CCNA Blog

The Cisco CCNA Security certification is recognized throughout the networking and security industries as an indication of a candidate’s knowledge of and ability to work with Cisco technology. Achieving this certification requires passing the Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security (IINS) exam. Michael Watkins is an expert on this exam, having co-authored the CCNA Security Official Exam Certification Guide. In this interview, Michael explains his best practices for preparing for and passing the IINS exam. Michael is a full-time senior technical instructor with SkillSoft Corp., with over 13 years of network management, training and consulting experience. For more information, check out our chapter excerpt from his book, as well as a collection of questions designed to test your knowledge in this quiz.

• How important is having CCNA certification to IT professionals? Why should they pursue it?
• Have there been any recent changes to the CCNA exam, to adapt to changing technologies?
• What do you think is the best way to prepare for the CCNA exam?
• Are there any particularly tricky or difficult sections of the exam? How would you advise test takers to tackle these areas?
• From your extensive work experience with network management, what advice would you have for aspiring network managers looking to succeed with Cisco certification?
• Are there any supplementary resources that you would recommend to test takers and IT professionals looking for more information on the Cisco Security certification?

You can read the whole article on searchnetworkingchannel.com.

Robin Lee :: Nov.14.2008 :: Articles And Tutorials :: No Comments »

For the past 5 years I’ve been that lone hero in the back room.  Monitoring servers, measuring performance, and fixing errors all to keep a few computers running with high availability.  It has been an interesting road and I’ve become an expert at the Windows Server enviroment and I’m not to shabby with the Linux enviroment either.

However, there’s one major frustration I have with working in the systems environment and that is the scope of the job.  I’m constantly asked if I can write a program, create a new object oriented database, create web page graphics, configure several different brands of switches and routers, etc.  Well I’m sure you get my point; the Network Administrator position in most company’s eyes is that an around everything IT related job.

Although it’s fun to have something different everyday it doesn’t allow me to develop a very unique skill set that’s worth a lot (I want to start a side IT consulting company for a supplemental income).  Because of this I decided that my general Bachelors degree in computer science isn’t enough. I needed a certification but I wanted one that’d change my roll from that all to general network administrator.  I had a few choices, but I decided the best would be networking.  I’m not talking about getting two computers to play well together.  I’m referring to the links that you see going from businesses to ISP’s or B2B, etc.  This is a very technical field and requires a very specialized skill set.  It was exactly what I wanted, something that I could learn and then update once a year rather than once every 3 months.  This field also put me in a great place to have alternate career paths later on when I’m ready for a change.   I could easily add a few things and become a network design professional, a security professional, or a specialized project manager.

So what’s the plan now?  Well first things first, I need to get my certifications.  I’ll start off with my CCNA and probably late this year or early next year move toward my CCNP.  I’ll probably stay in that general Network Administrator’s job for another 2-3 years while I gain actual experience taking side projects at night or weekends.

Article From ehazen’s Blog

Robin Lee :: Nov.14.2008 :: Articles And Tutorials :: No Comments »

Listen to an interview with Sanjay Mehta, Portfolio Manager for Cisco as he explains why the new CCNA Wireless certification is a great way to validate your skills if you’re passionate about wireless technology.

Interviewer: Rachel Medanic
Download: CCNAWireless_Podcastfinal3.mp3 (4.7 MB)

Robin Lee :: Nov.09.2008 :: Articles And Tutorials :: No Comments »

Kristen Cianci

Job Title and Responsibilities: Network Specialist for the State of Connecticut University System

Certifications Held: Cisco CCNA®

Up Next: Kristen plans on obtaining her CCIE R&S® is currently in the process of recertifying for the CCNP.

Quote: “I truly enjoy the troubleshooting aspect of networking. The challenge of finding a problem and fixing it is a thrill to me…I love technology, it’s a passion.”

