CCNA: Sec Question

I hope no one else has asked this question a lot lately..

I thought I read somewhere that the CCNA Security could provide for the ISCW on the CCNP track. Does Cisco allow the CCNA: Sec to be taken in place of the ISCW?

Would you guys recommend the Security or the Wireless exam the most?

Thanks,
es

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dynamik

No, it replaced the SND exam in the SP track.

What interests you the most? That's not going to be something we can decide for you. Why don't you just do both

examseeker

lol..

I was gonna save the CCNA:Sec for the CCNP track when I take that. I wanted to go to grad school before then. Now, I may just concentrate on the CCNP track. There is a local university with classes for the CCNP and I will look into that.

I do plan to do both--just wanted to get the professional track done.

I've talked to a few people, Mike from TechExams (just to name one), about CCNP vs. CCSP. I think there is more demand for CCNP than CCSP.

Thanks for the advice and the answer!

es

Slowhand

Yup, the CCNP tends to be more widely recognized than the other pro-level Cisco certs. This is mainly due to the fact that the routing & switching track is considered "the core" or Cisco training, whereas things like Security and Voice are considered specialties. This doesn't necessarily mean you need to obtain the CCNP in order to nail all the topics covered in CCSP 100%, but having the routing & switching knowledge will definitely help you, both in finding a job and helping you troubleshoot problems.

This approach to Cisco certifications is very evident in the CCIE stats. Most CCIE candidates go for the routing & switching lab, and almost every single CCIE with multiple certs have the R & S along with something.

examseeker

Interesting, Slowhand... nice info...

2 things: I "inherited" 8 CCNP books from the local library (the college where I work), I'll post the books tonight to see if they are outdated. Also, I need to start building my lab.. ($$$)

Gotta try out those dynamips..

Thanks again!
es

Slowhand

Check those books against the current CCNP exams and make sure the numbers match. BSCI is 642-901, but it used to be 642-801, and so forth.

examseeker

I checked what I had against that list you linked me, Slowhand.. unfortunately, my books have expired. The College where I work was getting rid of the CCNP books since the Cisco Academy has been canceled.

Thanks,
es

Slowhand

Don't toss 'em just yet, though. Some of the information is a little dated, there's going to be new information on the exams not in those books, as well as stuff in them that they no longer test on. However, things like the inner workings of routing protocols, advanced VLANs, etc, hasn't changed all that much. If you don't want to shell out the money for new books right now, those are a great place to start. I'm not sure what the exact changes have been, but I'd guess you can still get 70% - 80% use out of them, in addition to covering stuff you might still see in the world, but not on the tests, (like ISDN technologies, for example).

Hang on to them, page through now and again, and save your pennies for the new books when you can. All knowledge is good knowledge, even if it's not exactly what you need to pass the exams.