Linux Professional Institute to Change Linux Certification Programs

The Linux Professional Institute (LPI), a Linux certification organization, is making changes to its LPIC-2 and LPIC-3 certification programs..

KBZ Achieves Cisco Advanced Collaboration Architecture ...

This specialization recognizes KBZ as having fulfilled the training requirements and program prerequisites to sell, design, deploy and support the entire Cisco Collaboration Architecture solution including comprehensive Cisco Unified Communications.

Is there a disconnect between demand for security jobs and ...

New research claims the demand for skilled security professionals is outpacing the ... (CISSP) certification has jumped from 19000 to more than 29000..

QNAP Turbo NAS Supports VMware VAAI and vSphere Client Plug-in, Windows Server 2012, and Enhances AFP Performance

QNAP® Systems, Inc. today announced highly anticipated business features, including VMware VAAI and vSphere Client Plug-in for business virtualization enhancement, the official certification for Windows® Server 2012, and AFP performance enhancement on small file transfer..

Cisco Networking Courses Now Offered Through Accelerate by Westwood

The Cisco Academy: CCNA Essentials course is taught by Cisco-certified professionals who train students to install industry-relevant operating systems and apply industry-standard tools and techniques to manage networks.

Showing posts with label networking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label networking. Show all posts

Thursday, 3 July 2014

AN INSIGHT INTO THE DIFFRENT JUNIPER EXAMS

 Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist (JNCIS-SP)


Exam Registration


Practice Test

Practice Test: To assess your skill level and to identify gaps in your knowledge, take this free practice exam. This practice exam can be taken as many times as you like until you are comfortable with the material. START
Designed for experienced networking professionals with beginner to intermediate knowledge of routing and switching implementations in Junos, this written exam verifies the candidate's basic understanding of routing and switching technologies and related platform configuration and troubleshooting skills.JNCIS-SP exam topics are based on the content of the recommended instructor led training courses, as well as the additional resources.
The JNCIS-SP certification is valid for two years. Recertification is achieved by passing the JN0-360 exam.
  Detailed Exam Objectives include:
  • Protocol-Independent Routing
  • Open Shortest Path First (OSPF)
  • Intermediate System to Intermediate System (IS-IS)
  • Border Gateway Protocol (BGP)
  • Layer 2 Bridging and VLANs
  • Spanning-Tree Protocols
  • Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) and MPLS VPNs
  • IPv6
  • Tunnels
  • High Availability

Test Level Exam Information Description

Juniper Networks Certified Internet Professional (JNCIP-SP)


Exam Registration


Practice Test

Practice Test: To assess your skill level and to identify gaps in your knowledge, take this free practice exam. This practice exam can be taken as many times as you like until you are comfortable with the material. START
Designed for experienced networking professionals with advanced knowledge of the Juniper Networks Junos OS, this written exam verifies the candidate's understanding of advanced routing technologies and related platform configuration and troubleshooting skills.JNCIP-SP exam topics are based on the content of the recommended instructor led training courses, as well as the additional resources.
JNCIP-SP certification is valid for two years. Recertification is achieved by passing the JN0-660 exam.
Detailed Exam Objectives include:
  • OSPF
  • IS-IS
  • BGP
  • Class of Service (CoS)
  • IP Multicast
  • MPLS
  • Layer 3 VPNs
  • Layer 2 VPNs
  • Automation


Test Level Exam Information Description

Juniper Networks Certified Internet Expert (JNCIE-SP)


Exam Registration

  • Exam code: JPR-960
  • Lab Exam (Hands-on Lab)
  • Held at selected Juniper Networks testing centers
  • Exam length: 8 hours
  • Prerequisite certification: JNCIP-SP.
  • Junos Software Release:
    • 12.3
  • Recommended Training: Above plus additional training as individually required.
  • Bootcamp:
  • Additional Resources:
At the pinnacle of the Service Provider Routing and Switching certification track is the 1-day JNCIE-SP Lab Exam. This exam is designed to validate the networking professionals’ ability to implement, troubleshoot and maintain Juniper Networks service provider networks. The 8-hour format of this exam requires that candidates build a service provider network consisting of multiple MX series routers. Successful candidates will perform system configuration on all devices, implement various protocols, policies and VPNs, HA capabilities, and Class of Services.The JNCIE-SP is valid for two years. Re-certification is achieved by passing the current version of the JNCIP-SP exam.
Exam topics MAY include:
  • Device Infrastructure
  • IGP
  • MPLS
  • BGP
  • VPNs
  • Multicast
  • CoS

Wednesday, 16 October 2013

Data centre training for Africa

Data centre design and data centre management has, over the past decade, evolved into a profession that requires formal training and development. The need for exposure to recognised data centre standards, guidelines and best practices has become self-evident due to the evolution of the data centre professional.


Gone are the days where individuals must handle the complexities of myriad data centre components through traditional engineering methods, gut feel, and trial and error. Annually, the data centre fraternity can serve up a fair quantity of examples where mission-critical environments experienced spectacular failures and incidents resulting in unplanned downtime, loss of data, loss of productivity and revenue, and reputational impact. The demand for accredited and certified skills within the data centre environment has grown significantly during the past five to 10 years.

The training division of Dee Smith & Associates (DS&A) was established as a result of demand for these skills in the South African data centre market. Subsequently, this demand has also come from the larger African continent. There is a quantifiable need for training and development that results in the formal recognition and accreditation of data centre design and management professionals.