Back when hardware upgrades meant adding a CD-ROM drive, soldering new circuits onto motherboards or installing a mouse, Kristen Cianci could be found doing just that. She was a single mom with three little ones, working in her father’s computer shop as a secretary. When the shop got behind, she was shown how to do simple upgrades and repairs. She found herself troubleshooting Windows workgroups, supporting small networks and soon moved into field service work. It was 1993, and her IT career was off and running.

Kristen first became aware of Cisco while working for a local municipality doing WAN upgrades on Cisco routers. She was a full time professional and active mother, and had no time left for formal classroom training. As a personal challenge, she earned her CCNA and CCNP through diligent self-study, peer mentorship, and practice, practice, practice.

“I truly enjoy the troubleshooting aspect of networking,” Kristen explained. “The challenge of finding a problem and fixing it is a thrill to me. I pursued a Cisco certification because they are the industry leader and all the gear I was upgrading to was Cisco equipment.”

Almost 15 years later, Kristen is a Network Specialist for the Connecticut State University System. She is responsible for fixing network outages, daily monitoring and maintenance, as well as a spearheading assigned networking projects.

“Working for the state government in higher education is different from a corporate environment,” she said. “I enjoy the fact that keeping the network up and trouble free directly benefits the students working on their education.”

While she has worked along side other Cisco professionals in the past, she is the only certified individual she is aware of amongst her peers or at work. “I have worked with CCIE’s on large projects in the past. Their presence is a huge benefit to any company. I learned a lot working alongside some great engineers.”

Kristen is a lifetime learner, always looking ahead and seeking self-improvement through education. “I would love to become a CCIE R&S,” she continued, “and to work for a large support company on larger networks. In addition to troubleshooting, I find security and forensics especially interesting. I love technology, it’s a passion.”

Infomation From: https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/docs/DOC-3236

Robin Lee :: Oct.21.2008 :: Articles And Tutorials :: No Comments »

So you want to get your CCNA and you need to buy a router for your CCNA home lab? Now the question is which router should you get? I have been in your shoes and know when you are just starting out, it is tough to make sense of all the different models of Cisco Routers available. The good news is there are a lot of good options available to get a good CCNA router for a fair price.

I recommend getting a Cisco 2611 Router or a Cisco 2621 Router because they have to two Copper ports instead of one and offer the most training flexibility. If the cost isn’t much different, go for the 2621 because it offers 2 10/100 Ethernet ports and has 128MB of memory versus the 2611 that has 2 10Mb ports with 64MB of memory. Don’t forget to buy 2 routers as most of the CCNA Labs require two routers. You could also get 3 routers, but from my experience, you will rarely actually need 3 routers to practice for your CCNA.

Another issue that comes into play is the IOS. If you can get a router with 12.4 already installed, you are way ahead of the game. Remember, the only legal way you can get a copy of the IOS is to buy a Cisco Smartnet contract for your router. If worse comes to worse, look for 12.3, but do your best to avoid 12.2. While it is a solid IOS for production, the new CCNA really focuses on the newer 12.4 version and some commands may be different from what you are learning.

This recommendation is for building a CCNA Home Lab. If you plan on building a CCNP Home Lab, then you should check back later for a post about which router you should buy for CCNP. The great part is even though the routers for CCNP are more expensive, if you buy them while working on your CCNA, you can use them for both certifications.

Also, if you have the money, you may be better off buying a complete CCNA Home Lab. You can usually find a complete CCNA Lab Kit including 2 or more routers and 1 or more Cisco Switches. Just keep in mind what I said about the routers.

Article Posted By Atomm

Robin Lee :: Oct.08.2008 :: Articles And Tutorials :: 1 Comment »

Be careful what companies you give your certification numbers to.

We recently had a case where a partner company was decertified for multiple violations of the partner agreement. They attempted to dodge this disciplinary action by re-registering under a different name. Some of the key tools that made that possible were the CCIE numbers of two part-time employees. Since it appeared that those employees were willing participants, we banned them and put a block on their certifications.

