The 5 best CCNA books for exam revision in 2015

By Sarah Morgan

The CCNA is hard but the rewards are great – a Cisco Certified Network Associate certification can net you a £40,000 salary (average advertised) and get you into network engineer roles.

This certification also opens up progression towards the renowned CCNP certifications which in turn yield higher salaries and the prospect of senior positions in the IT industry.

To pass your ICND1 and ICDN2 exams and become a certified network associate in 2015, you’re going to need the best books for CCNA revision available on the market today.

Grab several of these books as early in your revision as you can and study them as much as possible.  Don’t waste time searching online - take a look at your best picks for 2015, in no particular order…

1. Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching 200-120 Official Cert Guide Library

ISBN: 978-1587143878

Covering both ICND1 100-101 and ICND2 200-101 (both CCENT and CCNA), this package contains two entire books fully up-to-date with the latest CCNA exam topics.

Includes:

• Exercises based on key CCNA concepts
• Pearson IT Certification Practice Test software – including 100’s of exam questions
• 150 minutes of personal video mentoring from the author: Wendell Otom
• Study plan suggestions and templates
• 26 CCNA Network simulator labs

How good is it?

This book comes highly recommended - Amazon reviewers rate it 4.6 out of 5 stars rating (28 ratings). As a comprehensive base of knowledge it serves it’s a solid resource.

2. Cisco CCNA in 60 Days 

ISBN: 0956989292

This book was written by two guys who really know their stuff: co-authors Paul W. Browning and Farai Tafa are both CCIE and CCNP certified as well as being seasoned creators of CCNA revision material.

This book stands out because it approaches the CCNA in an opposite way to offerings like the Official Cert Guide Library.

Cisco CCNA in 60 days provides a dedicated study guide for each day for an entire month. After 30 days, the book proposes, you’ll be ready to take your CCENT exam and a month after this you’ll be prepared to take on the CCNA ICND2.

You’ll be checking in with your copy every day to read your daily dose, review yesterday’s lesson and track your progress.

It’s the ideal book for those of us who need a defined structure for their revision. However, if this isn’t your style of revising, it’s probably not the book for you.

IT professionals that stick to the ‘2 hours a day for 60 days’ requirement have found success. Though, only the determined few will be able to stick to this demanding schedule.

Includes:

You’ll be able to register your book online at www.in60days.com to access £250 of videos, exams, guides and even a forum to chat to your fellow 60 Day CCNAs.

How good is it?

Cisco CCNA in 60 Days comes highly rate for those that managed to stick to the demanding schedule. With an average amazon score of 4.8 out of 5 stars (36 reviews), it’s also very well received.

We love the focused scheduled, accessible and to-the-point writing and excellent motivational chapters to keep you going for the full 2 months. And don’t worry, it’s fully up to date with the material introduced in 2014.

3. CCNA Routing and Switching Study Guide: Exams 100-101, 200-101, and 200-120
ISBN: 978-1118749616

If you’ve been lurking around networking forums, chances are you’ve heard Todd Lammle’s name mentioned. Todd has authored over 25 books on Cisco certification subjects and can even boast that his book sales have surpassed those of Cisco Press.

The book covers ICND1 and ICND2 as well as the new topics introduced in 2014. Todd’s intuitive and knowledgeable approach is engaging and those new to the CCNA will find this especially appealing. Special attention should be drawn to topics like subnetting and route summarisation which are explained particularly clearly.

Includes:

• Companion Test Engine
• Electronic flashcards
• Network simulator
• Practice exams

If you’re the kind of learner who occasionally needs a break from reading, you’re in luck: bonus content includes access to 40+ MicroNugget videos from CBT Nuggets.

How good is it?

Lammle’s reputation speaks volumes but his book is let down by some poor accompanying materials. The downloadable practice questions miss the mark as one Amazon review states: ‘don’t rely on them…not like the actual exam at all.’

Amazon reviews are largely positive, however, with an average score of 4.2 out of 5 stars. Ultimately, Lammel’s easy-to-understand and to-the-point writing are great for those looking to get through both ICND exams. But, you can expect less content and background reading than Cisco’s official offering – so if you just want to get through the exams, this is for you.

4. CCNA Routing and Switching Portable Command Guide (3rd Edition)
ISBN: 978-1587204302

Published by Cisco press, condensed and is brimming with valuable information this book could prove invaluable for anyone studying for the CCNA.

In it you’ll find every Cisco IOS® Software command, keyword, command argument and associated prompts.

