After A+... where do I go next...

[Tron626]

I am studying for my Comptia A+ Certification. I'm very excited... but looking at where most of you guys are with your education... where do I started? I'm interested in networking and Security... any advice! This site really motivates me!

 

[lerdalt]

I'd say you can't go wrong with at least getting your CCNA certification. Pretty much any of the Cisco certs want you to start out with it. Specifically and of the Associate or Professional level Cisco certs, you'll have to have it anymore. After that, I know a few others in here that could respond on the security side far better than I can.

From a networking side, probably have a couple of options, either the CCNP, or Design. Both would be good to have, but both will benefit you more with some experience to back them up.

 

[Tron626]

lerdalt,

Thanks, for the advice... Do you think it is okay to take the CCNA exam after the A+ exam or do I need to get more certifications before CCNA certification. Thanks!

 

[lerdalt]

Even though the CCNA is still considered by some to be that "entry level" certification. I've still known plenty of very experienced techs that weren't able to pass on their first attempt. But I don't think you need more certifications before the CCNA. Probably don't even need the A+.

 

[iolair]

Looking around at job postings, if you've got a CCNA, you've got an advantage. I am studying for the CCNA right now, and I was just remembering that the size of my current CCNA book is about the same size that my first CNE (Novell) book was. I wouldn't consider the CCNA an "entry level" cert anymore. Maybe 8 years ago it was.

CCNA Security is a good cert, if you like security.

Iolair MacWalter
Network Engineer

 

[burtsbees]

I agree with iolair---CCNA Security, but you may want to consider CompTIA Security+ before that, to get a decent foundation of network security topics. The Cisco Security track covers a lot that is necessary knowledge for networking, so just the Security direction will enable you to be very knowledgeable in networking, and even at a greater level in some topics (VPNs, access-lists, CBAc/FIREWALL FEATURE SETS IN ROUTERS, CRYPTO, just turned off CAPS...ewps..., IPS, and packet details/breakdowns, as well as going into some detail about routing/routing protocols, and switching (a lot).

One thing at a time, though! Other very interesting certs (IMHO), which I plan on pursuing (AFTER passing the CCIE Sec lab!) are Ethical Hacker and CISSP.

Good luck! Networking/IT/IS Security Professionals are always in demand in the marketplace, and that demand grows progressively, directly proportional to advancement in existing and new IT/IS/Networking technologies---one reason in particular is that whenever an improvement of an existing technology, or especially the establishment of new technologies, there's always some 15 year-old reclusive, always-stays-inside, easily-sunburned, small-animal-injuring deathly-afraid-of-bugs-yet-collects-them-in-an-OCD-nerdy-way, glue-eating, 82-pounds-soaking-wet, will-never-graduate-from-virgin-status, lack-of-bass-in-the-voice, mom's-clothes-wearing, dilusional-about-social-status, klutz, point-and-click-wannabe-programmer, Yahoo-chatroom-booter, hopefully-will-never-reproduce, human-gene-pool-embarrassment, future-Darwin-Awards-candidate script-kiddie little $h1T from Switzerland or China that finds some vulnerability, exploits it, and does something (that severely lacks creativity) to thousands of systems around the world, hoping to get a girlfriend (with whom he would be clueless as to what to do, especially if she had little-to-no clothes on). Poor kid...

So, I guess you see how passionate (or obsessive, both of which are good qualities in this case )I am about security.

Good luck in your endeavors, home-slice.

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