gorebrush wrote: » CCNA, imo.
Simrid wrote: » I would also say CCNA, but that's because I love networking so I am biased. One thing I would say is that the MCSE is "worth more" than a CCNA in comparison, I believe. So, perhaps looking at going for a CCNP.
OctalDump wrote: » Which CCNA and which MCSE? Where are you starting from? If you have CCENT, then CCNA R+S is a no brainer. If you have MCSA Server 2012, then maybe one of the MCSEs isn't too much to shoot for. Very roughly, the CCNA is about the same as MCSA, and MCSE is about the same as CCNP or CCIE Written (depending on the MCSE). I say this as someone who failed the last of the MCITP Enterprise Administrator exams, and someone who has studied for the CCNP R+S. Both are good options for a sys admin or for someone in Info Sec, but because the MCSE is likely harder, it will generally be worth more.
DDStime wrote: » When you say "worth more" are you talking about knowledge or employment?
OctalDump wrote: » Both (generally). The MCSE m Server Infrastructure or Private Cloud are quite broad, and quite deep. The CCNA is networking 101 plus 'this is how to do it on Cisco gear'. I'd go so far as to say that MCSE Server Infrastructure is bigger than CCNP Route and Switch. CCNP R+S sticks to the core routing and switching stuff, and doesn't pull in too much from other areas. I think that the CCIE R+S has similar breadth to MCSE SI, but the lab exam for CCIE goes a step beyond. When it comes to comparing monetary worth, then it does depend a lot on the particular market and what else you are bringing to the table, but in most circumstances an MCSE is going to be worth more money than CCNA. If you have an MCSE, then it will be assumed that you have half decent networking knowledge anyway. For what you describe, sys admin with an interest in security, I think that CCNA is a good base level of networking knowledge, and something like MCSA would be a good base level of Windows knowledge. It then depends on where you are more interested in working - networking or services/OS - for whether you pursue MCSE or CCNP or something else (VCP, RHCE, AWS etc).
Chinook wrote: » Perhaps the first question you should ask is what are your future career goals? Knowing networking (Layer 1 - 3) is beneficial for everyone in IT but if you're working in an silo style environment maybe not.
powerfool wrote: » Well, if you are putting MCSE on the table... I think you could knock them both out. MCSE will take more work, more time, more money, and probably have a greater return when comparing MCSE to CCNA. I don't know if it holds true as much (because I have seen more than my share of sysadmins without the knowledge), but you should have a sound enough knowledge of networking basics to pull off an MCSE (OSI model, TCP/IP, subnetting, common ports, general knowledge of routing). So, with that knowledge... it should be easy enough to jump into the CCNA; it is about 50% general networking knowledge and 50% Cisco-isms, IOS commands, etc.) Some folks will likely disagree, but I think to be focused on security, you need to know about the platforms that you are working with... so, an MCSE kids you a foundation on Windows, CCNA on Cisco stuff... cover some Linux, you are plenty well rounded at that point. Of course, you could just do the MCSA and the CCNA, too. As some have suggested, I think the MCSE has also been around that CCNP level... and I think that holds more true now than ever. The MCSA has become a significant obstacle in its own right... perhaps above the CCNA, depending on if you are going the traditional R/S route, maybe on par if you follow those CCNA specialty track of do the R/S then your specialty.