Through its partnership with EPI in Singapore, DS&A's objective is to deliver internationally certified and accredited data centre training in Africa. It strives to expand and nurture these skills by creating sustainability and depth. Formal training in this field also provides an improved understanding of the complexity of data centre design and management, paramount to building the knowledge base. Its training framework demonstrates the impact of a single decision impacting myriad components or disciplines within the data centre environment.

DS&A focuses on education, experience and the continued evolution of data centre design and management as sciences in their own right. Its training programmes are aligned to international best practice, standards, guidelines and trends.



Since introducing this suite of data centre training courses in late 2010, more than 200 candidates have attended and graduated from the training in South Africa. The candidates come from a wide range of industries, such as financial services, telecommunications, information technology, healthcare, property development, project management and product suppliers. Several candidates have travelled from countries like Nigeria and Kenya to attend the training courses presented in South Africa.

Each course is concluded with a mandatory certification exam. All delegates must obtain a minimum percentage ranging between 67% and 75% (depending on the course taken) in order to obtain a professional certification and internationally recognised accreditation. The philosophy is simple – all candidates must prove their ability to grasp the subject matter at a theoretical level before certification can be awarded.

As Lee Smith, director of data centre services and training at DS&A, states clearly: "Anybody can attend a course for a few days, learn nothing and then walk away with unfounded claims of knowledge and professional growth. A certification exam is a simple but effective way to ensure that knowledge is transferred by the instructor and assimilated by the candidate during the course." EXIN is the international certification body that conducts the accreditation for each qualifying candidate.

All certifications are valid for three years where-after a candidate must renew the accreditation through a recertification exam or by providing proof of his or her growth within the data centre profession.

The course curriculum is updated annually to ensure relevance and the incorporation of the latest developments within the international data centre fraternity. DS&A continuously strives to improve and expand on its course curriculum. Only relevant, well-designed and practical courses are selected.

The course offering for 2014 incorporates the following internationally accredited training programmes:

The suite of courses on offer through Dee Smith Associates.

The suite of courses on offer through Dee Smith Associates.
The entry point is the Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP) course. It is aimed at all persons who are involved in data centres. It provides candidates with a common understanding of the generic components within a data centre facility and the critical design aspects such as power, cooling, fire detection and suppression, EMF, operations and security, to name but a few.

For further course details and the entire training schedule for 2014, please visit

Monday, 30 September 2013

newest and most advanced datacenter enters final commissioning. Curaçao Technology Exchange (CTEX)


Somewhere deep in the Southwest Caribbean, right in front of the Latin America coastline, the world’s newest and most advanced datacenter enters final commissioning. Curaçao Technology Exchange (CTEX), together with Schneider Electric, CISCO Systems and others for close to two years has pursued one of the most ambitious technology projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. CTEX is turning on the first of four 72,000 square feet Uptime Institute certified Tier-IV datacenter. The CTEX datacenters have already been recognized for several industry awards including the 2012 LATAM Datacenterdynamics award for incorporating the most advanced design and engineering standards throughout the region.
Industry veterans with significant experience in the datacenter space direct this young and innovative company. Their CEO, Anthony de Lima and the rest of their team with noted track records at companies such as Telefonica, KPMG, Google, Terremark, Global Crossing, and others is slowly gaining prominence throughout the region. CTEX’s vision from the start was to create the most advanced and reliable datacenter in Latin America and the Caribbean, leveraging years of lessons learned from datacenter projects across the world. Too, the company was committed from the start to obtain Tier-IV certification, which they achieved in June this year together with the ISO9001:2008 certification. While many datacenter providers talk about being at a particular Tier level, few are certified. Certification by the Uptime Institute requires an immense level of design detailing and in the case of a Tier-IV certified facility, this means that nothing is left to chance and that all critical parts in many ways incorporate double redundancy. Downtime is not an option. This October the company will undergo final inspection of CU-1, the first of its four facilities. Successful certification will make the CTEX datacenter one out of 13 datacenters worldwide to be certified at the Tier-IV level for design as well as constructed facility and the first of its kind in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The selection of the island nation of Curaçao as the host country for the region’s most advanced datacenter seemed initially to be an unconventional choice. However, Curaçao may very well have the best mix of ingredients to support such a high-end technology project. For starts, the island is located outside the traditional hurricane belt and major seismic zones. Being part of the Dutch kingdom means Curaçao benefits from European privacy laws, with a court of highest recourse located in The Hague, the Netherlands. The island is not a fiscal paradise and conforms to strict transparency regulations by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). For international companies Curaçao offers excellent fiscal benefits through its EZONE ruling, which means international companies establishing computing infrastructures at the CTEX datacenter, are exempt from import duties and VAT taxes. This alone can be a huge benefit when compared to similar fiscal conditions in neighboring countries. Curaçao also has five major submarine cables connecting the island to the rest of the world, with two additional cable systems planned for the first half of 2014. The island also boasts a multi-cultural and multi-lingual workforce. Finally, by being part of the Dutch kingdom, companies leveraging the CTEX datacenter to conduct business worldwide benefit from over 95 bilateral investment treaties, providing added peace of mind when delivering services across international boarders.
CTEX’s datacenters incorporate some of the most sophisticated technology design principles, including the ability to accommodate computing platforms with varying operating characteristics ranging from low to high-density in specialized zones. Each zone incorporates the appropriate power and cooling infrastructure for the relative computing density within a rack. An innovative power distribution system for powering server racks provides specific power metering details for a customer’s computing instance. CTEX has also incorporated an advanced intelligent building management system (BMS), which automates many of the tasks traditionally managed by datacenter personnel. The system also provides advanced web portals through which customized views can be provided to customers to monitor their equipment located in the CTEX datacenter. The company takes security very serious. While they were apprehensive to talk about their physical and logical security fabric, a high-level view of the facility’s schematics shows a comprehensive layered security approach that is typical of a major top-level security installation.
Aside from delivering traditional datacenter services, the company last year partnered up with VCE™ and is running advanced private cloud solutions for companies throughout the region. VCE’s VBLOCK platform supported by CISCO Systems, EMC®, and VMWARE is recognized as one of the most redundant and fault tolerant Cloud platforms in the world. And indeed CTEX boasts a zero down time service log for its Cloud platform. Customers run their critical application on CTEX’s Cloud platform without making capital expenditures in technology. Billing for infrastructure, software and platform services is based on a subscription model.
Tier-IV datacenters aren’t for everyone. But if your critical business systems just cannot go down, ever, then you may want to take a close look at this brand new datacenter.
Company Contact: http://www.ctexpartners.com

