Greg Bastien

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GoCertify:How important are practice test questions in preparing for a Certification exam?

Greg Bastien: Extremely important. The practice tests not only give you an idea of what to look for in the exam but they also help you exercise thinking through a problem. Problem solving is a skill like anything else and you get better at it with practice.

GoCertify:Is it possible and/or reasonable to prepare for the CSPFA exam strictly through self-study or will most candidates for this exam need to take a hands-on class?

Greg Bastien: Some people get more from a book than others. If you are able to understand the concepts and practice the skills just by using the book than I say "go for it". I usually have to see things work in order to understand how they work, that is why Chris and I tried to write to book so it explained the concepts in a clear and understandable manner.

GoCertify:How long should a candidate plan to spend working through your book before attempting the exam?

Greg Bastien: There is no specific timeline. The great thing about the "Do I Already Know This" section is that it allows the candidate to test themself before reading a chapter. Just be true to yourself, you know if you really understand the information or just got lucky. After you work through the exercises and complete the questions you will be ready.

GoCertify:Is there a particular exam order you would recommend for people Pursuing CCSP certification and if so, what would that be?

Greg Bastien: Well, I pretty much went through the tests as they are listed on the Cisco web site. Cisco SECUR (formally MCNS) provides a strong foundation of basic security principles as applied to IOS routers, to include IDS and VPN. The CSPFA is specific to the PIX Firewall while the CSIDS deals with Intrusion Detection Sensors and the IDS management. The CSVPN works through all of the Cisco VPN products and technologies, and finally Cisco SAFE ties it all together and discusses how to properly utilize the different technologies.

GoCertify:What other advice do you have for individuals who will be taking the CSPFA exam?

Greg Bastien: Three things:

• It is not possible to understand too much about a subject. If you feel that something doesn't make sense or isn't correctly described in the book please check another source, preferably Cisco TAC.
• The certification is nice but the ultimate goal is to be good at what you do.
• Be methodical, be dedicated, and set a specific goal for completion of the exam. This will help you stay focused.

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