Best Computer Networking Certifications for 2015
IT professionals skilled in the many areas of networking remain in high demand in today's job market. Those who are serious about a career in networking should consider one or more of these best networking certifications in order to set themselves apart from the competition.
When it comes to the care and feeding of modern networks, there's quite a laundry list of tools and technologies that qualified IT professionals must master -- especially those who aspire to work as Network Administrators.
In addition to the servers and clients that make up the end-points in such environments, there's a lot of network infrastructure to worry about nowadays, too. This includes, switches, routers, plus many of a raft of network appliances such as Unified Threat Management (UTM), firewalls, WAN optimization, spam and e-mail filtering, content filtering, and a whole lot more.
Getting your head around all of the different certification options and specialties can be challenging. Some well-known, highly regarded networking certifications can help. In this article we look at five networking certifications we consider to be leaders in the field of networking for 2015.
Top 5 Networking Certs
MCSE: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert
CCNP: Cisco Certified Network Professional
RHCE: Red Hat Certified Engineer
CompTIA Network+
CCIE: Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert
Beyond the Top 5: More Networking Certs
MCSE: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert
The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) is the prevailing mid-range Microsoft certification that covers most administrative job roles, including systems administration at both the desktop and server levels, as well as more specialized job roles that include Private Cloud, Data Platform and Business Intelligence (SQL Server), Messaging (Exchange Server), Communication (Lync Server) and SharePoint.
But the brightest lights in this group for networking content are those that address Windows Server for desktop infrastructure, server infrastructure and private cloud topics. These credentials don't specifically use "network administrator" in their descriptions and nomenclature, and they do fall under systems administration headings. But because there's so much networking involved in modern server administration the MCSE ranks as one of the top networking certifications you can achieve today.
Check out: Microsoft Certifications & Career Paths
Beyond the MCSE (and underlying Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate or MCSA), Microsoft also offers its Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) credential. While not required to obtain the MCSA or MCSE certifications, the MTA is an entry point into the Microsoft certification towers for those seeking to validate their core knowledge in IT fundamentals. The MTA offers Server, Desktop, Applications, Database and Developer certification tracks.
Table 1: MCSE Facts & Figures
| Certification Name | Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) tracks: - MCSE: Server Infrastructure - MCSE: Desktop Infrastructure - MCSE: Private Cloud |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites/Required Courses | No required courses. The the MCSA: Windows Server 2012 certification is a prerequisite (three exams: 70-410, 70-411 and 70-412). |
| Number of Exams | MCSE: Server Infrastructure: - Exam 70-413: Designing and Implementing a Server Infrastructure - Exam 70-414: Implementing and Advanced Server Infrastructure MCSE: Desktop Infrastructure: - Exam 70-415: Implementing a Desktop Infrastructure - Exam 70-416: Implementing Desktop Application Environments MCSE: Private Cloud: - Exam 70-246: Monitoring & Operating a Private Cloud with System Center - Exam 70-247: Configuring & Deploying a Private Cloud with System Center |
| Cost per Exam | $150 USD per exam; prices vary by location. |
| URL | www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mcse-certification.aspx |
| Self-Study Materials | Practice tests, self-paced training, distance learning, books, online resources, recommended learning plans and more available at Microsoft Learning:www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/exam.aspx#tab2 |
CCNP: Cisco Certified Network Professional
The Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is a credential that takes square aim at platforms and products from a leading networking equipment vendor found in the majority of communications and Internet service providers, not to mention enterprises and businesses of all sizes, as well as government, research and academia. It's hard to go wrong by earning Cisco certification nowadays, and the CCNP is its leading mid-range credential across a wide variety of specialties.
The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) is a required stepping-stone to the CCNP. What usually comes after the CCNP for most networking professionals could be another CCNP (different specialty), one or more Cisco Specialist certifications, or the evergreen and advanced Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) -- which is also available in numerous specializations, in parallel with CCNA and CCNP credentials.
Table 2: CCNP Facts & Figures
| Certification Name | Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) CCNP Specialties: - CCNP: Voice - CCNP: Wireless - CCNP: Data Center - CCNP: Security - CCNP: Service Provider - CCNP: Service Provider Operations - CCNP: Routing and Switching |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites/Required Courses | A valid CCNA or CCIE credential are required. Prerequisites for specialty CCNP certifications include the CCNA certification in the chosen concentration area or any CCIE credential. |
| Number of Exams | The primary CCNP requires three exams: - 642-902: Implementing Cisco IP Routing or 300-101 ROUTE - 642-813: Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks or 300-115 SWITCH - 642-832: Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks or 300-135 TSHOOT Note: After January 30, 2015, the only exams available for testing will be 300-101 ROUTE, 300-115 SWITCH and 300-135 TSHOOT. The last day to test on 642-901 ROUTE, 642-813 SWITCH and 642-832 TSHOOT is January 29, 2015. CCNP specializations require four to five additional exams depending on the certification path. |
| Cost per Exam | CCNP: $250 USD per exam; $750 USD total for the primary CCNP credential. |
| URL | www.cisco.com/web/learning/certifications/professional/ccnp/index.html |
| Self-Study Materials | Recommended training is listed online for each CCNP track. Self-study materials include books, flash cards, practice tests, virtual and physical labs, and more. |
Red Hat is a major presence in many data centers nowadays, particularly amidst various cloud service providers, communications and Internet providers, and private cloud operations at many levels of scale and complexity. The Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) has long been a desirable IT certification for those who work with Linux in an enterprise or high-volume production environment, and has always included substantial networking component. RHCE remains both interesting and desirable for practicing and prospective network administrators who work with Linux on a day-to-day basis.
