640-553 Passed

I took this exam in the AM and received a 933/1000. Here was my breakdown:

[b]
Describe the security threats facing modern network infrastructures         60%
Secure Cisco routers                                                        90%
Implement AAA on Cisco routers using local router database and external ACS 100%
Mitigate threats to Cisco routers and networks using ACLs                   100%
Implement secure network management and reporting                           100%
Mitigate common Layer 2 attacks                                             100%
Implement the Cisco IOS firewall feature set using SDM                      100%
Implement the Cisco IOS IPS feature set using SDM                           50%
Implement site-to-site VPN on Cisco Routers using SDM                       93%

[/b]

Not sure WTF the 50% is all about with IPS, but I do know there were far less questions on that subject than I thought there would be although I felt good with that topic. We'll chalk it up to the Cisco exam makers deciding they would ask me everything on IPS I wasn't prepared for.

Overall I felt the following prepared me very well for this exam:

* Cisco Press CCNA Security Official Exam Certification Guide
* Exam Cram CCNA Security
* CBTNuggets
* Cisco Press CCNP ISCW Official Exam Certification Guide
* Cisco Press CCNP Implementing Secured Converged Wide-Area Networks (ISCW 642-825) Lab Portfolio
* GNS3

Doing the ISCW portion of the CCNP definitely made this exam much more manageable. It was a review on a lot of material.

I enjoyed studying for this. First time I was exposed to Zone-Based Firewalls and a few of the security topics. Also, it really hammered in AAA, which I find really cool.

I started this in mid-December right after I went to a Security+ bootcamp, so it took me a little over 2 months to feel really prepared. Of course I did manage to watch 5 seasons of One Tree Hill DVD's during the course of this so who knows how quick I could have been ready if I would have had better focus. lol

Doing the CCNA Voice now followed by QoS. Then I'll make the decision on finish the CCIP/do the CCVP. Wish me luck!

Good luck to you folks doing this one. Know that SDM.