How to prepare for CCNA Security exam?
Certification: Cisco CCNA Security - Cisco Certified Network Associate Security
How to prepare for CCNA Security exam?
The Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNA Security) certification is an associate-level certification exam. Holders of such a certification demonstrate the ability and knowledge required to develop a network security infrastructure, the ability to recognize and neutralize threats and vulnerabilities to the network. The topics of the exam emphasize on the core security technologies, including their installation and troubleshooting, mostly of CISCO security products.
About the exam
The exam requires as a prerequisite any valid CISCO CCENT certification or a valid CISCO CCNA in Routing and Switching, or any CCIE level certification. To achieve the certification, an applicant must take the 640-554 Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security (IINS) exam, associated with the CCNA Security certification. The exam lasts for about 90 minutes and features 55 to 56 questions.
The exam tests the ability of the candidate to install, troubleshoot and monitor network devices to maintain integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the devices and data that develop competency in the technologies that CISCO uses.Certain knowledge of the latest CISCO products is advised, as they might be in the exam topics.
The exam can be taken either in English or Japanese. While there is no certain guarantee they will listen, if you do not want to take the exam in one of those languages, you can send an e-mail and contact CISCO to see if there is any way you can take the exam in a different language under certain arrangements. It probably won’t work, but hey, they’re not bad guys, at worst they’ll say something like “sorry that is not a service that we can provide”.
What skills do I need?
As said before, the exam tests a candidate's knowledge of securing Cisco routers and switches and their associated networks. As such it looks out for skills in both the practical setting up of both the hardware and software, and the competency in maintain the CISCO security infrastructure products.
So first off, you will need knowledge in the topics of the exam, namely VPN Technologies, CISCO IPS, CISCO Firewall Technologies, knowledge of common layer 2 attacks, IOS ACLs, AAA (authentication, authorization and accounting) on Cisco Devices, Security and Cisco routers, and other common security threats. The accent in on theoretical knowledge but some hands-on practice is not advised against. For more information on the exam topics, you can visit the main CISCO site here.
To put it bluntly the skills you require are: To discern and understand the different types of attacks on the security network; how to competently install, configure and troubleshoot CISCO Security Products and how to implement security protocols (AAA and ACLs). Other less relevant skills include the ability to operate a computer, and, maybe some actual entry-level+ job experience.
How do I prepare for the CCNA Security exam?
First off, if you haven’t already, visit the main CISCO site for the exam. Luckily Cisco is not stingy when it comes to prompting you with all the information you will need to take the exam straight on the site. Next, unless you are feeling quite confident, you should join the CISCO training course that was design especially to help candidates for any CCNA exams. While CISCO has quite a lot of training courses available, for the CCNA Security they recommend following the IINS (Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security). After that, if you have some more money to spend, you should visit the Cisco Bookstore, and browse their selection of additional resources. The next step would be to join the community. As a member of the wonderful and always friendly CISCO learning community, you will have access to some resources otherwise “restricted”, such as this Quick-learning module) , and most of all, you will be able to interact, and ask question of the community members. One you got familiar with the topics, you should try to get familiar with the question types. Follow the Exam Tutorial CISCO provides for the CCNA on their exam site, and while you are there be sure to read the current policies and requirements. If you haven’t already, review the syllabus, and otherwise click on all the links that CISCO provides in the “Train & Study” tab on their main site here. Even if there is no lab portion to this exam, unlike the other, more high-level exams, you should familiarize yourself to at least some of the CISCO hardware products. You do not need to buy them and tinker with them, but a short view over an on-line network hardware shop to check out all the toys CISCO has in store cannot hurt, plus, it will be easier to learn their individual use and name if you can see a picture of the product as well.
Once you feel you have prepared enough, you should take a test-run at the exam here. The exam also features the answer, along with the full explanation of why and when for each question. Take around five or six tests to see how you really do, and how fast you do. Five times may seem like a lot of work, but if you span out the work over a couple of days you should manage, it’s worth it. Then, if you feel confident enough, register for the exam, and good luck! You are now a candidate for a CCNA Security certification!
Conclusion
CISCO is one of the world’s leading networking, continually transforming how people connect, communicate and collaborate worldwide. As such, their certifications are internationally recognized, their graduates fully accredited in the work of network communications and security. Holders of such certifications benefit from the acknowledgement of their skill in the field of work, and so does their paychecks. And as the world looks for better and more secure networks, Cisco certified network engineers gain more and more recognition worldwide as some of the best. Welcome among them.