As a prerequisite for the RHCE, candidates must first obtain the Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) certification. The single exam for the RHCSA credential is $250 USD, which will bring the total exam fees for the RHCE credential to $650 USD.
Table 3: RHCE Facts & Figures
| Certification Name | Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites/Required Courses | Candidates must hold a current Red Hat Certified System Administrator (RHCSA) certification (one exam: EX200). Courses are available and recommended but not required. |
| Number of Exams | One exam: EX300-Red Hat Certified Engineer |
| Cost per Exam | $400 USD |
| URL | www.redhat.com/en/services/certification/rhce |
| Self-Study Materials | Multiple training options are available, including online, classroom, self-paced, virtual, and more: www.redhat.com/training/ways_to_train/. |
CompTIA Network+
There aren't that many entry-level networking IT certifications around, probably because CompTIA's Network+ credential more or less owns this particular certification niche. Many IT and certification pundits, including us, believe the Network+ to be an important early check-box element in any savvy IT professional's basic certification portfolio. If you're just starting out, this is a cert for you.
CompTIA Network+ is also a vendor-neutral certification and a stepping stone to a number of more advanced networking credentials. Some vendor-specific certification programs even include it as a prerequisite.
Table 4: Network+ Facts & Figures
| Certification Name: | CompTIA Network+ |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites/Required Courses: | None |
| Number of Exams: | One exam: N10-005 (JK0-019 for CompTIA Academy Partners) |
| Cost per Exam: | $261 USD; prices vary by location and membership. |
| URL: | certification.comptia.org/getCertified/certifications/network.aspx |
| Self-Study Materials: | CompTIA Study Materials: Exam objectives, sample questions, study guides ($50 USD), classroom and e-learning training, CertMaster online learning tool:certification.comptia.org/training/studymaterials.aspx Books: Network+ Guide to Networks, 6th edition, by Tamara Dean, June 14, 2012, Cengage Learning, ISBN-10: 1133608191, ISBN-13: 978-1133608196 CompTIA Network+ All-in-One Exam Guide: Exam N10-005, 5th edition, by Michael Meyers, January 9, 2012, McGraw-Hill Osborne Media, ISBN-10: 0071789227, ISBN-13: 978-0071789226 CompTIA Network+ N10-005 Authorized Cert Guide, by Kevin Wallace, November 27, 2011, ISBN-10: 0789748215, ISBN-13: 978-0789748218 Practice Exams: CompTIA Network+ Sample Questions: certification.comptia.org Network+ Practice Exams, by ProProfs: proprofs.com Self-Paced Training: CompTIA Network+ Training Kit (Exam N10-005), by Craig Zacker, December 2012, Microsoft Press/O’Reilly Media, ISBN-10: 0735662754, ISBN-13: 978-0735662759 CompTIA Network+ Deluxe Study Guide Recommended Courseware: Exam N10-005, 2nd edition, by Todd Lammle, February 21, 2012, Sybex, ISBN-10: 111813754X, ISBN-13: 978-1118137543 Other self-paced training available through CompTIA:certification.comptia.org/Training/studymaterials.aspx |
Certainly the unparalleled networking certification today is and remains the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE), which comes in a wide range of specialties. The annual production of CCIEs remains small enough that Cisco still claims it could hire all of them itself, with demand and appreciation for this difficult and rewarding certification still extremely high. Over the past few years, the Storage Networking credential gave way to the Collaboration specialty, and the Data Center credential was introduced.
Although the road to obtaining the CCIE is long and hard, it will be well worth the effort, time and money spent. This is a credential that will open doors to plenty of job opportunities and high salaries.
Table 5: CCIE Facts & Figures
Although the road to obtaining the CCIE is long and hard, it will be well worth the effort, time and money spent. This is a credential that will open doors to plenty of job opportunities and high salaries.