CBT Nuggets announces the release of a new video training course



CBT Nuggets announces the release of a new video training course, “Cisco R&S Troubleshooting Mastery.”
In this 20-video course, co-instructors Keith Barker and Anthony Sequeira cover the ins and outs of troubleshooting various Cisco routing and switching technologies. Some of the topics in this course include VLAN troubleshooting, solving EIGRP adjacency failures, and routing redistribution.
Sequeira said demand from the IT industry has resulted in much more emphasis on troubleshooting in certification training.
"As organizations depend on the network more and more every quarter, even the shortest outages are causing major losses of productivity and revenues," he said. "We wanted to address this push in the industry and Cisco certification head on."
The "Cisco R&S Troubleshooting Mastery" course, which contains more than 8 hours of content, is available as part of an IT training subscription from CBT Nuggets.

The Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) has projected the global Internet Protocol (IP) traffic to reach 413 million between 2012 and 2017.

The Cisco Visual Networking Index (VNI) has projected the global Internet Protocol (IP) traffic to reach 413 million between 2012 and 2017.
Announcing the forecast recently, General Manager Cisco, in charge of Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Mr. Dare Ogunlade, said the Middle East and Africa (MEA) would continue to be the fastest growing IP traffic region from 2012 - 2017, with a 5-fold growth, at 38 per cent compound annual growth rate over the forecast period. MEA was the fastest growing region last year.
According to the forecast, in the Middle East and Africa, IP traffic would grow 5-fold from 2012 to 2017; IP traffic in 2017 would be equivalent to 10 billion DVDs per year, 866 million DVDs per month, or 1 million DVDs per hour; Consumer Internet traffic grew 83 per cent in 2012 and business Internet traffic grew 63 per cent in the same year; In 2017, the gigabyte equivalent of all movies ever made will cross Middle East and Africa's IP networks every 2 hours.
He noted that 10 per cent of consumer Internet traffic was mobile in 2012, but that 31 per cent of consumer Internet traffic will be mobile in 2017. He also said 5 per cent of business Internet traffic was mobile in 2012, but that14 per cent of business Internet traffic will be mobile in 2017. Consumer fixed Internet traffic, he said, grew 80 per cent in 2012 and had 53 per cent of total IP traffic in 2012, but predicted it would be 48 per cent of total IP traffic in 2017.
Internet-Video-to-TV traffic increased 3-fold in 2012, and the average broadband speed grew 20 per cent from 2011 to 2012, from 3.1 Mbps to 3.7 Mbps.
Fixed/Wi-Fi was 54 per cent of total Internet traffic in 2012, but is estimated to grow 54 per cent of total Internet traffic in 2017.
Given statistics on the global IP traffic drivers, Ogunlade said there would be more global Internet users in the future.
He said by 2017, there would be about 3.6 billion Internet users, which would be more than 48 per cent of the world's projected population of 7.6 billion.
The statistics also showed that in 2012, there were 2.3 billion Internet users, which is about 32 per cent of the world's population of 7.2 billion.
Ogunlade said by 2017, there would be more than 19 billion global network connections for fixed/mobile personal devices, M2M connections, among others.
Globally, the average fixed broadband speed will increase 3.5-fold from 2012 - 2017, from 11.3 Mbps to 39 Mbps, he said, adding that the average fixed broadband speed grew 30 per cent from 2011 - 2012, from 8.7 Mbps to 11.3 Mbps.
For increased global use of video services/applications, the statistics revealed that global network users would generate 3 trillion Internet video minutes per month, which is 6 million years of video per month, or 1.2 million video minutes every second or more than two years worth of video every second.

Tuesday, 25 June 2013

Glo Datacenter Facility

National Telecoms Operator, Globacom has set up a world-class Internet Data Centre in Lagos to provide co-location services, disaster recovery and dedicated hosting facilities to corporate clients in Nigeria and West Africa.
The company has also announced plans to expand its existing data management platform by building another data centre  that will be Nigeria’s Largest Iconic Data Center, providing Tier 3  and Tier 4 enterprise data services from Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory.
The new data centre will provide network-based services, applications, equipment and Cloud Services in a highly safe and secure environment with back-ups.
According to Globacom’s Corporate Chief Information Officer (Information Systems), Mr. Cesar Camara, most of the websites and servers of various Nigerian organisations are hosted elsewhere across the world in countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States of America due to unreliable power supply, insecurity and other challenges.
“This is why Globacom has stepped in to become one of the top players in the Managed Services Industry across Nigeria & West Africa. We are leveraging  on our existing telecoms infrastructure, Glo1 Submarine cable, reliable power supply network, experienced manpower and experience in building State-of-the-art technologies for our existing voice and data telephony  services,” he told journalists while conducting them round the Glo Data Centre in Lagos. .
Data Centres, especially the Tier 3 and Tier 4 categories, which provide the highest level of failure proof, redundant, secure and safe environment, fault tolerance, compartmentalization and continuous cooling, are highly valued by most organizations because all mission-critical/real-time applications today depend on server uptime

Friday, 7 June 2013

New Cisco Certification Content Available on the PEC!


