Security Certifications

Security certifications spanning network security, identity, and enterprise security management.

Certification Status

Certification Exam Code Status Expires

CCNP Security

350-701 SCOR + Concentration

EARNED

10-Nov-2027

Security+

SY0-301 (originally)

EARNED 2011-11-01

Nov 2029 (CE)

CISSP

CISSP

PENDING

Target 2026

CyberOps Associate

200-201 CBROPS

PENDING

Target 2026

Cisco Security Specialists (Auto-Earned)

Extended to 2029 via AIBIZ CEUs.

Specialist Source Exam Active Since Expires

Security Core

350-701 SCOR

2018-02-24

28-Feb-2029

Security Identity Management

300-715 SISE

2017-10-06

28-Feb-2029

Network Security VPN

300-730 SVPN

2018-01-27

28-Feb-2029

Network Security Firewalls

300-710 SNCF

2018-02-24

28-Feb-2029

Web Content Security

300-725 SWSA

2017-11-14

28-Feb-2029

CCNP Security

Core Exam: 350-701 SCOR

Duration

120 minutes

Questions

90-110

Passing

825/1000

Cost

$400

Topics

  • Security concepts (25%)

  • Network security (20%)

  • Cloud security (15%)

  • Content security (15%)

  • Endpoint protection (10%)

  • Secure access (15%)

Concentration Exams (Pick One)

Exam Code Focus

SISE

300-715

Identity Services Engine (your specialty)

SVPN

300-730

VPN technologies

SNCF

300-710

Firepower/FTD

SWSA

300-725

Web Security Appliance

SESA

300-720

Email Security Appliance

Kernel Relevance

CCNP Security Topic Kernel Location

Firewalls/ACLs

net/netfilter/, nftables, iptables

VPNs/IPsec

net/xfrm/, crypto/

802.1X/MACsec

net/8021q/, drivers/net/macsec.c

Cryptography

crypto/, lib/crypto/

Threat detection

eBPF, Falco, Tetragon

SISE Specialist (300-715) - Your Specialty

Cisco ISE configuration and troubleshooting - your core expertise.

Topics

  • Architecture and deployment (10%)

  • Identity management (15%)

  • Access policy (25%)

  • Guest/BYOD (15%)

  • Profiling (10%)

  • TrustSec (10%)

  • Web authentication (10%)

  • Compliance/posture (5%)

Daily Application

  • EAP-TLS deployment (home enterprise)

  • netapi CLI for ISE automation

  • dACL management

  • DataConnect SQL queries

CISSP (Pending)

Eight Domains

Domain Focus Weight

1. Security & Risk Management

Governance, compliance, ethics

15%

2. Asset Security

Data classification, handling

10%

3. Security Architecture

Design principles, models

13%

4. Communication & Network

Secure design, channels

13%

5. IAM

Identity, access control

13%

6. Security Assessment

Testing, auditing

12%

7. Security Operations

Monitoring, incident response

13%

8. Software Development Security

SDLC, secure coding

11%

Study Strategy

  • "Think like a manager" not engineer

  • Official (ISC)2 Study Guide

  • Boson practice exams

  • Kernel roadmap shows how technical depth supports Domain 3, 4, 6

CyberOps Associate (Pending)

Exam: 200-201 CBROPS

Duration

120 minutes

Questions

95-105

Cost

$330

Topics

  • Security concepts (20%)

  • Security monitoring (25%)

  • Host-based analysis (20%)

  • Network intrusion analysis (20%)

  • Security policies (15%)

Kernel Relevance

SOC work involves understanding kernel-level indicators: - Syscall analysis (strace, eBPF) - Network packet inspection (tcpdump, Wireshark → kernel capture) - Process forensics (procfs, /proc/<pid>/*) - Memory analysis (kernel structures)

Security+

Exam: SY0-701

Duration

90 minutes

Questions

90

Passing

750/900

Cost

$392

Topics

  • General security concepts (12%)

  • Threats, vulnerabilities, mitigations (22%)

  • Security architecture (18%)

  • Security operations (28%)

  • Security program management (20%)

Vendor-neutral foundation that complements Cisco security stack.