Cisco IOS Security Specialist

mikej412

I just noticed the Cisco IOS Security Specialist -- and I don't have it.

I did take SND to get the Cisco Information Security Specialist. If I take the SNRS exam that would give me this one.

The thing I've always wondered about - why do you almost always get something from Cisco when you take a CCSP exam (if you do it in the "right order"), but nothing for the CCNP exams (except the CCNP at the end)? Plus it seems like they've stopped giving away Specialist Certification for the CCVP -- at one point you could get 2 or 3.

Yet they just keep piling on the Specialist Certs for Security.

HEY!!! Cisco Network Admission Control Specialist

Hopefully the NAC books I got to study for the CCIE Security Lab are the same ones I need for the 642-591 CANAC exam. Hum, I don't have the recommended "Self Defending Networks" book -- but hopefully Cisco Press will have the December 50% off promotion like the past 2 years.

networker050184

The thing I've always wondered about - why do you almost always get something from Cisco when you take a CCSP exam (if you do it in the "right order"), but nothing for the CCNP exams (except the CCNP at the end)? Plus it seems like they've stopped giving away Specialist Certification for the CCVP -- at one point you could get 2 or 3.

I wondered the same thing. I guess they could give you something like "LAN switching specialist" or something of the like when completing the CCNP exams. By the time you get your CCSP you end up with a trail of specialist certs, can't us pure routing and switching certified guys get some love????

ITdude

How about VLAN Specialist? Yea, I often wondered the same thing. Almost like Cisco is saying we need more CCSP and CCVP people but who cares about the R&S people they are common folk!

mikej412

ITdude wrote:

How about VLAN Specialist?

CS-CVPNS, yep, got that one.

But I can't find the abbreviations anymore in the Certification Tracking System.... is this now a CS-CVS or CS-CVLANS

My Cisco IP Communications Support Specialist and Cisco IP Telephony Operations Specialist are now Retired Certifications, but they have expiration dates in '08. It will be interesting to see if retired certifications still get renewed.

crazy_jay

Which books did you buy for the NAC exam? I took the NAC exam recently. The CCIE Security lab and the 642-591 exam tests on two different things. The lab only tests the NAC framework; whereas, the 642-591 exam only focuses on the NAC appliance. So, for the 642-591 you need the Cisco Nac Appliance Enforcing Host Security with Clean Access. You'll be fine not getting the Self Defending Networks for the 642-591 exam.

mikej412

crazy_jay wrote:

for the 642-591 you need the Cisco Nac Appliance Enforcing Host Security with Clean Access.

Cool -- that's already on my wish list for the (hopefully) Cisco Press end of year sale.

I've already read the Cisco Network Admission Control, Volume I and II books.

Ahriakin

I think it's because previously the exams were as much about very specific devices as areas of knowledge. The lines are blurred now with the move to multifunctional devices but it used to be Firewall specialist meant PIX junkie, VPN was primarily a concentrator expert etc. Similarly in IT dept.s with enough resources engineers often stuck the the one device or area. I haven't done the CCNP obviously so I may be wrong but you're working on different aspects of essentially 2 types of devices for the most part, routers and switches. They don't seem to place specialist tags on areas of knowledge then or protocol expertise (for the likes of MPLS etc.) just how narrowly they can pidgeon hole your knowledge on one device. I agree though it is wrong.