. That's not to say that you need to do it that way, but it's easier to break into CCNP-style networking than it is to do security or voice. The best bet would be to pester the Cisco gurus on the forum, (*cough*Mike*cough*) and see what advice they have for equipment to practice with and anywhere you could go for doing the CCVP. And look at the bright side, you may have to get into CCNP work first, before you can get into voice technologies, and "only" be pulling down Sr. Network Engineer money.

Slowhand

Seriously, though. Mike, (and the rest of the Cisco Pantheon,) what do you recommend for equipment and training to get some hands-on experience for the CCVP tests?

ITdude

My only question is, what happens after the demand for qualified voice people levels off? Will the CCVP still be that hot?

Seems to me at that point they will be at leaast equal in demand or maybe more so on the security end IMHO for what it is worth!

mikej412

There are individual threads about the equipment used for the CCVP and CCSP in the forums -- but both of these certifications (and the corresponding CCIE versions) have larger and more expensive hardware requirements than the CCNP/CCIP (and the corresponding R&S and Service Provider CCIEs). But for the CCSP and CCVP, renting rack time would still be cheaper (but less convenient) then building a home lab. The hybrid approach usually works best -- get the hardware you can afford and use rack rental for the rest. Also, Dynamips (with Dynagen) and PEMU are two emulation options to check out for the home lab.

If you have a large Cisco Network Academy close by, they may offer a security class (and lab access) that would get you started on the CCSP. I haven't seen them hint about any Voice offerings.

You might also want to check the Cisco Partner Locater and see if there are any Cisco Business Partners in your area. You could get lots of great Cisco experience working for a partner, and access to lab equipment and to the good "training stuff." The down side -- the partner may have you taking exams you didn't know existed so that they could fill "partner roles."

x_Danny_x

so slowland, you are going to get hired for some networking job most likely if you go for the CCNP compared to the CCVP or any specialized certifications? is that what you meant when it is harder to break into?

mike, thanks for that info, i didnt know such a thing as Cisco Business Partners existed, i guess i will have to learn a bit more about it.

what do you mean when you say rental time?

Slowhand

x_Danny_x wrote:

so slowland, you are going to get hired for some networking job most likely if you go for the CCNP compared to the CCVP or any specialized certifications? is that what you meant when it is harder to break into?

Not quite. I meant that what the CCNP teaches, routing and switching, is a broader field that's generally easier to find work in. Partially, that's due to the fact that there is, in general, always a demand for "general networking" professionals. Voice, security, messaging, storage, these things are more specialized and have different demands, usually a more selective niche. Security, for example, requires are lot of proven experience. Voice, as your question about equipment showed, is a field that's difficult to train for and become proficient in. CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE R&S type of networking is the broader base, all networks need routing and switching professionals that can run and administrate a wide variety of both "normal" and specialty equipment. There's a lot more training equipment available at a lower price, a lot more training readily available, and the opportunity to become a junior or entry-level member of a "regular" networking team is much easier, (thereby making it easier to find a job in the field). Finding work as an entry-level security or voice technician is difficult, that's why a lot of people move from "general" networking into a specialty field. (That's also why a lot of people recommend doing CCNP first, then move into other areas of Cisco certifications.)

Crunchyhippo

I asked my Cisco instructor at the Networking Academy about this, comparing CCVP to CCNA/CCNP, and he simply did screen shots of Dice and Yahoo Hot Jobs (as I was asking the difference between the CCVP and CCNP). The demand for CCNA outpaced the CCNP, and the CCVP demand was greater than the CCNA or CCNP by a considerable margin. Didn't compare with CCSP.

Slowhand

The reason you're seeing CCNA in higher demand than CCNP, (and definitely when comparing to CCSP and CCVP,) is because HR managers write those ads and they don't know a CCNP from their CPA. CCNA is more recognizable, it's something "everyone has heard of", and that's why you'll also see CCNP and CCIE level work being described on ads asking for "CCNA or equivalent". You'll see this kind of thing for MCSE as well, since it's also one of the most recognizable certs out there. This is one reason why guys that have CCNP, CCSP, CCIP, etc., have started listing their CCNA as well, so they'll get hits on their resumes when posting on Dice or Monster.