What is CCNA Security Certification?

The CCNA Security Certification is a credential awarded to IT professionals who pass Cisco's Certified Network Associate (CCNA) exam. The CNNA security credential demonstrates to employers that the holder is competent and qualified to handle a variety of network security tasks. The exam is exclusively offered through the network solutions giant Cisco.

What is the Purpose of the CCNA Certification?

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Security credential provides the hands-on skills and knowledge required to install, troubleshoot and monitor security networks and peripheral equipment. Those who earn the Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) Security exam demonstrate to employers that the candidates hold the necessary knowledge to become network security specialists and security administrators. Employers prefer to hire candidates who hold this credential because it guarantees quality work and competency. The CCNA Security credential is a prerequisite for becoming a Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP).

CCNA Certification Benefits

The CCNA Security credential offers IT professionals a set career path in network security. The credential allows experienced networking professionals to enhance their careers with new security skills and knowledge. It acts as a stepping stone for IT professionals who want to increase their CCNA-level skill set in order to become entry-level security specialists. It helps IT, professionals, whether they are new or experienced, to differentiate themselves in the competitive marketplace and achieve career success. It offers career stability that allows IT professionals to focus on a specialization area and it helps them prepare for CCSP certification.

Career Options

Research shows that the most common jobs associated with the CCNA security credential are network engineer, specialist, manager and administrator. Additional jobs include systems engineer, a security analyst, and security engineer. Network security technicians design physical security solutions based on client requirements and technology limitations. Their duties include data validation, process documentation, drawing markups, device counts and bill of materials development. Their scope of work development will vary based on client's needs and project requirements. They may be asked to help security teams with researching and recommending new security that addresses specific threat concerns. Forensic data breach analysis and malware reverse engineering are advanced duties of senior security technicians.

Recommended Skills

Network security specialists will have a bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering and security. They usually have at least five years' experience with digital and physical network security. They must have the demonstrated ability to research and create presentations on the planning and implementation of network security solutions. They need to have the writing skills in order to compose statements for vendors, clients, coworkers, and subcontractors. Network security technicians will need to have the ability to work independently when necessary to meet strict deadlines, but also collaboratively work with other network security and IT professionals.

When preparing for the CCNA Security Certification exam, candidates will need to understand the fundamentals of networks, routing, switching and security management. This means that they must understand network infrastructures, modern risks, router databases, hacking techniques and threat mitigation. They will also need to understand network scaling, connectivity, and maintenance. A two-year degree in IT or network security will prepare students for this exam and career.

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