CCNA - Ccsp

Author

Ccsp

miami_dude

2003-11-27, 11:54 pm

Is anyone preparing for CCSP??PLease tell me some good links for preparing for CCSP exam and which is the first exam that I shud take among the 5 CCSP exams.

Thanks a lot!!!

OHCCNP2003

2003-11-28, 1:31 am

I'm currently working on my CCSP. So far I have completed SECUR and CSPFA, which gives me my Firewall Specialist cert. I am currently working on CSIDS. Personally I would recommend that you start with the SECUR exam. I like to take the exams in order, and the PIX exam was very relevant to my work. I used books by Cisco Press and a really excellent book on PIX configuration by SYNGRESS - Cisco Security Specialists Guide to PIX Firewall. I really learned a lot from the SYNGRESS book. You can check out the security exams forum for links to free simulations and other stuff. The hardware needed to practice on for the CCSP courses isn't cheap. For the first two exams I was lucky enough to have a client with enough spare or retired hardware sitting around that I didn't have to buy anything to practice on. Not sure what I am going to do for the CSVPN course, the cheapest 3000 series concentrator costs a couple of grand.

miami_dude

2003-11-28, 6:11 am

I'm a student and I dont have any access to hardware.Doesnt CCSP has simulation softwares on which I can work.Do i need to work on real hardware.I dont have any prior experience to industry experience.I'm wondering will I be able to make my way thru CCSP.I'm even planning to take other security certifications like security+ and symentics security certification.
What do u recommend me.Can i get CCSP just by reading the Cisco press or do i've to spend lot of time working on the hardware in the industry for hands on practice.Is there no other alternative ...like some simulations???

Thanks a lot!!!

OHCCNP2003

2003-11-28, 7:41 pm

As to whether or not you can pass the exams using only study guides, I have no idea. Without any prior experience I believe it would be difficult, but who knows. Give it a try and let everyone know how it goes.

There is currently a post in the Cisco Security exams forum that has a link to some simulation software.

There are also a number of companies that specialize in selling time shares for Cisco equipment. Search for Cisco online training labs and you may find something that interests you.

I'm not a big fan of simulation software in general. It normally doesn't have the full array of commands available, and sometimes works very poorly. It is also sort of essential to be able to actulally connect the hardware, something a sim can never prepare you for. For the PIX and VPN specilizations, it seems to me that hands on is a big plus.

I guess it partly depends on what you intend to do after you get your CCSP. Since I work as a consultant, I see a lot of different scenarios. I do a fair number of initial installs as well as the usual fixes to impoperly configured hardware, so I try to practice configuring as many different scenarios as I can in order to better prepare myself for my job. Fortunately I have a lot of experienced co-workers to fall back on when things aren't going as well as they could be. Working as a employee for a single company is usually more about maintenance and less about planning and installation, although this certainly isn't always the case.

As for the Security+ cert, it appears to be extremely basic. If you get your CCSP and decide you want to specialize in security you might want to look at getting your CISSP, and of course the big enchilada, CCIE Security. The latter will most likely require you to get other Cisco certs and some time in the field in order to gain the knowledge necessary to pass the CCIE lab.

miami_dude

2003-11-29, 1:41 am

Thanks for your reply.It is greatly appreciated.

thanks a lot!!!

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