Passed!

I just got home from the testing center after passing the 640-553!

My thoughts on the exam pretty match what seem to match the consensus: it was straight forward and easier than the CCNA.

My study material (in order of usefulness)

The Official Exam Certification Guide (Wakins/Wallace) from Cisco Press
CBT Nuggets
CCNA Security Study Guide (Tim Boyles) from Sybex
The Cisco Learning Network
My old SECUR Exam Cram2 book
Googling topics for additional info/clarification

I found the Boson practice test included with the Offical Exam Guide to be pretty much on line with the types of questions on the real test.

I would say you need the Watkins/Wallace book AND CBT Nuggets combined to cover all the topics. I could probably have gone without the others and still passed.

I was dissapointed in the Sybex book. I thought their CCNA book by Todd Lammle was awesome and was expecting the same. This one is not awesome.

Now I have to figure out what to do next...

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Comments

alan2308

Congrats!

jamesp1983

congrats!

NightShade03

Congrats on the pass!

bermovick

Congrats!!!

I hear/read all these 'passed' threads and people saying it was straight-forward and easy, but I'm pretty worried about this exam; I keep trying to study but there's soo .. many ... LITTLE ... DETAILS!!!

And it's all so DRY!

peanutnoggin

To the OP... CoNgRaTs!!!

Good luck with your future studies....

-Peanut

JSK

Congrats!

medic

bermovick wrote: »

Congrats!!!

I hear/read all these 'passed' threads and people saying it was straight-forward and easy, but I'm pretty worried about this exam; I keep trying to study but there's soo .. many ... LITTLE ... DETAILS!!!

And it's all so DRY!

I felt the same way going in. But when I finished I had no doubt that I had passed. It wouldn't be Cisco without an occational WTF question but for the most part it was pretty straight forward.

Know the all little details of the major topics. Know the major details of the lesser topics.

waymorr

Congrats on the Pass!

medic

Thanks everyone.

My coffee table looks weird without a pile of Cisco books on it now.

mikej412

Congratulations!!

medic wrote: »

My coffee table looks weird without a pile of Cisco books on it now.

Have you come up with a study plan

to remedy the situation?

chX

Congrats!

I'm just starting my CCNA Sec studies.

I'm currently watching CBTNuggets and have The Bryant Advantage material for Security - hopefully that covers everything I need.

medic

mikej412 wrote: »

Have you come up with a study plan to remedy the situation?

I'm trying to figure that out while enjoying having a life again for a little while.

The Microsoft 2008 stuff would be the most immediately useful in my current job since we just brought our first Windows 2008 server online (member server, still a 2003 domain but plans to upgrade next year). CISSP would be excellent ammo to use to get moved in the direction I would like to head in at my current job. CCNP would be fun but is beyond the scope of what we do in house at my current job.