Have a look at the Cisco Career Certification pages on the PEC. In response to feedback from our partners, we have recently added e-learning courses and support tools (Test Prep and Mentoring Assets) for most Cisco certifications. This dramatically increases and expands the certification-related resources available to you through the PEC.

Over 221 titles are now available the help you prepare for Cisco Career Certifications!
Instructor-led training is also available, and is listed for most certifications as well. Cisco Learning Partners deliver the instructor-led training through a fee-based model.
The following are the curricula that were updated with the courses, mentoring assets and test preps:

Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP)

Mentoring Assets
Mentoring 642-813 Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (SWITCH)
Mentoring 642-902 Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE)
Test Prep
TestPrep 642-813 Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (SWITCH)
TestPrep 642-902 Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE)
Courses
Cisco SWITCH 1.0 – modules 1-9
Cisco ROUTE 1.0 – modules 1-9
Cisco ROUTE 1.0 eLT – modules 1-6

Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT)

Mentoring Assets
Mentoring 640-822 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1)
Test Prep
TestPrep 640-822 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1)
Courses:
Cisco ICND1 1.1 – modules 1-11

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) - Routing and Switching Option 1

Mentoring Assets
Mentoring 640-802 Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Test Prep
TestPrep 640-802 Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) - Routing and Switching Option 2

Mentoring Assets
Mentoring 640-822 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1)
Mentoring 640-816 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (ICND2)
Test Prep
TestPrep 640-822 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1)
TestPrep 640-816 Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (ICND2)
Courses
Cisco ICND1 1.1 – modules 1-11
Cisco ICND2 1.1 - modules 1-12

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)

Mentoring Assets
Mentoring 642-813 Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (SWITCH)
Mentoring 642-832 Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks (TSHOOT)
Mentoring 642-902 Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE)
Test Prep
TestPrep 642-813 Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (SWITCH)
TestPrep 642-832 Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks (TSHOOT)
TestPrep 642-902 Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE)
Courses
Cisco SWITCH 1.0 - modules 1-9
Cisco TSHOOT 1.0 - modules 1-8
Cisco TSHOOT 1.0 eLT - modules 1-9
Cisco ROUTE 1.0 - modules 1-9
Cisco ROUTE 1.0 eLT - modules 1-6

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Voice (Formerly known as CCVP)

Mentoring Assets
Mentoring 642-427 Troubleshooting Cisco Unified Communications (TVOICE)
Mentoring 642-437 Implementing CUC Voice over IP and QoS (CVOICE)
Mentoring 642-447 Implementing CUCM, Part 1 (CIPT1)
Mentoring 642-457 Implementing CUCM, Part 2 (CIPT2)
Mentoring 642-467 Integrating Cisco Unified Communications Applications (CAPPS)
Courses
Cisco TVOICE 8.0 – modules 1-10
Cisco CVOICE 8.0 – modules 1-12
Cisco CIPT1 8.0 – modules 1-10
Cisco CIPT2 8.0 – modules 1-6
Cisco CAPPS 8.0 – modules 1-10

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) - Voice

Mentoring Assets
Mentoring 640-461 Intro Cisco Voice and Unified Communications Admin (ICOMM)
Test Prep
TestPrep 640-461 Intro Cisco Voice and Unified Communications Admin (ICOMM v8.0)
Courses
Cisco ICOMM 8.0 – modules 1-10

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) - Security

Mentoring Assets
Mentoring 642-627 Implementing Cisco Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
Mentoring 642-637 Securing Networks with Cisco Routers and Switches (SECURE)
Mentoring 642-618 Deploying Cisco ASA Firewall Solutions (FIREWALL)
Mentoring 642-648 Deploying Cisco ASA VPN Solutions (VPN)
Courses
Cisco IPS 7.0 – modules 1-11
Cisco SECURE 1.0 – modules 1-16
Cisco FIREWALL 2.0 – modules 1-11
Cisco VPN 2.0 – modules 1-10

Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA)

Mentoring Assets
Mentoring 640-864 Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions (DESGN)
Test Prep
TestPrep 640-864 Designing for Cisco Internetwork Solutions (DESGN)
Courses
Cisco DESGN 2.1 – modules 1-12

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) - Security

Mentoring Assets
Mentoring 640-554 Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security (IINS)
Test Prep
TestPrep 640-554 Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security (IINS)
Courses
Cisco IINS 2.0 – modules 1-11

Monday, 3 June 2013

TOP SELLING IT CERTIFICATION FOR 2013


  • Oracle Certified Java Professional (previously known as Sun certified Java Professional): This Java language certification is the elephant in room. It is one of the most recognised certification in around. Since most of the world software industry is largely a development based industry rather than R&D based, therefore Java is in great demand.
  • Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer: This certification is actually a combination of three sub certifications. When you clear this certification you prove your expertise in Microsoft technologies. It is also in great demand because most of the business computers use Microsoft software.
  • Oracle Database Certification: Where as the above two are developer certifications this is a database certification. Oracle offers a host of database certification but Oracle database administrator stands above the rest. You must have deep knowledge of SQL language to clear this exam.
  • Brainbench test on Software Testing: Very few companies offer a general certification on software testing and Brainbench is one of them. If you have an interest in software testing then this is a certification for you.
  • CCNA Routing and Switching: Cisco is the world leader in networking solutions and a routing and switching certification by it has a lot of value. But keep in mind that this certification is valid for only three years from the date of exam. Therefore timing of the certification is paramount.
and thats it ,you could add more

