CCSA/CCSE Certification prep

[Steven4311]

I'm planning to pursue my CCSA/CCSE certification and I'm looking for some guidance on how to effectively prepare for the exams. I would greatly appreciate any advice or recommendations on the best resources to use, such as specific books, guides, or websites that you found particularly helpful. Are there any recommended online courses or platforms that provide comprehensive preparation for the exams? The official courses at educational centers are quite expensive, so I'm wondering if there are any good alternatives that provide similar quality of preparation without the high cost. Any additional tips or that helped you succeed in obtaining the CCSA/CCSE certification would be incredibly valuable as well. 

[the_rock]

Hope below helps.

Andy

https://community.checkpoint.com/t5/Training-and-Certification/CCSA-CCSE-Exam-Tips-amp-Content-R81-1...

Resources for CCSA exam - Check Point CheckMates

[Lesley]

Ask your boss to pay for the training (of course n/a if you are freelancing 

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4Jm1LJEII4b-aoZQ5SltYgzRMPkRPn1u&si=W0lT_NHUocOinxsz

[Don_Paterson]

You could use the relevant Admin Guides from the R81.20 home page:

https://support.checkpoint.com/results/sk/sk173903

You are looking at documents that together contain thousands of pages, and you have no lab steps/instructions.

If you went that route then you could gain significant knowledge on Check Point Quantum products.

You would go way beyond the required reading for the exam, unless you read the course data sheets to try to narrow your reading to specific topics within the Admin Guides.

It may be worth looking into purchasing the books only. They are actually a product (E-Kit) in the Product Catalog.

It's not the default way and may not be easy, or even possible, but if you got the books you would have focused study material that are the source of the majority of the exam questions.

You can read more on the books, the layout and book hosting platform (Kortext).

https://community.checkpoint.com/t5/Training-and-Certification/Clarification-on-the-E-Kits/m-p/22893...

Honestly the best option is to try to get on the courses.

You will get the book (with lifetime access) as part of the course and lab access.

Maybe you can contact the ATC/s and ask for a discount. Maybe they can add you to a wait list or offer a discount based on your situation and also based on you wanting to attend both CCSA and CCSE.

For reference, the CCSA and CCSE books are 906 and 784 pages long, respectively.

https://training-certifications.checkpoint.com/#/courses/Security%20Administration%20R81.20%20(CCSA)

https://training-certifications.checkpoint.com/#/courses/Security%20Expert%20R81.20%20(CCSE)

[Martijn]

Hi,

When you have a basic network and firewall knowledge, CCSA could be possible by reading the books and admin guides and maybe some labs. But in the past, I have seen questions in the CCSA exam that could be answered when you have real experience with the Check Point products.

I believe CCSE covers VPN and ClusterXL and in my opinion, you really need experience with Check Point products and the way VPN and clustering works on Check Point products. Can you do without? Maybe, but answering question is much easier when you really know the answer because you worked on those kind of scenario's.

Good luck to you. Whatever path you choose.

Regards,
Martijn

[the_rock]

Super valid points @Martijn 

[Don_Paterson]

Good points.

CCSA includes site to site VPN (basics) and a lab setup (VPN between the two sites (the two managed gateways)) A & B.

CCSE includes site to site (A & B (from CCSA completed lab)) and adds the externally managed (think interoperable) to the C site.

CCSE also covers Remote Access & Mobile Access.

That's 3 admin guides (4 if we include the SNX Admin Guide), including 900 to 1000 pages, and none of them are the Security Management Admin Guide.

Self study is definitely possible. It's just covering a LOT of theory compared to the CCSA and CCSE books.

Hats off to anyone who reads all the required admin guides in my list. They should sail through the CCSA and CCSE exams 😀