Further investigation revealed that the part-time employees were just pawns, innocent bystanders who did not know their certification numbers were being used to intentionally violate the Cisco Partner Agreement. The block on their profiles has since been lifted, but only after weeks of nervous anticipation, as they waited to see if they would be banned for life from any and all Cisco certifications.

Lesson 1 from this incident is to vet potential employers you will be giving your cert number to as best as possible. As with anything of value, your cert number is not something you want to hand over to just anyone. And while you won’t always be able to predict that an employer will become unscrupulous down the road, due diligence on your part may help weed out some companies and will at least send a message to others that you do not hand over your cert number lightly.

Lesson 2 is that, when you leave a company, you make sure to take your cert number with you. Update your information in the candidate database just as you would a new email or postal address, being very clear about when you moved on and when the old company should have stopped using your number.

Posted by Cris Cohen, From Cisco Learning Network.

Robin Lee :: Sep.03.2008 :: Articles And Tutorials :: No Comments »

Many people understand the value of the Cisco certifications in the industry and want to know where to start to obtain their Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) which:

“The Cisco CCNA network associate certification validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN. This new curriculum includes basic mitigation of security threats, introduction to wireless networking concepts and terminology, and performance-based skills. This new curriculum also includes (but is not limited to) the use of these protocols: IP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay, Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2),VLANs, Ethernet, access control lists (ACLs)”

You can take one exam (640-802 CCNA) that is 90 Minutes and 50-60 questions.
-OR-
You can take two exams, The ICND Part I test (640-822) that is 90 Minutes and 50-60 questions as well as ICND Part II Test (640-816) that is 75 minutes and 45-55 questions.

I recommend taking the single test to save money and time. There is also a great preparation page located here: http://forums.cisco.com/eforum/servlet/PrepCenter?page=main

After you decide you want to take the test, there are a few steps people can take to ensure you follow through. The biggest hurdle for the CCNA exam is execution of taking and passing the exam, so these steps help ensure your success:

1. Commit to the exam and get the support of your family and friends.
2. Set a date for taking the test!!!
3. Create a study plan around that date with set milestones that allow you to cover all the material by your test date.
4. Use one solid study guide source (like an updated Cisco Press Book) to use and reference other sources when needed. There are so many sources out there, that you can easily get rat holed with deeper and deeper material. Using one will you help you stay on track and test your knowledge.
5. Make sure your material is for the updated CCNA test. There were previous versions.
6. Use some kind of practice test to gauge your progress.
7. Find some way to practice basic commands on gear (checking connectivity, cdp, nat, etc..things you see mentioned to ensure you can do them if you are given a hands on simulation.)
8. Make sure you are FAST at subnetting by hand. There are several quick and easy tables you can use to work on this and it just takes practice to get it down.
9. Look for a study group or buddy to go through this process with. It makes it easier.

I think those are some good guide lines to get started.

So, for now, I wish you good luck with all your studying and hope you all get your CCNA!

Article posted by Nicole Johnson

Robin Lee :: Aug.16.2008 :: Articles And Tutorials :: No Comments »

A question I consistently get from my CCNA students when I teach a Cisco networking associate certification class is: What will I be expected to do in a new position working with computer networks.

Completion of the CCNA exam gives you a credential, but it doesn’t give you experience. While you do get lots of book learning and some hands-on troubleshooting as you prepare for an exam, you will have a much better idea of what to expect to face in a new network administrator position if you have had some real-world experience.

In fact, I tell my students that they should try to get as much hands-on experience with Cisco routers and switches as possible before considering a job in networking, and it really does help in preparing for the exam.

Students expecting to break into the networking gig once they pass their CCNA should also be prepared to encounter challenges in security, a fundamental area of networking. Additionally, network administrators are more likely now to address issues in two newer technology areas: wireless and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Knowledge in these three areas is critical if you want to stand out among other job applicants and hit the ground running in a new job.

On the wireless front, understanding the 802.11 specification is key–the differences between 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11n protocols. While there’s a chapter dedicated to wireless in the CCNA prep books, getting a solid understanding of these technologies will help you in any networking job, especially since wireless and networking go hand in hand at many companies.

