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 side. Instead, Cisco offers several different Security Associate certifications.
The good news is that youve got a lot of security specializations from which to choose; the bad news is that youve got a lot of choices! In choosing a specialization, take some time to choose a certification that will be of practical use to you in your current position or in your dream job.
One of the more popular Security Associate certifications is the Cisco VPN Specialist certification. 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.
What should you expect on these exams? On the SND exam, expect to be grilled on basic security features on both switches and routers, as well...