Table 5: CCIE Facts & Figures
| Certification Name | Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites/ Required Courses | None |
| Number of Exams | Every CCIE track requires both a written and lab exam. Written exam scores are valid for 18 months. Lab exams must be attempted within 18 months of the written exam. CCIE candidates may not schedule a lab exam until a passing score is received on the written exam. Candidates must retake the written exam if the lab exam is not passed within 3 years. CCIE Collaboration: - CCIE Collaboration Written Exam: 400-051 - CCIE Collaboration Lab Exam CCIE Data Center: - CCIE Data Center Written Exam: 350-080 - CCIE Data Center Lab Exam CCIE Routing and Switching: - CCIE Routing and Switching Written Exam: 400-101 - Routing and Switching Lab Exam CCIE Security: - CCIE Security Written Exam: 350-018 - CCIE Security Lab Exam CCIE Service Provider: - CCIE SP Written Exam: 350-029 - CCIE SP Lab Exam CCIE Service Provider Operations: - CCIE SP Operations Written Exam v1.0: 350-060 - CCIE SP Operations Practical Exam CCIE Wireless: - CCIE Wireless Written Exam: 350-050 - CCIE Wireless Lab Exam |
| Cost per Exam | Written exam: $400 USD or equivalent worldwide. Lab exam: $1,600 USD or equivalent worldwide. Note: Exam rates vary based on exchange rates and local taxes (VAT, GST) |
| URL | www.cisco.com/web/learning/certifications/expert/index.html |
| Self-Study Materials | Free self-assessments available through the Cisco Learning Network Store. Other learning opportunities include study documents, recommended reading, test examples, training opportunities, online communities, study groups and more, all available through the Cisco Learning Network. |
Beyond the Top 5: More Networking Certs
Outside of the top 6 networking certifications, there are lots of other choices for networking professionals to investigate and pursue. Many major networking vendors, including Juniper,Brocade, Alcatel-Lucent, F5 and even HP, offer networking focused credentials that ascend all the way to advanced or expert level credentials. Serious network professionals will also want to check out the certifications offered by Avaya, Citrix and Extreme Networks.
If you don't see something you like in our short list of the leading networking certs, that doesn't mean there's nothing else to choose from, by any means. As you explore your options, take a look at some of our networking-related certification and career options:
THE TOP ANDROID APPS FOR HACKING
1. SpoofApp:- SpoofApp is a Caller ID Spoofing, Voice Changing and Call Recording mobile app for your iPhone, BlackBerry and Android phone. It’s a decent mobile app to help protect your privacy on the phone. However, it has been banned from the Play Store for allegedly being in conflict with The Truth in Caller ID Act of 2009.
2. Andosid:- The DOS tool for Android Phones allows security professionals to simulate a DOS attack (an http post flood attack to be exact) and of course a dDOS on a web server, from mobile phones.
3.Faceniff:- Allows you to sniff and intercept web session profiles over the WiFi that your mobile is connected to. It is possible to hijack sessions only when WiFi is not using EAP, but it should work over any private networks.
4.Nmapper:- (Network Mapper) is a security scanner originally written by Gordon Lyon used to discover hosts and services on a computer network, thus creating a “map” of the network. To accomplish its goal, Nmapper sends specially crafted packets to the target host and then analyses the responses.
5. Anti-Android Network Toolkit:- zANTI is a comprehensive network diagnostics toolkit that enables complex audits and penetration tests at the push of a button. It provides cloud-based reporting that walks you through simple guidelines to ensure network safety.
6. SSHDroid:- SSHDroid is a SSH server implementation for Android. This application will let you connect to your device from a PC and execute commands (like “terminal” and “adb shell”) or edit files (through SFTP, WinSCP, Cyberduck, etc).
7. WiFi Analyser:- Turns your android phone into a Wi-Fi analyser. Shows the Wi-Fi channels around you. Helps you to find a less crowded channel for your wireless router.
8. Network Discovery:- Discover hosts and scan their ports in your Wifi network. A great tool for testing your network security.
9. ConnectBot:- ConnectBot is a powerful open-source Secure Shell (SSH) client. It can manage simultaneous SSH sessions, create secure tunnels, and copy/paste between other applications. This client allows you to connect to Secure Shell servers that typically run on UNIX-based servers.
10. dSploit:-Android network analysis and penetration suite offering the most complete and advanced professional toolkit to perform network security assesments on a mobile device.
11. Hackode:- The hacker’s Toolbox is an application for penetration tester, Ethical hackers, IT administrator and Cyber security professional to perform different tasks like reconnaissance, scanning performing exploits etc.
12.Androrat:- Remote Administration Tool for Android. Androrat is a client/server application developed in Java Android for the client side and in Java/Swing for the Server.
13.APKInspector:- APKinspector is a powerful GUI tool for analysts to analyse the Android applications. The goal of this project is to aide analysts and reverse engineers to visualize compiled Android packages and their corresponding DEX code.
14.DroidBox:- DroidBox is developed to offer dynamic analysis of Android applications.