Saturday, 1 June 2013

CompTIA's CASP Certification


CompTIA is one of the major players in the IT Certification biz. Their Security+ certification has long been considered an entry-level foot-in-the-door certification that was, and still is, just about mandatory for anyone wanting to work in the information security field.
Most of my fellow colleagues started off studying for and taking the CompTIA Security+ exam and then moved on to more advanced certifications such as the CISSP, CISM, GSLC, etc.
It appears that CompTIA is tired of being just a stepping stone to more advanced security certifications. CompTIA has now added the CompTIA Advanced Security Practitioner (CASP) cert to their certification lineup, in what appears to be an attempt to lure pro-level cert seekers away from ISC2 and ISACA who are the current major players in the pro-level information security certification arena.
Why Would I Want a CASP Certification?
A certification isn't worth the paper it's printed on unless it gains acceptance and recognition by employers. Why bother getting one if it's not going to help you get a job or help advance your career, right? CompTIA knows this fact which is why they likely made a push to get the CASP accepted by major players such as the U.S. Department of Defense.
The DoD has a "Directive" named DoDD 8570.1-M which basically says: If you want to work in an IT security position you better have one of the following certifications. 8570 then goes on to list a bunch of acceptable certifications with each certification being grouped with the position level that the certification satisfies. High-level positions require more advanced certifications such as the CISSP and CISM while lower-level positions require less advanced certifications such as Security+, CAP, etc.
CompTIA has apparently done all the legwork required to have the DoD list the CASP as an advanced level certification on par with the CISSP. This was likely no easy task on their part. So, if you are looking for an alternative to the CISSP that the US government considers equivalent, the CASP appears to be a viable option.
How Does the CASP Compare to the CISSP?
The CISSP has been around much longer and is recognized amongst IT professionals as the "gold standard" for security professional certifications. In my opinion, the CISSP carries a lot more weight than a newcomer like the CASP. Simply attempting the the CISSP is an exercise in endurance. It is an accomplishment akin to passing the Bar or passing a board exam. It is an intimidating task and is generally thought to be hard to do.
The CISSP exam is a 6-hour, 250 question beast of a test, costing nearly $600 just to give it a try. Most of your peers respect you just for attempting it. Additionally, you must also prove that you have a required amount of previous experience and after you pass, you still must obtain a written endorsement from someone who already holds the certification and thinks your worthy of having the cert. All this stuff makes it feel like a huge accomplishment when you actually pass and get your CISSP certificate.
The CASP , on the other hand, has no experience prerequisites (although they recommend that you have 10 years of IT experience with 5 years in IT Security). The CASP test is $379, is 80 questions in length, and only requires two and a half hours of your time.
Will the CASP Carry the Same Weight as the CISSP in the IT Security Field?
In my opinion, no, not until they make it more difficult to achieve and add experience requirements.
Bottom line: The CASP will help you meet job certification requirements for obtaining DoD-related IT security jobs, but I don't think it will give you the same level of 'street cred' associated with having a CISSP.
How do I Prepare for the CASP and Where can I Take the Test?
If you wish to pursue the CASP you will want to visit CompTIA's CASP website for details on what training material is available, learn what topics are covered, and to find the location of a testing center nearest you.

Thursday, 23 May 2013

ULM partners with CenturyLink, CISCO in new academy



Leaders in the University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Business announce the CISCO Networking Academy for students and faculty in ULM’s Computer Information Systems program. ULM has partnered with Fortune 500 Company CenturyLink and telecommunications equipment company CISCO to launch this initiative beginning Fall 2013.
CISCO's Networking Academy is a national program that teaches students skills to build, design, and maintain networks, while improving career prospects.
"CISCO produces networking equipment used across most market segments from home use to national backbone infrastructure," said William Barnett, chair of the computer information systems program at ULM. "Cisco networking equipment and certifications are an industry standard, much like IBM or Microsoft."
Faculty within the ULM College of Business will develop specialized classes that prepare students to earn certifications from CISCO. CISCO and CenturyLink will provide resources including the necessary training for faculty and equipment for academy labs.
"Having taught in the networking area before becoming dean, I fully understand and appreciate the significance of this program," said Ron Berry, dean of the ULM College of Business. "The ability of our faculty and students to gain experience on leading edge technology that is the industry standard-especially in the area of telecommunications and networking-is remarkable, and will significantly enhance the marketability and success of our graduates."
According to Barnett, CenturyLink and CISCO will jointly develop the academy at ULM. This will provide an initial year of academy support, which will allow CIS faculty to attend CCNA instructor training and for the construction of six CCNA training pods, which will allow students to work hands-on with industry standard equipment. The CIS program will integrate equipment, training, and other CISCO resources into existing classes.
As part of the program, ULM will receive curriculum and software support for courses in networking and telecommunications. The primary goal is to help prepare students to pursue the CCNA (CISCO Certified Network Associate) industry certification, and most importantly, to enter the Information Technology (IT) workforce as network engineers and administrators.
"Our end goal is to enhance the marketability of graduates from the ULM CIS program and to help regional organizations address the shortage of highly qualified IT professionals," said Barnett. "We appreciate the support of industry leaders such as CISCO and CenturyLink for supporting this project."

Friday, 26 April 2013

Cloud Security Alliance on the new cissp certification

 

(ISC)2 and the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) have signed an agreement to collaborate on a new professional certification for information security.


