I should have been clearer. I took the beta this morning and was
looking for any final prep input.
I also thought it was a good test, but it's my field so I would. I
agree with most all of what Messrs. Moore and Larrieu have said, and
thanks for the info. I really can't improve much on Mr. Larrieu's
account, but I had a few thoughts.
I've been taking classes and tests on the Routing and Switching track
and I think this security certification will be more focused, not to say
narrowly focused, the blueprint shows that has a moderate range. I
think you could pass this test with either some experience and some
studying or a lot of studying. It has security-related questions that
range across most of the R&S areas and others. Not exotic, it focuses
on the areas a network security practitioner will encounter most days.
It's not a vendor-neutral test, so you can figure out the products that
are most substantial and widespread.
I enjoyed prepping for this one more than others. I found some new (to
me) good books and since I'll probably be going for the Security lab
test in six months or so, I'll get too spend some more time with them.
The blueprint reading list for books looks like a little overkill to
me. The one that I'll spend the most time with is probably the Cisco
IOS 12.0 Network Security. The new books that I like for prep are
Internet Security Protocols by Uyless Black, which is vendor-neutral,
concise and provides balance. I also liked Don Lee's Enhanced IP
Services (good read, significant material, but perhaps not essential).
For the General Networking subjects, the CCIE Exam Cram is a good review
and Dilip Naik's Internet Standards and Protocols is also valuable. I'm
looking forward to the Cisco Press port of their MCNS course manual that
is scheduled to be out in December.
I'm not sure I passed it, but I am sure it was $50 and two hours very
well spent. I think that this certification will be a substantial
contribution to increasing the professionalization of Network Security.
Maybe I'm just hoping.
Arthur Stewart CISSP, MCSE, MCNE, CNX
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