15.Burp Suite:- Burp Suite is an integrated platform for performing security testing of web applications. Its various tools work seamlessly together to support the entire testing process, from initial mapping and analysis of an application’s attack surface, through to finding and exploiting security vulnerabilities.
16. Droid Sheep:- DroidSheep can be easily used by anybody who has an Android device and only the provider of the web service can protect the users. So Anybody can test the security of his account by himself and can decide whether to keep on using the web service.
17. AppUse:– Android Pentest Platform Unified Standalone Environment:- AppSec Labs recently developed the AppUse Virtual Machine. This system is a unique, free, platform for mobile application security testing in the android environment, and it includes unique custom-made tools created by AppSec Labs.
18. Shark for Root:- Traffic sniffer, works on 3G and WiFi (works on FroYo tethered mode too). To open dump use WireShark or similar software, for preview dump on phone use Shark Reader. Based on tcpdump.
19. Fing:- Find out which devices are connected to your Wi-Fi network, in just a few seconds.
Fast and accurate, Fing is a professional App for network analysis. A simple and intuitive interface helps you evaluate security levels, detect intruders and resolve network issues.
Fast and accurate, Fing is a professional App for network analysis. A simple and intuitive interface helps you evaluate security levels, detect intruders and resolve network issues.
20.Drozer:- drozer enables you to search for security vulnerabilities in apps and devices by assuming the role of an app and interacting with the Dalvik VM, other apps’ IPC endpoints and the underlying OS. drozer provides tools to help you use and share public Android exploits. It helps you to deploy a drozer agent by using weasel – MWR’s advanced exploitation payload.
21. WifiKill:- Second app, developed also by B.Ponury is an app which can kill connections and kick site-hoggers from the site. This app definitely kick then net user from the site so he cannot use it anymore. The app also offers the list of viewed sites by the hogger.
22. DroidSniff:- Similar to DroidSheep but with a newer and nicer interface is DroidSniff – sniffing app not only for Facebook. This app shows you what is the hogger looking for and then you can “take” his control, steal the cookies and rock’n’roll. Works perfectly.
23. Network Spoofer:- The last app, called NetWork Spoofer is very similar to dSploit but it’s more easier to use. Only hitch is that you need to have at least 500MB of free data. It offers you a lot of troll features – change Google searches, flip images, redirect websites, swap YouTube videos and others.
24. Droid SQLI:- allows you to test your MySQL based web application against SQL injection attacks. DroidSQLi supports the following injection techniques: Time based injection, blind injection, error based injection, normal injection.
25. sqlmapchik:- is a cross-platform sqlmap GUI for the extremely popular sqlmap tool
LEARN CYBER SECURITY FUNDAMENTALS (FREE COURSE)
SANS Cyber Aces Online makes available, free and online, selected courses from the professional development curriculum offered by The SANS Institute, the global leader in cyber security training. SANS goal in making these courses available as open courseware is to help grow the talent pool and accelerate the rate at which skilled cyber professionals can enter the information security industry – filling mission critical jobs currently going unfilled.
The open courses are the same as those offered to information security professionals around the world and are focused on the fundamentals of cyber security.
Our hope is that individuals, schools, teachers, businesses, and more will benefit from this offering and, ultimately, help strengthen the security of our nation.
For anyone with an interest in learning more about making online information more secure, this course teaches the core concepts needed to understand, assess, and protect information security systems.
view all their FREE tutorials here
HOW TO BECOME AN ETHICAL HACKER
AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE
TO BECOMING AN ETHICAL HACKER
.PNG)
I
often get a number of people ask for guidance about how they can become
an ethical hacker. I also receive even more requests about how to become a
black hat hacker. The latter requests are ignored. below is a definition of an
ethical hacker
Ethical
hacker
- a person who hacks into a computer network in order
to test or evaluate its security, rather than with malicious or criminal
intent.
So
if you want to be an ethical hacker the truth is there is no easy method to become
a skilled hacker…… it’s easy to be a script kiddie and load up
Armitage or Fast-track and fire every exploit known to man at a target. But
what’s the point at firing Linux exploits at a Windows box!.
If
you want to get into the IT security world as a white hat you must be
competent in the following areas:
Once
you have a fairly good knowledge of the above points THEN it would a good idea
to learn about hacking. So now you have a good understanding of the
fundamentals of IT, you can now understand how to break some of the underlying
vulnerabilities within computer architecture. The following activities
should help you with this:
What areas to concentrate on in order to
build a foundation
Programming – Focus on learning C++,
Python/Ruby and PHP.
Read books
about hacking (Here are some good examples of some) -
Undertake
various online courses
Communicate
and follow other fellow IT security enthusiasts through the following
mediums
Self learn
by reading and watching online tutorials
Download
practice environments to practice and hone newly learned skills
Tag :
CEH