Path after CCNA?

Hopefully, I'll get the ICND2 taken care of within the month. I've had a difficult time deciding where to go next, but I am strongly considering the security specialization. I hear that has a lot of overlap with ISCW, and I was wondering if ISCW would be an alright place to start the CCNP. If not, I'd probably knock out BSCI and BCMSN (and possibly even the design exams) before looking at those. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Find more posts tagged with

Save $250 on 2025 certification boot camps from Infosec!

Book now with code EOY2025

Button

Comments

CChN

Whatever you choose, think long and hard about it. After choosing your path don't allow yourself to get side-tracked on other ventures. Otherwise, you're just wasting your valuable study time. I'm speaking from one psychologist to another here....

I say make the CCNP your focus and leave security + design alone for now. You'll get to them soon enough.

Another thing: where's the glory in entry-level knowledge of a bunch of different topics? You've got your CCNA, now take it one step further and become a professional.

hypnotoad

ISCW is what I've been working on for a while. I chose this because I had no QoS motivation for ONT, couldn't afford a switch set for BCMSN, and was scared of BSCI

But yes, the ISCW overlaps with the SND and CCNA:S stuff...VPN concepts and config, device lockdown, AAA. Also covers some interesting things like DSL and cable modems. I think it's a fun place to start.

Edit: as an added bonus, it is a high-level introduction to MPLS.

wbosher

I work for a Telco and they recommend going down the voice track for me. Looks like the lab equipment for that is a little pricey though!!

Getting a little ahead of myself, still need to get ICND2 first though...

Miikey87

I went straight to CCNP and have been working on my BSCI.

So far EIGRP has been easy street, ive been struggling to stay motivated to finnish up OSPF (the complexities of this, its almost as if i am reading just for reading).

miller811

dynamik wrote: »

Hopefully, I'll get the ICND2 taken care of within the month. I've had a difficult time deciding where to go next, but I am strongly considering the security specialization. I hear that has a lot of overlap with ISCW, and I was wondering if ISCW would be an alright place to start the CCNP. If not, I'd probably knock out BSCI and BCMSN (and possibly even the design exams) before looking at those. Any feedback would be appreciated.

It was a long road for me, but I went the recommended route and went CCNP in the recommended order, and in my opinion they all seemed to build on each other. I then went for the CCDA, which seemed to be a lot of review from the CCNP. Currently working on the ARCH to complete the CCDP, which again is now a lot of review from CCNP and CCDA.

miller811

Miikey87 wrote: »

I went straight to CCNP and have been working on my BSCI.

So far EIGRP has been easy street, ive been struggling to stay motivated to finnish up OSPF (the complexities of this, its almost as if i am reading just for reading).

just wait for ISIS and BGP, Multicasting..... and OSPF will seems like a cake walk....

/usr

Hopefully, I'll get the ICND2 taken care of within the month.

You need to slow down. You're making the rest of us look bad...

dynamik

Wow, not sure how I missed all these responses. I usually go through the threads in chronological order, but I somehow missed this one. Thanks for the responses everyone!

The reason I'm leaning towards starting with the CCNA:S is that it's a lot more applicable to what I do. If I was looking for a new job, I'd go right on through the NP. I guess I'll plan on going through BSCI and BCMSN first, doing CCNA:S, and then going back to the NP track. That seems to be the best compromise.

/usr wrote: »

You need to slow down. You're making the rest of us look bad...

I've actually only done one exam (VCP -- which I took the course for last July) since I did my ICND back in September or October. I'm not exactly flying along. If that seems fast, you might need to pick up the pace

LBC90805

Eventually I want to get the CCNP. But it does not make much sense until I do get experiance working on Cisco Equipment.

Might do something Linux wise since I would like to get into Storage Areas.

Maybe even management like ITIL and/or COBIT.

Kaminsky

dynamik wrote: »

Wow, not sure how I missed all these responses. I usually go through the threads in chronological order, but I somehow missed this one. Thanks for the responses everyone!

OMG.. Could he finally be approaching full capacity ?

dynamik

Kaminsky wrote: »

OMG.. Could he finally be approaching full capacity ?

Nah, it was just a fluke

sprkymrk

dynamik wrote: »

Hopefully, I'll get the ICND2 taken care of within the month. I've had a difficult time deciding where to go next, but I am strongly considering the security specialization. I hear that has a lot of overlap with ISCW, and I was wondering if ISCW would be an alright place to start the CCNP. If not, I'd probably knock out BSCI and BCMSN (and possibly even the design exams) before looking at those. Any feedback would be appreciated.

I think you should become a nuclear physicist or an astronaut.

shednik

/usr wrote: »

You need to slow down. You're making the rest of us look bad...

I've talked to dynamik about this and he admits he has a problem but refuses to get help.

mamono

I've heard some some people say that they studied and passed ISCW, only to study and pass CCNA:Security the month after just to tide them over for the time being.