CCNA Cyber Ops

By pursuing the Cisco CCNA CyberOps certification, I aimed to strengthen my cybersecurity fundamentals and gain a deeper understanding of the skills required for working in a Security Operations Center (SOC). I also want to learn more about vendor-specific tools that are related to Cisco.

When preparing for the CompTIA Security+ exam in the past, I found that using a variety of resources was the most effective study strategy. To begin, I purchased the official exam book and skimmed through it, focusing on sections where I had limited knowledge. I took notes and used sticky notes to 'markup' the reading material, keeping myself engaged.

The book included free practice questions, which I worked on for about two weeks, taking practice tests two to three times a day. Additionally, I conducted research on platforms like Reddit, YouTube, and Cisco U, where I found a relevant course for the exam. I also enrolled in a Udemy course, which I thoroughly went through. Although it covered topics not on the actual certification exam, such as Kali Linux, it was still interesting and reinforced other areas I had experience with.

After completing the practice exams, I watched YouTube videos and explored the Cisco U course to see if they offered additional information or different topics. One particularly helpful channel was Chris Greer's Wireshark tutorials, especially his presentation on the TCP handshake.

Once I finished these courses, I reread the official exam book with a more focused approach. I reviewed the sections listed in the exam topics and treated each as a question. If I struggled to answer, I revisited the relevant sections in the book. Finally, I scheduled my exam and found another practice question website, which I used for about two weeks before taking the test.

I found the certification book and the Wireshark videos to be the most beneficial resources for studying. Having used Wireshark extensively in the past, it was nice to get a refresher and hear an expert highlight aspects I might have forgotten or missed. Additionally, doing numerous practice questions helped reinforce my knowledge and pick out answers in a 'test' setting, making the actual exam feel less daunting and more familiar.

Overall, I had a positive experience taking this test. I learned a lot about various topics, from SOC operating procedures to every step of how protocols like RADIUS are used and set up. Some learning materials were better than others—for example, Chris Greer's YouTube videos and the official certification book. I am looking forward to taking my next certification test and hope this write-up provides some insight into the test and some study starting points that may help you save time.