What job did you land as CCNA certified and how what competences where required

SeekBytes · April 2015

Dear members,

I wanted to ask you what sort of jobs you have landed as Cisco CCNA and what sort of configurations and troubleshooting where expected from you to perform.

I am a bit scared to apply for a basic roles, even though most job ads require competences that are well beyond a CCNA.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards.

E Double U · April 2015

I had a lot more duties, but these are the ones related to Cisco (keeping it short & sweet):

Role 1: Config Engineer on Migrations team
- Building configs on routers & switches.

Role 2: Security Specialist in SOC
- Firewall access rule changes on ASA

Role 3: Info Sec Analyst in Bank Security
- Any and everything related to ASA, ACS, IPS

JasminLandry · April 2015

For me I was asked to configure VLANs, trunks, switchport, speed and duplex settings, SSH, AAA, and other really basic stuff. Don't be scared to apply for anything, we all learn a lot while on the job. I even like applying for stuff beyond what I'm capable so that I can learn all this "advanced" stuff. It doesn't mean you'll get a phone call or anything but I still do it.

SeekBytes · April 2015

Hello EDouble.
Where you already familiar with Firewalls and Cisco security in general?
In the CCNA R/S is not covered there is not much about security.
Also, have you received any guidance during the first few days or you were left on your own.

Kind Regards.

E Double U · April 2015

I was not familiar with Cisco security until I joined the SOC. I had spent four years in the NOC and got the CCNA. Then I went to config/migrations for 18 months before I went to the SOC. Since all three of those positions were with the same company it was easier for me to get in than an outsider because the team knew me and the SOC manager could look up my performance reviews. A number of people in the SOC, including the manager, came from the same NOC that I started in.

I was hired to do the (very) basic threat monitoring, but one of the senior engineers asked if I wanted to get security training really early in the morning which I agreed to. He drew a network diagram that included a firewall with interfaces going to the DMZ, inside, and outside networks. He showed me where the routers, switches, and proxies were then explained to me how everything worked (I drew the same diagram during my bank security interview which impressed the CISO). I learned how the equipment worked by grabbing change requests for firewalls (Cisco ASA and Check Point) and proxies (Bluecoat). I was also sent to official Check Point training. Those eight months in the SOC laid my security foundation. The 5+ years of networking were very helpful as well.

SeekBytes · August 2015

Nice story. I see that you also have other important certifications in the field like the CCNP Security, the CCSA and the CISSP. Nice rounded profile backed up with experience in the field.

Congrats.

What job did you land as CCNA certified and how what competences where required

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