The combined initiative will address a concern over the security of modern business systems by establishing a global understanding of professional knowledge and best practices in the design, implementation and management of cloud computing systems.

The new credential will build on existing certifications offered by both organizations, including (ISC)2’s Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and CSA’s Certificate of Cloud Security Knowledge (CCSK), by examining the depth of technical knowledge required in architecting business systems, based on cloud computing.

“As organizations continue to adopt cloud computing at a rapid pace, there is a strong need to provide a body of knowledge that encompasses the evolving technology and risk landscape and that validates the skills of the professionals tasked with protecting those businesses,” says W. Hord Tipton, CISSP-ISSEP, CAP, CISA, executive director for (ISC)2. “Our combined effort ensures the world’s knowledge leaders are put to the task.”

“(ISC)2 and CSA have each recognized that the global economy’s reliance on cloud services has advanced extremely quickly. Businesses are moving vast amounts of data into the cloud, and consumers are gobbling up new, usually mobile services that emerge on a daily basis. It is incumbent upon us to make our collective experience as accessible as possible, and the further development of professional–level recognition is key to achieving this,” says Jim Reavis, co-founder and executive director of the Cloud Security Alliance.

The (ISC)2 2013 Global Information Security Workforce Study (GISWS) confirmed cloud computing as the number one area of demand for training, identified by nearly 60 percent of the study’s more than 12,000 respondents.

The study, which has tracked the impact of cloud computing on the information security profession since 2010, also confirms that business are embracing the cloud, with virtually all respondents saying they work in companies with some level of cloud computing, and most (61 percent) identifying public cloud services, including software or infrastructure as a service or a hybrid cloud environment. This is despite nearly three quarters also confirming the need for new skills, particularly for deep technical knowledge and guidance on how security applies to the cloud.

“The Information security community remains concerned about the proliferation of cloud computing because it is making its way into the mainstream without the associated risks being well understood. Establishing professional norms will ensure the required knowledge and decision-making skills are proliferated,” says John Colley, CISSP, managing director EMEA, (ISC)2.

The initiative pools significant expertise from both organisations, including the CSA’s body of research, developed by subject matter experts, and its contributions toward the development of an ISO standard; and (ISC)2’s member-driven job task analysis methodology for the development and management of the world’s leading information and software security professional credentials.

Under the collaboration, (ISC)2 will lead subject matter experts drawn from the memberships of both organisations through the job task analysis process to develop a focused common body of knowledge reflecting areas of required expertise and the technology-agnostic approach to defining domains of practice that serve as the foundation of all (ISC)2 certifications. The work will also determine a globally accepted benchmark for the level of experience required to denote competency in the field of practice covered by the common body of knowledge.

The new credential and first examinations are due to be available in 2014.

Tuesday, 23 April 2013

cryptographic technologies in Red Hat Enterprise Linux










Red Hat logo
Red Hat has announced that the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has certified several cryptographic technologies in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 6.2 with the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2. The US government, but also organisations in other countries, mandate FIPS-140-2 certified cryptographic systems to protect sensitive information.
RHEL 6.2 on HP ProLiant DL585 and IBM BladeCenter HS22 servers has completed seven certification modules, including for the kernel crypto API, OpenSSH client and server, as well as OpenSSL. The dm-crypt library, which is used to encrypt hard drives, and the Openswan IPSec implementation were also certified, as was GnuPG's libgcrypt library. The validation testing for the certification was performed by the independent atsec testing laboratory in Austin, Texas.
A full list with all FIPS 140-1 and FIPS 140-2 certified cryptographic technologies is available from the NIST web site.

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Tuesday, 16 April 2013

CCNA SECURITY



This is a course that is higly recommended  for network security specialists, security administrators, and network security support engineers.

The inevitable network attacks can be as great in numbers as the systems that they attempt to break in. Without a proper security system , any part of any network can be at risk of virus attacks or hacking. Routers, switches, and hosts can all be easily invaded by black hat hackers, company rivals, or even the employees. Solution- Core knowledge of security threats and security infrastructure and skills to mitigate the outside threats.

The CCNA Security training is the best way to know about the various networks threats and different strategies to mitigate them. The CCNA Security credential validates your capabilities for job roles such as network security specialists or support engineers and security administrators. In the CCNA Security course, the students learn to install and troubleshoot, as well as monitor network devices for integrity, confidentiality, and availability.

The CCNA Security training introduces students to core security technologies and teaches how to make security policies and strategies to mitigate risks. A certified CCNA Security professional specializes in developing a security infrastructure, diagnosing threats and vulnerabilities to networks, and avert security threats.
One cannot really find companies offering  ccna security  training in Nigeria ;the reason I would say you should use online resource or go for a boot camp in any training firm aroud your locality
The official curriculum used for the training, gives the students all the essential knowledge and skills required to perform security tasks

The Key topics covered in the CCNA Security training include:

* Firewalls
* Intrusion Detection and Prevention
* Layer 2 and 3 Security
* Authentication, Authorization and Accounting
* Cisco's SDM (Security Device Manager)
* Cryptography Techniques
* Voice and Storage Area Networking

To be certify in CCNA Security training candidates must be well familiar with the basic computer Knowledge, be CCNA certified and possess sound networking concepts and skill. This associate level certifications exam covers safeguarding of Cisco routers and switches and their associated networks. The CCNA certificate is valid only for three years, and if someone wishes to re-sit the exam, he must pass a CCNA exam (wireless, security or voice).

