Still here

Sorry, I’ve been a little slack with that second update on the lab. Reason? I’m studying again.

Since I arrive in the UK looking for work, I have always fallen short in one main area…..Security. Because of this I’ve only been considered for a handful of roles. Although I do have a lot of experience with Inspection, IPS, and IPSEC and general security on IOS based platforms, I don’t have very much experience with PIX and ASA products. Well I kinda do, but it was a fair while ago and it simply doesn’t hold up in an interview because I’d forgotten even some of the basic rules to their operation.

My goal after achieving IE status was to get up to speed with security platforms like the PIX and ASA again so that I can vastly improve my employment prospects.

After studying for about a week I started to get the bug again, and I’m at a crossroads….

I always thought that after getting my R&S that I would move on to Service Provider since I already have my CCIP and a lot of experience with MPLS VPN solutions. I was even thinking about buying the study material before finishing my first IE. But now I’m not so sure….

I’m now leaning towards an IE in Security but I think it’s more of a challenge and just generally more interesting to me.

So got myself a copy of David Huccaby’s Cisco ASA, PIX, and FWSM Firewall Handbook, and Cisco ASA – All-in-One Firewall, IPS, and VPN Adaptive Security Appliance, which are accompanied by GNS3 with PEMU for some labbing.

At this stage I’m just going to take baby steps, but I think first up I’ll do three of the CCSP exams that make up the ASA specialist certification and see how we go from there. Starting with SNAF (Securing Network with ASA Foundation), then CCNA Security, followed by SNAA (Securing Networks with ASA Advanced).

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As far as work goes, I’ve been looking for a little over two weeks now and after a few tweaks of the resume, and submitting it to the right places I’m starting to generate some good interest. Let me tell you, having a CCIE on your resume definitely raises some eyebrows. Recruiters call you, not the other way around. So with any luck I’ll be employed before the week is out…