Done with Cisco certs, Pivot to security

I am done, finished, finito! I have taken my last Cisco certification exam.

Eh? Aren’t you a CCIE/CCDE?

Yes. I am a Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCE) #24900 in routing and switching. I also passed the Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) on August 29th, 2017. I have decided that two expert level certifications from Cisco are enough.

I love networking and plan to continue to keep my certifications current. Cisco’s continuing education program is how I plan to do that.

I have found tremendous value in the process to achieve both of these certifications. I earned by CCIE in 2009 after months of reading, studying, and labbing. The lab forces you to learn command line interface (CLI) commands. To pass you must also learn time management skills. Be excellent at implementation process, testing, and understanding of interdependent tasks. Attempting the CCIE will make you a better engineer if you approach it the right way.

The CCDE takes a different approach. I find that it matches up to my current job much better than a CCIE. This is due to the fact that networks are rarely greenfield environments. I am often integrating technologies or designs with existing constraints. The CCDE will challenge you to find the best solution based on the given constraints. You should know best practices but they are often the wrong choice.

If you are trying to decide which is best for you I’d suggest you consider your career goals. Which role is best suited to your goals. They are both excellent programs that will challenge you!

Whats next ?

Continuous learning is something I have been doing all my life. It is part of who I am and there are other areas I’d like to explore. These are short, mid, and long-term goals that I will detail soon.

• Python (pre-requisite to automation)
• Automation (Salt and ansible)
• Security deep dive (vendor-neutral)
• Masters degree (cybersecurity)

Wrapping Up

I am pivoting to security. I want to combine networking, automation, and security to bring value to my customers. I am focused on building the fundamentals in these areas but this is only one of many paths forward. Focus on your interests and career goals. Make a plan. Execute the plan.