Horrible economy, companies trying to save money and Cisco adds three new certifications (head shake and mumbling to myself)Well since I did not make the trip to Orlando since I had customer to help, a friend called me to give me the updates on the new certifications. Also Wendell did a nice write up on it also which I linked to at the bottom. I will ask him to post his thoughts on my story. But here we go; now we all know what my last story was about, I am sure no one at Cisco read it. Now they decide to add three more certifications.
I have to give it to Cisco, when the economy is down, people are trying to save money they add these certifications that will affect a lot of people. It is a definite way to add money to your bottom line, help Cisco Press and now all of those exam crams test companies will make more money to get questions and answers for these new tests. I wanted to let Cisco know that they forgot two certifications Storage and Service Provider; I am sure that we need CCNA exams for both of these also. Yes I also know that these three new exams are replacement exams for the current CCNA, but there was nothing wrong with current CCNA other than it needed a hand on lab with it. But let's come back down to earth now,
Cisco is really diluting the certifications tracks by having way too many tests. If you are a partner with Cisco you know how many exams you have to have your staff pass to stay a partner, which I guess is ok. But when you are a regular Joe and trying to get a job or move up in your company, you have so many tests to pass. My ideas are below Cisco and take it for what it is worth. Let's go back to one test for each level, one CCNA test, one CCNP test, CCIE Written and Lab. Yes I said one test, this would be a written and lab test proctored at the local Cisco office. So no more 3 to 5 test for a CCNP or specialization, and why do we need specializations? If the goal is to get to your CCIE, you should have all of those skills with in the CCNP.
So back to one test for the CCNP and that would include the specializations in it. This would make for a much harder and well earned test. People and companies would save money if they only had one test to pay for, yes Cisco would not make as much money, Cisco Press could not write a book for every certification out there and maybe Cisco would put the exam crams and test companies out of business if they only had one test per level. Cisco needs to remember simple is better, yes simple is better Cisco.
But we all have something to look for, that will be a Wireless CCNP and CCIE,I think that will be next. Maybe they will come up with a Wiring and Cable CCNA to CCIE?
Link to Wendell story, http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/29280
Larry Chaffin is the CEO/chairman and founder of Pluto Networks, a consulting company specializing in VoIP, WLAN and security. Pluto is a channel partner for Cisco, Qualys, Riverbed, Guardianedge, TriGeo and Linksys.
Larry is an accomplished author; co-authoring Managing Cisco Secure Networks, Skype Me, Practical VOIP Security, Configuring Check Point NGX VPN-1/Firewall-1, Configuring Juniper Networks NetScreen & SSG Firewalls, Essential Computer Security: Everyone's Guide to Email, Internet, and Wireless Security, How to Cheat at Microsoft Vista Administration, Microsoft Vista for IT Security Professionals, Asterisk Hacking, 2008 VoIP and Video Conferencing, Infosecurity 2008 Threat Analysis and author of Building a VOIP Network with Nortel's MS5100, along with co-authoring/ghost writing eleven other technology books for VIOP, WLAN, security and optical technologies.
Larry has more than 29 vendor certifications from companies such as Nortel, Cisco Avaya, Juniper, PMI, isc2, Microsoft, IBM, VMware and HP. Larry has been a principal architect around the world in 22 countries for many Fortune 100 companies designing VoIP, security, wireless and optical networks. Larry is currently working on a follow up to Building a VoIP network with Nortel's MCS 5100 Book as well as new books on Cisco Telepresence Networks, Practical VoIP case studies and WAN Acceleration with Riverbed.
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Couldn't agree more Larry
Quit wasting my time and money with all these certs. Speaking of waste lets get rid of the CCENT while we're at it. I'd love to meet the brain trust that came up with that one.
AGREED Greedy?
I like Ci$co but come on, this is OVERKILL. There are too many vendors with certifications on different products (wireless, voice,security) that perform basically perform the same task with a different twist on how it is implemented.
It is making me dizzy. Certifications are now becoming a SCAM and a way of isolating vendors products. This is quick money with loaded trick questions that give you a 50% chance of passing an a 50% chance of failing.
Stop it enough is enough!
Never Ending...
I cannot understand why they never seem to be satisfied with the certification program... Every year it is just an announcement of more certifications that they add. Most non-network people (employers) had a hard time keeping track of the certifications when it was just the simple ccna/ccnp/ccie pyramid for support and the ccna/ccda/ccdp pyramid for design. Heck, I'm a network engineer and I can't even keep track of all of their certifications anymore. You are correct, working for a partner and now you have to throw in those tests that are just a joke... I don't know anyone that takes those seriously....
I don't see the problem
I think this was a fine move on Cisco's part. For a couple of reasons:
1) Gone are the days of being a "jack-of-all-trades". You really have to pick a specialty and stick with it. Disagree? Think of the specializations in medicine and law. You have doctors for ear, nose and throat. Cancer doctors, foot doctors, those specializing in the heart muscle, and children. Same with law: family, business, IP, etc.
2) Who honestly didn't see this coming? Cisco has had some gaps in their career certification matrix for several years. A year ago, under the Expert/Design track, was blank. They only recently created the CCDE (CCIE Design), filling that gap. The professional level was already specialized having, CCNP, CCDP, CCSP, etc. The CCNA was the entry test for each track. That made no sense.
Look at the matrix again. They simply created specialized entry level certs pairing with their professional level equivalents.
This matrix is not harder to read or interpret now than it was a year ago. I just don't see how this is confusing.
My prediction: Expect the CCNA to be renamed CCNA R&S, and expect to see added a CCNA SP and CCNA Storage.
--cheers
Hey Larry, Well, it
Hey Larry,
Well, it certainly does look more crowded now. I'm still mulling the why's and wherefore's on this latest move with certs from Cisco. But I think there's 2 main points: it gives the generalist a chance to get 2/3/4 CCNAs to show broad Cisco networking knowledge without having to go deep (aka a CCxP), and it didn't actually add any exam requirements except for aspiring CCVPs. CCSPs won't have to take more exams to get there in both the before annoucement and after announcement cases. CCNA wireless is 1 more exam, but there's nothing to make people take it since there's no "CCWP" from Cisco. CCVP candidates do have a requirement for 1 more exam total with the new rules (as compared to the before CCNA Voice), but those aren't enforced until next June.
That's the positive swizzle on it - just posted a little more depth here: http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/29413. On the negative side: was it a good idea? I don't know that I could say from where I stand - I'm not that good at predictions. And good for whom? I'd say that if the only people with CCNA Voice and Security are those also going from CCVP and CCSP, respectively, then it's bad, both for consumers and for Cisco. If we see some triple/quadruple CCNAs exist within a year, maybe that's a little good. If we have those multiple CCNAs who also get better jobs/roles/etc by having those certs, then it's for sure good. It'll be interestint to watch.
Also, just to be clear: on your post, you wrote "Yes I also know that these three new exams are replacement exams for the current CCNA...". The new CCNA certs don't replace the old CCNA. I wish Cisco had renamed the old CCNA to CCNA R/S or something, but to be clear, the old CCNA is unchanged, not even a name change. Wouldn't want anyone to think that all my CCNA products were obsolete. ;-)
Thanks for the invite.
Wendell