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CCNA Security certification, accent on required exams to pass for this certification

Certification: Cisco CCNA Security - Cisco Certified Network Associate Security

Certification Overview

Cisco CCNA certifications are becoming reputed all around the world. This is mainly due the certified professionals who are continuously serving their organizations with excellent performance. That is why; employers are looking for something extra in the employees before hiring. A professional degree adds a lot of value to the CV of an individual. Network professionals are securing a high ranked job in a reputed organization because of getting a CCNA certification. CCNA Security certification looks to develop and implement security strategies over networks to keep business secure from all kinds of risks involved.

Who can do this certification

Network professionals who want to work in the field of security must get themselves certified with a CCNA Security certification.

Benefits

A CCNA security certified professional enjoys a lot of benefits. He can secure a good position from the beginning in an organization. This means he will have a higher salary than other colleagues with same educational qualification. Furthermore, the professional will have the skills needed to manage network security in a big organization. Managing security in a large organization is not easy because of different kinds of threats that are involved. However, the certified professionals are able to demonstrate a wide range of competencies, helping them to keep the network environment secure.

Associated Exam

Students have to appear in a single CCNA security exam: Cisco IOS Network Security (IINS). After passing the exam, certificates are handed to the professionals. The CCNA security exam code is 640-554 IINS.

Prerequisite

Any certification on Cisco CCENT, CCNA Routing and Switching or CCIE Certification may be a prerequisite.

Examination Overview

Candidates before appearing in the exam must manage the resources needed. These resources then should be used to ensure that the preparation is totally up to the mark. The CCNA security practice exam facilities online will help the students in giving mock exams on a regular basis. This makes sure that the students develop the mentality of giving examinations before appearing in the main exam.

The course content of CCNA security exam is:

  • Securing Cisco routers
  • Implementing AAA mechanisms on Cisco routers
  • Mitigating threats to Cisco routers and networks
  • Implementing secure network management
  • Mitigating Common Layer 2 attacks
  • Cisco IOS firewall feature set using SDM
  • Installing the Cisco IOS IPS feature set using SDM
  • Installing site-to-site VPNs on Cisco Routers using SDM

The syllabus emphasize on the security principles and basics of a large organization. Network security is a vital issue these days with the emergence of many hackers, spammers, social engineers, phishing site etc. The syllabus looks to build the basics of security in an organization. This first involves securing the devices of an organization that are connected to network. The routers and switches are secured at first as they are connected to networks and strict security measures are taken so that they do not leak classified company information. The syllabus also has a section that deals with effectively blocking a special type of threat, known as layer 2 attack. The network engineer will have the sufficient knowledge to design and implement security mechanisms for preventing layer 2 attacks in the organization. Other protection measures like firewall, antivirus which provide protection against spyware, malware, worms, Trojans etc. are also taught in a certain section of the syllabus. Terminologies like the IPS technology, VPN network are introduced in the later parts of the syllabus. The last sections deal with the role of firewall, IPS technology and the functionality of IKE protocol.

Some parts of the course content require practical lab training. There are plenty of lab training courses provided by reputed institutions. However, many online training centers provide video lab training tutorials which also help the candidates in building up a foundation of the practical training required to pass in the CCNA security exam certification.

Validity of the certification

The certificate adds value in your CV for 3 years. However, to recertify, you need to take one of the following steps:

  1. Pass an associate level exam
  2. Pass any current professional level exam
  3. Pass any current Cisco Specialist exam
  4. Pass any current CCIE Written exam
  5. Pass any current CCDE Written exam or CCDE Practical exam
  6. Pass the Cisco certified architect exam.

Expert Review

Cisco is determined to improve the standards of the education system by collaborating with experienced institutions. Furthermore, the curriculum is becoming difficult which ensures that the professionals are trained in an efficient way. Efforts have been made to link the course content with the things going out there in the industry. This way, the curriculum could be made to perfectly suit the standards in the industry.

Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn,

Vice president and general manager,Learning@Cisco, Melbourne, Australia