Passed CCNA on Monday

zen master · July 2008

Hey everyone, I've been a lurker here for the fast few weeks while preparing for my CCNA, and I finally passed on Monday and decided to sign up. My main question is this, what is the best path to CCSP from here, and do I have to get the CCNA: Security first? I'm a bit confused by these new rules, and on the CISCO website, a lot of the exams seem to be on the verge of being retired, which is further adding to the confusion. What exactly is going on, and what is the best path to CCSP for me?

networker050184 · July 2008

First off congrats on the pass!

Since you just finished the CCNA I would head down the CCNA: Security path as a start. It will give you some good security fundamentals and the study guide has been released. In the meantime it will give Cisco some time to settle the CCSP exam changes (hopefully) while you study the CCNA: Security exam. Good luck!

dynamik · July 2008

Yea, you can take the SND exam through the middle of November, but you'll only be able to apply it towards the CCSP through next June. If you don't complete the track by then, you'll have to go back and do CCNA:S. The CCNA:S seems like it's basically the SND content anyway, so I don't see any reason not to start with that one.

Congratulations.

zen master · July 2008

Thanks guys. Based on that information, I think I may hold off on the CCSP until the end of the year, and finish off my MCSA (I have two more modules to do), and also sign up to do CEH. I have a degree in computer science, and I want to do a masters that involves security, management and possibly finance somehow, but I want to get these certifications done, and get some experience before starting. Plus, I need to save and find the perfect MSc program, which proving to be quite a challenge. It's a pretty massive decision after all.