Plus, you’ll also get tips and examples of how to apply these commands in real-world scenarios. It’s been revamped to cover updated ICND 100-101 and ICND2 200-101 topics as well as CCNA 200-120 exams.

This book won’t form the basis of your revision, rather it should act as a quick reference resource to help you memorise commands and concepts. Store it on your eBook and take a few minutes out whenever you can.

How good is it?

Though not widely in circulation, this book has been received incredibly well. Despite Amazon UK only listing 3 reviews (albeit positive ones), Amazon.comactually lists 68 customer reviews with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 – making it the highest rated book on our list.

5. 31 Days Before Your CCENT / CCNA Certification Exam A Day-By-Day Review Guide

ISBN: 978-1587204531 (CCENT)  
ISBN: 978-1587204630 (CCNA)  

The 31 Days series is for professionals who can see the finishing line. There are two books, both published by Cisco press, covering the CCENT and CCNA exams equally.

If you’re starting to fall to pieces with a month to go until your exam this book aims to get you back on track. You’ll be using the book’s day-by-day guide and checklist to organise, prepare and review your revision in the days before your exam.

Includes:

• Visual calendar summarising each day’s topic
• Exam preparation checklist
• Mental, organisational and physical strategies for exam day

How good is it?

This book succeeds in providing a handy summary of everything you need to know for both ICND1 and ICND2 respectively. We recommend using this book alongside Wendell Odom’s comprehensive Cisco CCNA Routing and Switching 200-120 Official Cert Guide Library.

The 31 Days to CCENT / CCNA doesn’t include the important practice exams and exercises found within Odom’s bulkier Official Cert Guide Library. But, when used in tandem, both books can give you a real boost during the most important month of your revision.

How to get CCNA certified in less than a week

Books are incredible revision tools but many of us can’t commit to the dedication and distraction-free environment needed. If this sounds like you, there is an alternative to a month of studying – take a look at our CCNA course and do it all in 6 days.

If you recently passed your CCNA, what books would you recommend? And for those studying – good luck! 

About the Author:        
Sarah writes for Firebrand Training on a number of IT related topics. This includes exams, training, certification trends, project management, certification, careers advice and the industry itself. Sarah has 11 years of experience in the IT industry. 

3 Cisco CCNA certificates to boost your career in Networking

By Sarah Morgan

The CCNA is a consistently well-regarded industry certificate, assessed and supported by Cisco, an industry behemoth with 45% market share for products in the networking and communications sectors. The CCNA is an immensely popular certification amongst network professionals, but why should you actually bother with it?

A CCNA cert will not only prove and document your own knowledge, you’ll demonstrate to your boss that you have the skills and drive to progress in your career. It could even be that crucial bargaining chip to secure a raise. Having one of the CCNA certifications on your resume will help you stand out from others when applying for the same job and proves to the hiring manager that you have the requisite skills in networking.

Any one of the CCNA certifications could be the jump start you need to move up in your career. 

'A brief introduction to Cisco's associate level certifications'

Image courtesy of mconnors/ morgueFile

Cisco CCNA Security

Prerequisites - Any valid CCENT, CCNA Routing and Switching, or any CCIE certification.

The CCNA Security certificate demonstrates to organisations that you possess valuable skills involved in the implementation and maintenance of secure networks and server architecture.

With an increasing number of industry and government compliance mandates becoming necessary, even a basic level of network security can prove critical in accelerating your career. Complying with well-known security standards can provide a massive bonus to organisations; who are often more than willing to pay for someone with the skills – In the UK, Network Security Engineers earn an average salary upwards of £48,500.

As part of the certification, you’ll prove skills in the installation, monitoring and troubleshooting of network devices in order to maintain confidentiality and availability for both data and device.

Cisco CCNA Wireless

Prerequisites - Any valid CCENT, CCNA Routing and Switching, or any CCIE certification.

The wireless job market has been expanding at pace for years with companies of all sizes upgrading their infrastructure to include wireless. A study by Canalysshows that Wireless LAN shipments will represent 18% of all enterprise networking value in 2018. As one of the leaders in network innovations, it will come as no surprise that Cisco is already the market leader and actually account for 53%of wireless shipments.

Having a CCNA Wireless certificate on your resume will make it clear to prospective (and current) employers that you can implement and maintain wireless network technology.