VoIP is another technology area that you should understand pretty well for a new networking job. Phone systems aren’t what they used to be. Now phones are part of the network and integrate with data as a critical part of any business. Understanding VoIP before you get there will make a new networking job that much easier. Understanding Cisco’s VoIP and unified communications offerings will definitely give you an advantage.

Security is more critical than ever! The more you know, the better. Preparing for the CCNA, you will learn the basics of password and general security processes; on the job, you’ll be expected to understand security at a significantly deeper level—particularly if the organization you join has regulatory compliance requirements or is a target for hacking, for example. The U.S. government, for instance, has to deal with over 3 million hacker attacks per day. While you may not work for an organization that has to deal with this kind of onslaught, you will likely still be expected to take the necessary measures to secure the company’s network and data assets. Cisco has some excellent resources to help you; check out this site for other study materials and supplemental info.

These are just a few of the topics that you’ll be expected to know on top of the CCNA basics. I’ll talk about these things in greater detail in my next few posts. Until then, do your best!

Article posted by Victor R Garza, from Cisco Learning Home.

Robin Lee :: Aug.14.2008 :: Articles And Tutorials :: No Comments »

Cisco offers four levels of career certification for anyone looking to enter the IT profession: Entry, Associate, Professional and Expert.

The global community of Cisco-certified professionals numbers just over 1 million professionals, with 20,000 of those being Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE-certified). Expert certification level includes 5 different CCIE certifcations, plus CCDE (Cisco Certified Design Expert).

Entry Level Certifications

CCENT (Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician) certification validates the skills required for entry-level network support positions, the starting point for many successful careers in networking.

Candidates should have the knowledge and skill to install, operate and troubleshoot a small enterprise branch network, including basic network security.

CCENT certification is the first step toward achieving CCNA, which covers medium size enterprise branch networks with more complex connections.

Associate Level Certifications

The first step in general Cisco Career Certifications begins either with CCENT as an interim step to Associate level, or directly with CCNA (Cisco Certified Networking Associate) for network operations or CCDA (Cisco Certified Design Associate) for network design.

In June 2008, three new CCNA certifications were launched to address market demand for skills in the area of voice, wireless and security. CCNA is a prerequisite to a three of these exciting paths into networking. Think of the Associate level as the apprentice or foundation level of networking certification.

>> CCNA Security CCNA Voice CCNA Wireless

Professional Level

The profesional level in general Cisco Career Certifications such as [Cisco Certified Networking Professional CCNP (Cisco Certified Networking Professional), CCSP (Cisco Certified Security Professional), CCDP (Cisco Certified Networking Professional), and CCIP (Cisco Certified Internetworking Professional), each fall within a different career paths (or tracks) for meeting varying employment needs. Think of this level as the advanced, or journeyman, level of certification that shows expertise with networking foundations.

Expert Level Certifications

This is the highest level of achievement for network professionals, certifying an individual as an expert or master in IT. For over ten years, CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert), has identified networking professionals with the highest level of expertise. Less than three percent of all Cisco certified professionals earn their CCIE.

The CCIE certification has 5 areas of focus including:

• Routing and Switching
• Security
• Service Provider
• Storage Networking
• Voice

Article From: https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/docs/DOC-2270

Robin Lee :: Aug.10.2008 :: Articles And Tutorials :: No Comments »

The new Cisco CCNA Security certification can help you verify the specialized security skills that are in high demand among employers.

Not sure if the CCNA Security certification is the right path for your career? Read on for information and resource links that will help in your decision making.

1. What industry trends motivated Cisco to create the CCNA Security certification?

Cisco created the CCNA Security certification to offer new IT professionals a rapid path to specialization in security as well as to offer experienced networking professionals a path to enhancing their careers with new security knowledge and skills. Security skills are one of the highest-demand areas in the networking job market. IT organizations need staff with the specialized knowledge and skills to administer devices and applications in a security infrastructure, recognize network vulnerabilities, and detect security threats.

