Cisco Rolls Out New Cybersecurity Certification, Reworks CCNP Security Badge

Cisco Systems (CSCO) said that its 2014 Annual Security Report revealed about 1 million new security professionals are needed worldwide to combat the ever-growing cyber threat.

Because the tools used by online crooks to break into networks and pilfer data can surpass the ability of IT and security professionals to thwart intrusions, Cisco has reworked its network security certifications, offering a new Cybersecurity Specialist badge and updating its CCNP Security Certification to provide new training and a wider view of network security.

“We’ve had a long commitment in our certification programs, in the Cisco Learning programs, and here we are again, evolving just like the threats do, with our training,” said John Stewart, Cisco Chief Security Officer (CSO).

“More and more skills are needed and the threats are evolving,” Stewart said. “We can build the best products but if we don’t also work together—universities, companies and certainly, technological designers—with the best training, we’re only getting halfway.”

The CCNP certification maps to the job role of the Cisco Network Security Engineer responsible for security in Routers, Switches, Networking devices and appliances. CCNP-equipped engineers choose, deploy, support and troubleshoot firewalls, VPNS and IDS/IPS solutions for their networking environments.

Cisco has refreshed the designation with four new courses and related exams, including Implementing Cisco Edge Network Security Solutions; Implementing Cisco Threat Control Solutions; Implementing Cisco Secure Access Solutions; and Implementing Cisco Secure Mobility Solutions.

The new Cybersecurity Specialist Certification is aimed at providing Network Security Analysts with the latest threat detection and mitigation skills, leveraging advanced security solutions from Cisco and other providers. The new training course and related exam for the Cybersecurity Specialist—focusing on event monitoring, security event alarm, traffic analysis and incident response—is Securing Cisco Networks with Threat Detection and Analysis.

In addition, Cisco also has unwrapped four new security training courses for network security professionals to stay abreast of the vendor’s products, including: Implementing Advanced Cisco ASA Security; Implementing Cisco Bring Your Own Device Solutions; Implementing Core Cisco ASA Security; and, Implementing & Configuring Cisco Identity Services Engine for Wireless Engineers.

The new exams will be available Jan. 24 and students can register through Pearson VUE. The last date to test for current CCNP Security Exams is April 21.

Cisco also is retiring five security specialist certifications, effective April 22, including the Cisco ASA Specialist, Cisco Firewall Security Specialist, Cisco IOS Security Specialist, Cisco IPS Security Specialist and Cisco VPN Security Specialist. Exams for these specializations no longer will be offered after that date.