How Hard Is CCNA Security 

The CCNA Security is considered one of the best certifications in the network security field. If you want to enter the security field, this certification will get you in the right place. However, how hard is the CCNA Security exam and what does it take to pass it? 

CCNA Security is a certificate focused on Cisco network security and it is vendor-specific. However, the CCNA Security exam is quite difficult and it takes hands-on experience and seriously devoted study hours to pass it. It is not impossible, but it requires great study and practice discipline.

In this article, I will explain in detail what is CCNA Security and what objectives it covers. I will talk about the benefits and the job positions you might get once you get certified. I will also discuss what level of difficulty is CCNA Security and what is needed to pass it successfully and get the wanted certification.  

What Is CCNA Security? 

CCNA Security stands for Cisco Certified Network Associate and it provides advanced skills and knowledge in performing different network security functions. Once you get the certification, you are considered an expert in the security field, therefore you can manage and handle different networks and systems in terms of safety and security. The CCNA Security certification makes you an adequate candidate for each IT position that requires performing security tasks. 

Once you obtain your CCNA Security certification, you can install, troubleshoot, and supervise security networks and other equipment used with it. Also, you will be able to recognize threats and find a solution for possible cyberattacks in a company or organization. Your gained skills and experience enable you to handle security issues and manage network vulnerabilities that might occur within a system or network that is used in a certain place. 

The candidates who achieve the CCNA Security certification are adequate applicants for job positions, such as network security specialists and security administrators. This certificate is generally of significant importance, but employers certainly value it more, since they want to only hire people with credentials. Network security is a delicate field, therefore people with certifications will surely have an advantage when it comes to employing. 

Furthermore, it is important to mention that if you are going for the long run in the network security field, the CCNA Security is a prerequisite for becoming Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP). So, other than giving you great job opportunities, CCNA Security enables you to continue your study further. Even if you are not thinking about that now, you never know when you could change your mind and decide to go to the next level. 

CCNA Security Benefits

The CCNA Security certification is a great stepping stone for setting a career path in the security field. It gives you astounding fundamentals in network security and it prepares you for greater challenges if you decide to go further. As I mentioned before, the CCNA Security will set you apart from the competition when it comes to getting a job, but also gives you the option to advance in the security field. 

The CCNA Security covers all of the concepts and principles that you need to know in order to be able to work among security professionals. It is a great step for those who know the basics of network security and want to gain more experience. 

CCNA Security Job Opportunities

Once you pass the CCNA Security exam, you will qualify for the positions of network engineer, administrator, manager, and specialist. Furthermore, you could also work as a system engineer, a security analyst, or a security engineer. These jobs require designing and managing security solutions and infrastructure based on the client’s or company’s needs.

The tasks might vary from role to role since different clients have different necessities. However, your responsibilities will always include managing network security on daily basis. Therefore, you need to be prepared with great skills to be able to handle everything related to security in networks and systems. 

How Hard Is The CCNA Security? 

According to many statistics and certification requirements, the CCNA Security is known as one of the most difficult exams in the IT world. Therefore, you will be required to possess a lot of knowledge of the security basics and concepts, along with significant hands-on experience to pass the exam. 

The CCNA Security exam takes 120 minutes to answer all of the questions, and it covers a wide range of topics and objectives. It is expected of you to show a great knowledge of the IT fundamentals and to understand how security and automation work, along with programmability. The knowledge of the following objectives are considered crucial for passing the exam: 

• Network access
• Network fundamentals
• IP services
• IP connectivity
• Security fundamentals
• Automation and programmability 

Along with the theoretical part, you will have to express a great understanding of how these concepts work in real-life situations. This means that you will have to show a lot of experience in the security field. Understanding the concepts only in theory would not be enough for passing the examination. 

Therefore, when you prepare for the CCNA Security exam be sure to practice a lot and get as much hands-on experience as you can. This is the only way you can get certified in the network security field. As I already mentioned before, this is a delicate area of the IT industry and requires discipline to be mastered. 

Once you pass the exam, your certification will be valid for three years. Once the three years pass, you will need to recertify. However, there is always an option to go to the next level and certify for CCSP. 

Each exam has a certain level of difficulty, and how you are going to pass it usually depends on you. The CCNA Security is quite beneficial and offers great opportunities, but it is significantly tough. Therefore, you need to prepare well in order to achieve the wanted certification.