Roadmap to Success: Check Point CCSA
Roadmap to Success is a series of posts designed to help learners better understand certification pathways, career opportunities associated with those certifications, and the next steps beyond certification.
Information security is a growing concern for organizations of every size. As the need for IT security professionals grows, the need for certifications related to the security field expands.
The Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) certification equips learners to manage and support Check Point Security Gateway systems, configure security policies, monitor network traffic, and ensure network security.
Roles typically affiliated with the CCSA certification include security engineer, senior network engineer, and security analyst.
What is the Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA)?
The Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) certification is an intermediate-level security certification that ensures learners have the skills and knowledge needed to:
Install the security gateway and security management server
Configure objects in SmartConsole
Identify tools to manage Check Point licenses
Explain how policy layers affect traffic inspection
Configure (manually and automatically) Network Address Translation
Understand application control and URL filtering
Configure logging parameters
Understand how to monitor the health of supported Check Point hardware using Gaia Portal and command line
Though there are no formal prerequisites for the CCSA, it is an intermediate-level certification, so learners should have a basic knowledge of networking security, experience working with Windows Server and UNIX, and internet and TCP/IP experience.
Learners should also have a year of experience working with Check Point products. We recommend that they consider earning an entry-level security certification before attempting the CCSA.
CCSA Exam Details
Learners seeking the CCSA begin by setting up a Check Point user profile. Here are other details about what to expect on exam day.
Time allotted for exams: 90 minutes
Number of questions: 60-100
Question types: Multiple choice; scenario
Passing score: 70%
Exam registration: Pearson Vue
Exam cost: $250
Recertification: The CCSA is valid for two years. Learners can recertify their certifications by retaking the current version of the exam or by passing a higher-level Check Point certification.
Preparing for the Check Point CCSA
Check Point offers a three-day course for each of their certifications, which you can find here. They also provide a course overview to help you understand what the exam covers and how to prepare. CBT Nuggets trainers also have courses for CheckPoint certifications and a course for the older version of the CCSA.
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Some learners may choose to diversify their resumes by choosing to pursue certifications outside of Check Point products. Certifications often pursued by CBT Nuggets learners include:
Will CCAS Improve Your Career Considerations?
Payscale.com provides a helpful salary guide to help learners determine appropriate pay scales for job opportunities associated with the CCSA. Payscale.com reports a range of salaries between $64,000 and $136,000.
However, the breadth of this range might be misleading. Learners should note that professional experience and other certifications must be in the upper levels of the salary range. Roles that are common for those holding a CCSA certification include network security engineer, senior network engineer, cyber security engineer, etc.
Understanding Check Point Certification Pathways
Check Point has developed a simple and direct certification pathway. It consists of just four certifications for learners who are just beginning their Check Point training as well as seasoned CheckPoint and security professionals.
Certifications offered by Check Point include:
Check Point Certified Security Master (CCSM): CCSA + CCSE + 2 Infinity Specialist Accreditations
Check Point Certified Security Master Elite (CCSM Elite): CCSM + 2 additional Infinity Specialist Accreditations.
The core certifications, including Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) and CCSE, do not require prerequisites. However, Check Point's other certifications each require the preceding exam. So, the CCSM requires the CCSE and the CCSA, and the CCSM Elite requires the CCSM.
Final Thoughts
Security concerns continue to dominate the IT industry. Learners demonstrating expertise and experience in security-related products can expand their career prospects and opportunities. The Check Point CCSA certification is the first step to conquering Check Point products and a career in IT security!
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