Is CCNA Security Worth It?


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Is CCNA Security Worth It?

Assuming you already earned your Cisco Certified Technician Certification and Training (CCT), and assuming you want to become a Cisco networking expert, the next step in your Cisco journey is earning the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). However, is the CCNA even worth it?

The CCNA is worth it if you want to become a Cisco expert. It’s a door opener that leads you to professional certificates like the CCNP Security certificate, then the CCIE Security certificate. Furthermore, it’s worth it if you want to gain an understanding of networking, security, and automation.

The CCNA is an associate-level certificate. By any means, it’s not the end. On the contrary, it’s the cornerstone of your networking career. So, if you’re hesitant to take this leap, the purpose of this article is to encourage you to take that step.

Ultimately, it’s up to you.

Can The New CCNA Be The Ultimate Networking Certificate In 2021?

First of all, let’s put things in the proper context. There’s no such a thing as “CCNA Security.” At least, it’s no more. Cisco announced a consolidated CCNA that replace all others, including the CCNA Security certification.

So, the question is about this new CCNA and whether it’s worth it.

You can think of the CCNA as a ticket to the networking world. You can build on it by enrolling in advanced degrees that require some prior training or experience. In some sense, it’ll open the door to becoming a networking master.

One exam is all that’s separating you from launching a networking career. It’s an important point because some other certifications will put you through three or four exams to earn the degree. The new CCNA certification isn’t “new.”

Cisco has always offered CCNA in one form or another. There was CCNA Routing and Switching, CCNA Security, and others.

But all these certifications are now put together in one fat CCNA certification to rule them all.

Among many things, it means this new CCNA is the latest certification, and it’ll prepare you for a brighter future, whether you want to work in infrastructure networking, cybersecurity, or the Internet of Things.

Why A Networking Career In The First Place And Why Now?

The COVID-19 pandemic forced people to go digital. As a result, many people live and work online. And you know what that means? It just means that the internet is becoming more integrated into people’s lives. Therefore, the infrastructure will need to expand.

Imagine the internet like it was a city. The more people visit and live in this city, the more infrastructure it’ll need to serve all these people. So, as more people depend on the internet, there’s a need for “building more infrastructure.”

The objective of the CCNA certification is to help you learn how to expand that infrastructure by learning the fundamentals of networking, how routers and switches create the internet, and how to secure the whole ecosystem.

Soon, you’ll discover that cities are more than a bunch of bridges and streets. Similarly, the internet is much bigger than websites and social media.

Is that an oversimplification? Yes! Because the CCNA will also teach you about phones and computers and how they connect to the internet.

As a networking specialist, you must have specific skills and knowledge to build, improve, and secure that infrastructure. Even the elite networking specialists had to start somewhere.

The internet is still growing, and you might be one of the people who help build it. Whether you’re already well-versed in networking or considering switching careers, an associate-level certification like the CCNA will give you the edge to confidently take the mission.

What Changed And Why CCNA Is A Female-friendly Certification?

For the longest time, males have dominated the tech industry, and that’s about to change. Perhaps, people associate building with physical strength. Like other cities, the network depends on more than builders.

It needs marketers, security, and engineers. And it doesn’t matter whether you’re a male or female. The network speaks a gender-neutral language.

A networking career is more than building infrastructure. That’s why having the CCNA certification is worth it because it prepares you for all those positions. Remember, many companies are running on Cisco systems today, and having the CCNA in your arsenal will make you stand out to these potential employers.

Infrastructure networking is now more accessible to females as much as males with CCNA certification.

So, it’s ultimately up to you.

Are you driven? Do you have a personality type? Can you think on your feet? Make critical decisions on the spot? Investigating problems is your guilty pleasure? If yes, then CCNA will be more than worth the time and effort you put into it.

It takes 2-3 months to study the material, nail the exam, and launch your networking career.

Will You Answer The Call Of The Network?

Because it’s calling you right now.

The CCNA will teach you how to put a network together safely and fix it when it breaks. Earning a networking certification is anything but a walk in the park. Expect long hours of study, complex ideas, multi-layered concepts, and sometimes, feeling utterly confused.

But it’s all part of the fun of learning.

Considering that the average annual salary of a network engineer is $97,159 in the US, and more if you play your cards right, the CCNA is worth the blood, sweat, and tears.

All the bad things in life come for free. Death. Disease. Broken hearts, dreams, and promises. All are free. If you have what it takes and are willing to put some honest effort into the CCNA certification, you’ll get the results you deserve quickly.

Plus, you’ll get access to training material, friendly support, and tools to pass the exam the first time.

Keep looking for answers because it might be the first serious step towards your dream career. Find friends who have done the certificate, search YouTube, and browse Cisco’s website. Gather more information. The more you prepare, the more likely you’ll determine whether CCNA is worth it (to you) once and for all.

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