2. What do employers say about their needs for people with this type of knowledge and skill?

More than any other area, security and risk management skills are some of the most highly sought after skills across the network, and demand is continuing to grow. Within five years, dedicated security roles are expected to exist in 80 percent of the companies studied versus today’s dedicated security role, which exists in only 46 percent of the companies surveyed.

3. Where will the CCNA Security certification be the most relevant?

With the CCNA Security, you’ll be ready for specialized jobs such as network security specialist, security administrator, and security support engineer.

Through the CCNA Security training, you will gain an overview of security challenges and solutions, and be able to install, monitor, and troubleshoot Cisco security solutions to secure a small branch office network. Cisco IOS security features on Cisco routers and switches are deployed using both graphical user interface tools (GUIs such as the Cisco Security Device Manager or SDM) and command line interfaces (CLIs). You will also understand the necessity of a comprehensive security policy and how it affects the posture of the network.

4. Is the CCNA Security path right for you?

The choice to pursue a networking specialist or generalist path is an important career decision. Your interests, the jobs available in your area, and other factors will likely influence your choice.

Your potential salary is another important factor. Industry surveys show that IT specialists receive higher compensation.

TCPmag.com reports in a 2006-2007 survey that workers holding a Cisco CCSP certification had an average annual salary of nearly US$94,000.

All of the CCNA concentrations help you to distinguish yourself in the highly competitive world of IT networking. CCNA Security takes full advantage of your current CCNA certification as a foundation, while specifically preparing you for new career opportunities in network security.

CCNA remains the certification of choice for individuals who want to demonstrate a solid foundation in core routing and switching skills, and then later advance as network generalists.

5. Will the CCNA Security concentration lead to higher-level certifications?

The CCNA Security certification is the prerequisite for the Cisco CCSP professional-level certification. A CCSP certification is excellent preparation for attaining the highest Cisco security designation, the Cisco CCIE Security certification. However, the CCIE Security certification has no prerequisites.

6. If I already have a CCNA certification, what’s my best path to becoming a Security Specialist?

With the introduction of the CCNA concentrations, Cisco has changed the prerequisites and paths to higher-level certifications. To become a security specialist, one possible path is shown below:

7. Are there any prerequisites for the CCNA Security certification?

Holding the CCNA certification is required before you can earn the CCNA Security certification. You may take one or more CCNA concentration exams without retaking original CCNA exams. Through November 17, 2011, the CCNA + SND exam from the CCSP certification will be accepted as a pre-requisite for CCSP in addition to CCNA Security to accommodate those in process or starting their CCSP.

8. Is any training available or required for the CCNA Security certification?

Training for all new CCNA concentrations is available through Learning Solutions Partners and Learning Partners.

As of mid-2008, instructor-led classroom training courses are only available through Cisco Learning Partners. For CCNA Security, the recommended training is Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security (IINS), a five-day classroom course with labs that simulate real-world scenarios.

Cisco Press will offer corresponding products for each CCNA concentration. In addition to their best-selling exam certification guides, Cisco Press will offer digital quick reference guides and other online materials to help you prepare for the CCNA Security exam. 

9. What are the details about the CCNA Security course and exam?

Only one exam is required for the CCNA Security certification: Cisco 640-553 IINS. To prepare for the exam, the suggested IINS training course covers network security principles, perimeter security, LAN/SAN/voice/endpoint security, Cisco IOS firewalls, Cisco IOS intrusion protection systems (IPS), and site-to-site VPNs. In-classroom labs enhance the learning experience.

You will develop skills for installation, troubleshooting, and monitoring of network devices to maintain integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data and devices and develop competency in the technologies that Cisco uses in its security infrastructure.

10. Where can I get more information about the CCNA Security concentration?

Technical requirements and information about the CCNA Security can be found here on the Cisco Learning Network.

Article from: https://cisco.hosted.jivesoftware.com/docs/DOC-2328

Robin Lee :: Aug.04.2008 :: Articles And Tutorials :: No Comments »