Securing Your Future And Your Network WIth Cisco's CCSP Certification by Chris Bryant
You don't need me to tell you that security is the #1 concern in today's networks. With that in mind, your career path must include some security certifications, or you will be left behind. Cisco's Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) certification demands a candidate be well-rounded and... Besides the difficultly we've all come to expect from a Cisco exam, this five-exam path covers every major aspect of network security (from Cisco's viewpoint, anyway!) You must hold a valid CCNA certification to earn your CCSP.

How To Become A Cisco VPN Specialist by Chris Bryant
There's quite an emphasis on security in today's networks, and that's reflected in Cisco's certification tracks. Cisco offers a CCIE Security track and the Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) intermediate-level certification, but there is no real equivalent to the CCNA on the security... This two-exam track consists of a Securing Cisco Network Devices (SND, 642-551) exam and a Cisco Secure Virtual Private Networks (CSVPN, 642-511) exam. ... To earn the Cisco VPN Specialist exam, you must hold a valid CCNA certification.

The Future Of Computer Certification Exams by Chris Bryant
The format and difficulty of computer certification exams is constantly changing. When I took my first certification exam (Novell NetWare 3.1x CNA, January 1997), there was no such thing as a simulator question, and my practical skills really were not tested. ... To earn the world's most difficult technical certification, the CCIE, the candidate must first pass a rigorous 100-question qualification exam, and must then pass a practical lab exam. ... There would be more overhead for Cisco with this kind of testing, since lab equipment and lab proctors would be needed, but the already-prized...

The Hidden Value Of Computer Certifcations by Chris Bryant
The web is covered with stories regarding the benefits of professional computer certification, and most of them are backed up with salary surveys and the like. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with making more money and having better job prospects, there’s one benefit of certification that... Secondly, I’m referring to the hope that the certification you earn was earned by taking a demanding exam. ... If you buy one of these things and happen to skate by a certification exam, did you learn anything?

CCNA Certification Exam Training: Doing Your Best On Test Day by Chris Bryant
CCNA certification is tough enough without you making it tough on yourself. There are a few simple things you can do that will increase your exam day performance greatly. Let's take a look at these simple yet powerful techniques. First, get plenty of sleep the night before. ... Just doing these few simple things before your exam will help you get the result you want after the exam - the magic letters "CCNA" behind your name. ... Before you start the CCNA exam, you'll be asked if you want to take a tutorial showing you how to answer the various types of questions.

Cisco CCNP Certification Training: What's New On The BSCI 642-901 Exam by Chris Bryant
CCNP certification is getting a new look at the end of 2006. The BSCI and BCMSN exams are being updated, and the CIT and BCRAN exams are being retired. Let's take a look at what to expect from the new BSCI exam. According to Cisco's exam blueprint - admittedly a very broad blueprint at this time... The addition of these two topics will make an already demanding Cisco certification exam that much tougher, but this is a great change for the exam and for the candidate. ... It's obvious that Cisco has raised the bar for CCNP certification, and earning this important Cisco certification will in...

Cisco CCNA Certification and Career Path by Natalie Aranda
Following your computer training toward your career path, you can go for the CCNA certification (Cisco Certified Network Associate), which indicates a foundation in the apprentice knowledge of networking. CCNA training allows you the ability for installations and operation of LAN, WAN, and... CCNA training online focuses the coverage of Cisco router configuration procedures, mapped to exam objectives in order to prepare you for Cisco Exam 640-80, in partnership with major universities and colleges offering as well CCNA certification.

How To Earn Cisco's Firewall Specialist Certification by Chris Bryant
Security is a hot topic in today's networks, and will continue to be for a long time to come. With that in mind, you must consider adding a Cisco security certification to your resume and firewall skills to your skill set. It's quite a jump from the CCNA to the CCSP (Cisco Certified Security... The only prerequisite for this certification is that you must hold a valid CCNA certification. ... For the first exam, you can take either the 642-551 SND (Securing Cisco Network Devices) or 642-501 SECUR (Securing Cisco IOS Networks).

Cisco CCNA Cerfication: Should You Take The One-Exam or Two-Exam Approach? by Chris Bryant
Cisco CCNA Certification: Should you take the one-exam or the two-exam approach? One question I’m often asked by CCNA candidates is whether to take the “one big exam”, or take the two separate exams required by Cisco to achieve the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam. ... If the candidate is a relative newcomer to networking, or hasn’t taken a certification exam before, I recommend they take the two-exam approach. ... Since the ICND exam goes into more detail, it’s generally considered the more difficult exam.

Cisco CCNA Certification: Becoming A Truly Valuable CCNA by Chris Bryant
I've been active in the Cisco Certification track for four years, working my way from the CCNA to the coveted Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert title, and during that time I've conducted job interviews and casual conversations with hundreds of CCNAs and CCNA candidates. ... I know some people brag about being able to pass the CCNA exam without really understanding binary math. ... As you progress through the Cisco certification ranks, you'll be glad you started using these at the CCNA level. ... I know the trap well; you can't get experience until you get a CCNA, and you can't get a CCNA...