If you already work with Cisco network infrastructures the CCNA Wireless will set yourself apart from other candidates and demonstrate a broad range of skills. Alternatively, if you’re already working within the wireless field with other vendor platforms, and you’re interested in expanding into Cisco’s technology, this certificate could prove crucial.

The CCNA Wireless certification demonstrates your knowledge in WLAN fundamentals, basic WLAN security, installation of Cisco LAN networks and WLAN maintenance.

Cisco CCNA Voice

Prerequisites - Any valid CCENT, CCNA Routing and Switching, or any CCIE certification.

Whilst better known for their network products, Cisco is also a major provider of Voice over IP (VoIP) to enterprises. The CCNA Voice cert is your first step to a career in voice networking. You’ll demonstrate you have the skills needed to deploy and maintain a Cisco Voice infrastructure using technologies like: Voicemail solutions, IP PBX and IP Telephony.

This certification confirms you have the required knowledge for specialized roles in voice technology. It’s a specialised sector, but one that pays well - Cisco Voice Engineers earn an average salary of £40,000 in the UK.

Now’s the time to get an official Cisco certification

The UK’s GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) security arm has just approved a number of CISCO products as secure. The certification allows the products to handle information up to the UK governments “Official” classification and will likely provide a big boost to the value of the Cisco brand.

The Cisco-certified will be amongst those reaping the rewards of this new government support. So what are you waiting for, ride the Cisco wave and get certified. 

About the Author:       
Sarah writes for Firebrand Training on a number of IT related topics. This includes exams, training, certification trends, project management, certification, careers advice and the industry itself. Sarah has 11 years of experience in the IT industry. 

CCNA training through Cisco’s Aspire game

Students studying for the CCNA certification can now come across a new game offered by the Cisco Learning Network. The game is called Aspire and is designed to help you train for the CCNA. The game is free but in order to complete the game, you have to buy tokens from Cisco.

Source:  amigosdeljuego.blogspot.co.uk

Once downloaded and installed, you create a user. You are then presented with a map of a small town with potential clients as seen in the image above. There are also several people that you will meet who become a part of your network of clients and employers who also can also help you with practice questions.

The Most In-Demand Certs

In this month's Certification Magazine, Dave Willmer looks at the certifications that are most attractive to employers. Dave explains: "An industry-recognized certification can provide you with a competitive edge whether you’re looking for a new position or trying to advance within your current firm." The top certs are:

Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

The (ISC)2 CISSP is a vendor-neutral certification that includes: access control, cryptography, operations security, and security architecture and design. CEOs rank security as the second-hardest functional area to fill.

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)

The Microsoft MCSE is a great differentiator because you must sit seven exams in order to pass it. Dave points out: "Job candidates who have earned any Microsoft certification have an edge in the job market."

Project Management Professional (PMP)

Firebrand Training offers more than just IT certifications. The Project Management Institute PMP is relevant to project managers in any industry - particularly IT. You need three-to-five years of project management experience in order to sit the course. This, alongside the certification, demonstrates extreme dedication and knowledge.

Certified Network Associate (CCNA)

The Cisco CCNA certification proves that you can successfully administer medium-size route and switched Cisco networks. Students sit Exams 640-822 and 640-816. On completing Exam 640-822, the student automatically becomes Cisco CCENT certified too. Two for one!

CCNA, MCSE, PMP and MCSA top the big-earners list

Research by Dice Learning has proven that it pays to be certified - with higher salaries dished out to those with the top certifications.

Evan Lesser, Director of Dice Learning, explains: "When you combine in-demand skill sets and proven salary impact, specific certifications become valuable to individual technology professionals."

An example of this is practitioners who gained Cisco Certified Network Associates (CCNA) certification. The "ability to install, configure, run and troubleshoot medium-sized routed and switched networks" - with the handling of security and wireless technologies - means there are more than 650 job opportunities requesting CCNA skills listed on Dice.com.

Professionals certified as a Project Management Professional were found to be high earners, and those unemployed were more likely to find a new role. Dice Learning claims that there are currently 1,400 jobs with PMP certification listed as a requirement. Other Microsoft certifications found to increase average salaries included: Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrators (MCSA).

Rate your salary: CCNA certification

The GoCertify website lists the average salaries for those with some of the most highly sought-after certifications.

On the CCNA certification page, salaries are listed for job roles such as Network Engineer, IT Manager and Systems Engineer. Information is provided by PayScale.

With Firebrand Training you could be CCNA certified and recognising your earning potential within six days.

Median Salary by Job - Certification: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) (United States)

Compare your salary: Get a free Salary Report