I'm considering Apple networking/security certification and would like to hear about some experiences from people who have taken courses and/or are certified Apple consultants. Which courses did you start with, which were the most helpful, where you began, etc. etc. I'm a 20+ year Mac user but have not considered certified training until now and wanted to hear any feedback and suggestion from others about it.
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Apple Training/Certification Courses
- Thread starter natemac
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If you're after networking and security Apple is not the company to train with. You'd be better off going for the Cisco certs, such as the CCNP or the new CCNPS (which is replacing the CCSP). Networking technologies are more standardised than endpoint platforms. Once you understand the concepts and protocols and how they relate you can gain knowledge on how endpoints implement them just by reading the OS vendor's support sites.
More details over on Cisco.com
More details over on Cisco.com
This part completely contradicts the other parts of your post but it is the truth. You really need to start with the basics and work your way up. A lot of vendors have certifications that certify you for their products only. Cisco is such a vendor. They teach you some important stuff but it will be aimed at their products. So if you're working with Juniper equipment it doesn't make sense to get a Cisco certification. It's more helpful to get some Juniper certification instead. Apart from that you don't always need certification. Vendor support sites and other online (and even offline) resources can be enough.
So basically you need to ask yourself why you'd want a certification and then which one.
My main interest in Apple/Mac Certification is to fill a need at a friend's IT consulting firm. They do not have an Apple certified technician to deal with setting up networks between PC and Mac, mobile computing support, security involving Macs, etc.
can i take this course online ?
Apple Certified System Administrator (ACSA 10.6)
http://training.apple.com/certification/macosx
Apple Certified System Administrator (ACSA 10.6)
http://training.apple.com/certification/macosx
The encryption and hashing algorithms are pretty standardised regardless of platform, as are most of the implementations of 802.1whatever, STP, LACP, OSPF, BGP etc. The Cisco certs teach you about the protocols, THEN how to implement them on a Cisco platform. Even if you never touch a Cisco device again you will still gain the base knowledge about how networking at the various OSI layers string together, as well as how TCP/IP fits into the OSI model and what you need to do to secure the various protocols within it.
And yes, you can get everything you need for free from the Web if you want. The RFC documents themselves are all publicly there. However, that's not really what I would recommend for someone just starting out, and the OP specifically asked about certs.
That's the theory but my experience tells me otherwise. Most Cisco people know little about those common things compared to people who didn't went through Cisco certification stuff. Strangely I keep explaining stuff to Cisco certified people because they don't understand/get it. Cisco's main focus still is their own protocols and their own products but that's the entire purpose of a manufacturers certification anyway
They certify that you have knowledge about their products and their standards.That's why it is important to learn what certifications are and when you need them. They are certainly not the holy grail, silver bullet, etc. Get some basic education first, then start specialising by getting some certification.
What level are you dealing with? There's absolutely no way anyone can genuinely obtain the CCNP without having a greater than working knowledge about IPv4/6, BGP, OSPF, 802.1x etc. So either you're encountering CCNAs or complete muppets who are braindumping the exams without doing the work involved.
Comparing Apples (Pardon the pun) and Oranges
A lot of you are comparing apples and oranges here. Cisco certs are for working with network devices such as routers and switches. Apple certs are for working with Macs and Mac software. Different certs; different purposes.
Apple offers the following IT certs as of this writing:
Mac Integration Basics 10.6 - Entry-level and can be taken online.
Apple Certified Support Professional 10.6 - Computer exam at Prometric.
Apple Certified Technical Coordinator - 2 tests at Prometric.
Apple Certified System Administrator - 4 tests at Prometric.
Hope that helps.
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Apple Certification Videos
A lot of you are comparing apples and oranges here. Cisco certs are for working with network devices such as routers and switches. Apple certs are for working with Macs and Mac software. Different certs; different purposes.
Apple offers the following IT certs as of this writing:
Mac Integration Basics 10.6 - Entry-level and can be taken online.
Apple Certified Support Professional 10.6 - Computer exam at Prometric.
Apple Certified Technical Coordinator - 2 tests at Prometric.
Apple Certified System Administrator - 4 tests at Prometric.
Hope that helps.
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Apple Certification Videos
I've literally just done the ACSP course.
Although its the lowest level, apparently im told its one of the toughest as you need to know a little bit of everything, rather than one thing specifically. Its good for my role, and whilst you may find it useful, if you've been a mac user for 20 years and mac a habit of proactively investigating the OS settings and levels you may find it not brilliant.
You can get the jist of the course by looking through the peachpit textbooks for them
Although its the lowest level, apparently im told its one of the toughest as you need to know a little bit of everything, rather than one thing specifically. Its good for my role, and whilst you may find it useful, if you've been a mac user for 20 years and mac a habit of proactively investigating the OS settings and levels you may find it not brilliant.
You can get the jist of the course by looking through the peachpit textbooks for them
Certifying would be good for you then. You can self-study with the peachpit books or take the class. Some people do better one way, some the other.
London UK
Academy Class run courses in the UK.
I work as an IT Technician and managed to get my work to stump up for training for me, however i work in Glasgow and although they say they run courses in all major UK cities, they actually dont.
I called them up to do support and server essentials and the guy just asked me if i can go to London. I told hem London was quite a distance away at massive extra expense and he just said thats my only option, the other cities dont have enough people wanting to do the courses so they dont run them.
I bought myself the support essentials book so i will work through that, sit the exam somehow then hopefully my work will be able to pay for server essentials since i dont the first lot myself.
I think you missed the joke, I jokingly asked for a joke, and he asked if i was in chicago....
I've done the training with amsys, very good course, would thoroughly recomend, unfortunately based in london....
however it does look like cryptic peach might do them in glasgow.
Tell you what. PM me your resume. We have offices throughout Europe, let me see what I can do. I can give you more details about the company over PM.
Cheers mate ill have a look at it! Sorry for missing the joke!
EDIT: Thats just another place that lists glasgow as a location but doesnt do any of the support courses there just 2 Acrobat 9 ones.
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I hate it when they do that.....
You could just get the peachpit books and work through those?
Yeah i just got the support essentials one, it seems to be mostly stuff i know already but i want to do it and get the exam done. Any idea how much it costs to sit the exam?
I have a server now too so once the first exam is out of the way i want to get the server course done too.