Upon the completion of the CCNA Security training, the students will be able proficient in:

* Protecting network device access
* Eliminating threats to networks using ACLs
* Implementing secure network management and reporting
* Implementing AAA on network devices
* Preventing common Layer 2 attacks
* Implement the Cisco IOS firewall feature set
* Configuring site-to-site IPSec VPNs with Cisco IOS features
 EXAM COST: same as CCNA R&S

BEST CERTIFICATION - Cisco Certified Network Professional



Cisco Certification is a very popular and beneficial certification track. Ranging from entry level training to expert levels, Cisco Certification is diverse and useful in the technology world. Many companies like to have guarantees that employees that they hire are trained and experienced, and Cisco Certification is one way to prove that. One of the more advanced levels of certification is the Professional level, which include courses such as CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) and CCVP (Cisco Certified Voice Professional).

CCNP training is very useful for IT workers looking to gain more training and more advanced work. One step further along the training track than the CCNA ? the Associates level certification, CCNP certification can provide individuals with better employment opportunities. What distinguishes the CCNP from the CCNA is the ability to install and configure larger networks, generally between 100 and 500 nodes, but sometimes even larger. Also, a CCNP certificate holder will be familiar with Quality of Service (QoS), Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and broadband technology.

Larger companies require IT professionals that have at least CCNP certification. These companies rely on their workers to have networks installed and maintained during the workweek so productivity is at a maximum. That is why employers covet fully-trained employees



What Do You Require to Be CCNP Certified

Cisco certified network professional certification, more commonly known as CCNP Certification authenticates a network professional's technical expertise for the installation, configuration and troubleshooting of centralized local and wide area networks having nodes in excess of 500. The networking professionals who are able to achieve CCNP certification illustrate the expertise and knowledge needed to manage and administer the switches and routers which form the crux of any network. Also, they attain the mastery on applications by the help of which voice, security and wireless networks are integrated.

In simpler terms, the CCNP establishes a person's achievement which enhances his professional credibility by maintaining high standards of technical mastery. This certification is mainly implied for big organization where knowledge of dealing with large networks is required.



Various websites offer very good resources to refer for the preparation of this certification. Cisco site is very useful and one must consult it for the accurate information about the certification. Also it has a huge information database related to the concepts in Cisco press CCNP. Practice tests are one of the other ways to prepare for this certification as it help in creating a simulated environment similar to the test environment, which in turn improves your chances of clearing the CCNP certification.

Preparation of CCNP certification needs the right approach of studying, coupled with good certification guides and practice exams. These certification guides and practice exams are specifically designed to meet the requirements from the perspective of CCNP curriculum. Highly experienced network experts and authors are employed for the production of these guides.

The Cisco CCNP 642-642 certification is valid for 3 years, after than you can write the composite exam or CCIE exam to maintain the same level. Gaining the CCNP certification is most helpful in your career. It is the best way to avoid the difficulty while preparing for CCNP certification exam. Understand the comments and it will help to move to a higher level of getting knowledge about the routers, switches, and protocols work. While using the IOS for configuring, do not miss any vital options. And the IOS will show you the subnets in those options. The CCNP program mostly focuses on the data transmission. The CCNP certification is a very major part of networking industry. It helps to make large networks which are interconnected to the networking technologies. CCNP 642-642 certification allows you to get a great career in your life.

A CCNP certification is apt for those who boast of at least a years networking experience and want to notch up their skills and expand their work horizon by working on advanced network solutions independently. Those who acquire CCNP certification will have shown their skills that are are crucial to roles in enterprises like that of a support engineer, network technician, network engineer or systems engineer.

A CCNP certification is highly valued and recognized by most reputed IT employers. It gives an IT professional an additional edge over the other non CCNP certified individuals.

It isnt easy to pass a CCNP certification; it requires a lot of hard work and thorough understanding of every concept. Mere mugging up of concepts won?t get you through all the exams. The fact that this exam is so tough to crack, adds to its value and credibility. An IT employer can take it for granted that a CCNP professional is an expert at networking and troubleshooting skills and has immense knowledge about related specialized fields.

How can you conquer the CCNP exam
Of course, to do this you should first pass CCNA. After doing so, you can now undergo the required trainings. When you study, do not cram because Cisco is not like any high school subject that you can just learn overnight. Learning to become a CCNP can be stressful. This is why taking appropriate rest is vital especially before the exam day. Relaxation is the key to handle all the binary and hex conversion, subnetting, analysis of network diagrams, and troubleshooting. You should also understand that grabbing and memorizing CCNP exam coursework and material is a tough job. The rate and power competes that of the CCNA training, which is why setting up for acquiring new information and new costs is important.


The CCNP Routing test contains about 0 questions to be completed in about 75 Minutes. However, understand that your test may vary.
Many questions on the exam have answer choices that at first glance look identical?especially the syntax questions! Remember to read through the choices carefully because ?close doesn?t cut it.? If you put commands in the wrong order or forget one measly character, you?ll get the question wrong. So, to practice, do the hands-on exercises at the end of the chapters over and over again until they feel natural to you.
Unlike Microsoft or Novel) tests, the exam has answer choices that are really similar in syntax?although some syntax is dead wrong, it is usually just subtly wrong. Some other syntax choices may be right, but they?re shown in the wrong order. Cisco does split hairs, and it is not at all averse to giving you classic trick questions.


Ccnp  tips for exam success:

 Arrive early at the exam center, so you can relax and review your study materials.
 Read the questions carefully. Don?t just jump to conclus½ns. Make sure that you?re clear about exactly what eAch question asks.
Dontt leave any questions unanswered. They count against you.
When answering multiple-choice questions that you?re not sure about, use a process of elimination to get rid of the obviously incorrect answers first. Doing this greatly improves your odds if you need to make an educated guess.
As of this writing, the exams still allow you to move forward and backward. However, it is best to always check the Cisco Web site before taking any exam to get the most up-to-date information.

