Major Update to the Cyber Security Certification Program - Coming soon!

[Jason_Tugwell]

See our exciting announcement over at: https://blog.checkpoint.com/2020/11/25/check-point-software-revolutionize-its-cyber-security-certifi...

More details to follow along with a FAQ - Stay Tuned!

Thanks

Tug

[Danny]

Exciting news! I already got three specializations (CCTA, CCAS, Maestro). Just one more towards the new CCSM Elite certificate! I really hope you honor the first 100 CCSM Elite certified professionals with a special badge just as Cisco does with it's DevNet 500 badges.

[Jason_Tugwell]

Congrats on the specializations.  This program starts on 31-Jan-2021.  The Specializations path will start on that date and not be retroactive.  So if you are CCSM now, stay current and go for it in the new year.

[Danny]

Wait, if I pass four specializations now I will not automatically become a CCSM Elite on February 1st, 2020?

[Jason_Tugwell]

Sorry, no you will not.  

To get to CCSM status a CCSE will need to pass 2 Infinity Specialization exams. 

But if you already have R80 CCSM (and it's current-not expired) only 2 Infinity Specializations needed to get to CCSM Elite.

We will release an FAQ in the next week or 2 to help explain.

[Danny]

Wow, now I regret having passed the CCAS exam yesterday. I should have waited until next year. I'm currently CCSM R77. I'm keen to know how to plan my certification schedule for the next two months. I should probably hold on doing Check Point spezializations for a while and sit some other vendors exams in the meantime.

[Jason_Tugwell]

The R77 CCSM needs to get current to R80 CCSM first to be eligible for CCSM Elite.  The R77 exams were retired over a year ago. 

To help out we will announce a special promo just for R77 CCSMs to upgrade in January.  The R80 CCSM exam will be available until 31-Mar-2021. 

Stay tuned for more details.  Lots to get ready for.

[Danny]

I'm holding a current CCSE R80. When I look at the image below I think I just need two specializations to become CCSM R80. The only question is when these specializations need to be done and if I can redo specializations I already did. Otherwise it would be a huge disadvantage for early adopters of your specialization exams.

[Jason_Tugwell]

So a R80 CCSE that passes 2 Specializations (after 31-Jan-2021) would get the R80 CCSM.  Or, the R80 CCSE may sit the R80 CCSM exam while it is still available.

Any Specialization that has previously been passed will only be eligible if it has expired.  The same Specialization cannot be passed to apply as an extension if it is current.

Hope this explains it...this will all be in the FAQ 

[WingChow7]

Great news Jason_Tugwell,

I have scheduled two exams this December, 2020 CCVS and Maestro and also i have the CCSM R80 active. So with this path i will have the CCSM Elite 8).

Best regards,

[Jason_Tugwell · Accepted solution]

You would be best to reschedule the Specialization exams for February 2021 if your CCSM will still be active then. The program starts on 31-Jan-2021 going forward.

Thanks

Tug 

[WingChow7]

Alritght, Thanks for the info.

[Robin_Greve]

Hi Jason,

at my end I have booked the CCTE workshop in the beginning of december and would have to wait for around 2 months then to do the certification. And therefore I will lose most of the knowledge I build up while doing the workshop. Please rethink this procedure. Thanks!

Best regards,

Robin

[JackPrendergast]

Jason. 

This doesn't seem too fair.

I have recently passed my CCCS and CCVS, and have plans to do the Maestro CCME exam before the end of the year.

If I held 3 specialist qualifications, the 3 qualifications are effectively redundant to me for 2+ years until they expire.

Are Check Point willing to review that existing SPECIALIST qualifications will count towards the new CCSM Elite?

Otherwise, I will have to pick from the remaining qualifications to get CCSM Elite? That doesn't seem right. 

[Ricki_S]

Hi Jack,

Can you help me about your experience take the exam CCME are you passing the exam?

I'm new about this Maestro Technology, can you share to me the example question or study guide?

[Danny]

There is no study guide for Maestro as you really need hands-on experience. Therefore I recommend to sign up for a Maestro course which will also provide you with the official courseware.

[Chris_Atkinson]

Also check out Danny's post here for additional resources:

https://community.checkpoint.com/t5/Training-and-Certification/CCME-Maestro-Expert-is-now-a-proctore...

[Christian_Opitz]

My CCSM R80 will expire at the end of march 2021. I already done CCTA this year. So I only have 8 weeks starting 1. February to pass two additional Specialization exams to get CCSM Elite. If my time did not allow these two exams in February and March I will have to take four additional Specialization exams (and the already passed CCTA is not counting) to get CCSM Elite. I don't think this is the best solution.

[DrEvil]

Dear Tug,

any FAQ has been released with answers about who already own a CCSM R80?

I have already passed the CCME specialisation a couple of weeks ago and it would be great to be retroactive and don't lose the study effort.

[Magnus-Holmberg]

Its nice to see that check point is working with the certificates.
But what value dose the CCSM / CCSM Elite gives over a CCSE?
Is there any benifits when it comes to access within usercenter/support or for partners?

Honestly i see very little value for someone to go above the CCSE
I am also abit disappointed that check point dosn´t look more at the top certificate for other vendors that actually requires a hands on lab such as the old CCMA.
Currently it feels like its lowering the status of the other certificates but dont give any benifits/value.

The specialist certificates is on the other hand a great addition and something that was needed to cover all the topics. 🙂
Also really nice to see that the specalists certificates finaly extend the current exams!

Regards,
Magnus

[Chris_Atkinson]

Some of the general CCSM benefits include:

* Elevated secure knowledge access / extension

* Fast track support (T3)

* CCSM mailing list / community section access.

* Engage points

* Partner level elevation

* Validation of knowledge

I suspect the FAQ will cover changes / additions to the above where relevant.

[Erwin]

Is there an official statement of the “Fast Track Support” in the new program? This would really support the business-case for my entire support-team to gain CCSM or CCSM-elite. 

[Chris_Atkinson]

@shay_solomon @Jason_Tugwell Are best placed to confirm the benefits of the new programme.

[Undel]

For me it looks like Check Point is splitting it's top CCSM exam into small parts which has lower value by itself, but when you get "all pieces of this puzzle" you are able to achieve top certification just by "numbers".

I can understand why they do so, but many organizations would think twice if they really need their people certified as CCSM - now it becomes very costly endeavor,