Overview of the Cisco Certification Process
In the network security market demand for qualified engineers vastly outpaces the supply. For this reason, many engineers consider migrating from routing/networking to network security. Remember that network security is simply security applied to networks. This sounds like an obvious concept, and it is actually a very important one if you are persuing your security certification. You must be very familiar with networking before you can begin to apply the security concepts. Although a previous Cisco certification is not required to begin the Cisco Security Certification process, it is a good idea to at least complete the Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) certification. The skill required to complete the CCNA certification will give you a solid foundation that you can expand into the network security field.The security certification is called the Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) certification and consists of the following exams:- CSPFA Cisco Secure Firewall Advanced642-521
- SECUR Securing Cisco IOS Networks (formerly MCNS)642-501
- CSVPN Cisco Secure Virtual Private Networks642-511
- CSIDS Cisco Secure Intrusion Detection System642-531
- CSI Cisco SAFE Implementation642-541
Taking the CSPFA Certification Exam
As with any Cisco certification exam, it is best to be thoroughly prepared before taking the exam. There is no way to determine exactly which questions are on the exam, so the best way to prepare is to have a good working knowledge of all subjects covered on the exam. Schedule yourself for the exam and be sure to be rested and ready to focus when taking the exam.
Tracking CCSP Status
You can track your certification progress by checking https://www.certmanager.net/~cisco_s/logi180. You will need to create an account the first time you log on to the site.
How to Prepare for an Exam
The best way to prepare for any certification exam is to use a combination of the preparation resources, labs, and practice tests. This guide has integrated some practice questions and labs to help you better prepare. If possible, try to get some hands-on time with the PIX Firewall. There is no substitute for experience, and it is much easier to understand the commands and concepts when you can actually see the PIX in action. If you do not have access to a PIX Firewall, a variety of simulation packages are available for a reasonable price. Last, but certainly not least, the Cisco website provides a wealth of information on the PIX Firewall and all of the products it interacts with. No single source can adequately prepare you for the CSPFA exam unless you already have extensive experience with Cisco products and a background in networking or network security. At a minimum, you will want to use this book combined with http://www.cisco.com/public/support/tac/home.shtml to prepare for this exam.
Assessing Exam Readiness
After completing a number of certification exams, I have found that you do not really know if you are adequately prepared for the exam until you have completed about 30 percent of the questions. At this point, if you are not prepared, it is too late. Be sure that you are preparing for the correct exam. This certification exam is CSPFA 3.0 and is a relatively new exam. The best way to determine your readiness is to work through the "Do I Know This Already?" portions of the book, the review questions, and the case studies/scenarios. It is best to work your way through the entire book unless you can complete each subject without having to do any research or look up any answers. |
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