After you complete an exam, you?ll get immediate, online notification of your pass or fail status, a printed Examination Score Report that indicates your pass or fail status, and your exam results by section. (The test administrator will give you the printed score report.) Test scores are automatically forwarded to Cisco within five working days after you take the test, so you don?t need to send your score to them. If you pass the exam, you?ll receive confirmation from Cisco, typically within two to four weeks.
Exam cost. ccnp cost 38000 naira or 299 dollar
Possible course combination
A+
Mcitp
Mcp
Linux
And more

Monday, 18 March 2013

9 great advantages of technical certifications


I love being technical, and at least for the foreseeable future, I would like to stay that way. Is it worth the time and money to get a technical certification?

Yes it is and this is why.
I receive at least one question a week relating to this specific topic. Knowing that this was an important topic to write about, I serendipitously was introduced to Tom Woodring, the co-founder of Boss CBT, and thought it was time to bring this question to the forefront.
I asked Tom his thoughts on the importance of studying and receiving a certification in your area of expertise. Tom said that the right certification can provide value in many ways, including the following:
1. Most obvious is that the certification itself is a strong credential that helps illustrate your knowledge in a specific technology.
2. By their nature, certifications are generally designed in a way that provide a wide variety of topics. When using a technology in the workplace, you tend to always use the same set of configuration options, commands, and procedures. The reason for this is twofold. First, it’s what you know, so why mess with success. Second, your technical environment tends to drive you toward specific types of product usages and automations. As a result, it becomes very hard to develop an expertise in all features/options within the technology.
3. Certification preparation can provide the motivation needed to set aside the time and energy needed to truly study a topic.
4. If you are currently knowledgeable in the topic, studying for a certification can raise your conceptual understanding of the technology.
5. The organization through which you received your certification training is generally an ongoing source of information, networking, and career development.
6. Many certifications require a specified amount of continuing education to maintain your certification. This ongoing educational requirement provides additional motivation to keep current on your industry.
7. The best certification training provides not only the “what” and the “how”, but also the “why”. This “why” helps provide insights into the rationale behind the creation of seemingly unneeded or less obvious product features.
8. After completing your certification, your training/study materials can be a great technical reference and job-aid to assist you in your daily work.
9. Very often certification training includes the use of hands-on and/or simulated instruction. This ability to play with the technology in a non-production environment allows you to try new things and experiment with the technologies without the worry of causing harm to your production environment.
In addition, describing the many benefits of pursuing a technical certification, Tom went on to say that the sooner you take the certification the better. The reason was four fold:
• The sooner you have the knowledge, the sooner you can use it in the work place.
• The sooner you have your certification, the sooner you can make money because of it.
• As the technologies get more complex over time, there is the potential that the certification exams will also get more complex.
• Having an understanding of the technology’s technical foundation provides a great basis for a deeper understanding of that technology as it gets more complex. (This last item is further described below)
Tom gave a specific example of this last bullet point using Cisco routers, one of the areas where his company provides certification training. He said that the data communication industry is increasingly employing both device and network virtualization to provide innovative solutions. With each instance of abstraction, the difficulty in understanding/comprehension increases significantly. Without a solid skill set of networking fundamentals, one faces an even steeper uphill battle of staying current in the future.
In closing, having spent many years in IT management as a hiring manager of both consultants and permanent employees, is when looking through piles of resumes trying to find candidates to interview, all other things being equal (years of experience, job history, etc.), I, and many other managers, tended to give more weight to the people who had strong credentials/certifications in the needed technology. I did this for two primary reasons. First, because having the certification gave me some level of comfort that they knew the technology. Second, and quite frankly more important than the first, was that they cared enough about their profession and future career growth that they were willing to spend the time, money, and effort to maximize their professional knowledge, skill, and marketability.
Tom Woodring and his company Boss CBT can be found at www.bosscbt.tv. His company specializes in Cisco Certification Training for Network Administrators

source

Thursday, 21 February 2013

TOP IT VENDORS AND THEIR CERTIFICATION



Information Technology has never been less important since nothing without this field would work—but its role is more emphasized “NOW” when the entire globe is all but IT. The advancement of technology and the demand for meeting this race is driving the providers to emerge with latest releases of technology, services, software’s etc. every single day. You’ll fall short of reading the news of about the latest contraptions but this trail wouldn’t end.
It’s not IT which we’re emphasizing on, it’s actually about the provider’s their services and IT career certifications. The platforms these vendors lay in the form of certifications are the criteria’s, skills, abilities, and expertise for becoming a major part of this field. The department of-course is of your interest and choice. IT certifications are a way of boasting numerous benefits. They secure and assist in job retention, encourage higher salaries, bolster resume, and establish an outstanding career.
The major emphasis of this literature is on; which IT certification is best?
Well, technology professionals have generated much debate over just this question. Majority claims on vendor specific certification as the best measure of skills, while others propose on vendor independent exams as the worthy measuring tool. There are many views and reviews, and similarly others believe the highest level accreditations are the only true value credentials. When you’re considering certifications, whether vendor validated or encoded stamp, real world expertise, and so forth; it’s always about your interest. The platforms are laid in front of you, you have to just acquire and practice them.
Acquiring IT certification is not an ending phenomenon and it shouldn’t be one. Here’s a list of the best and top most IT vendors with their best certifications to choose from-let your journey decide your destination!

Android OA0-002: