My Path to JNCIE-SEC

On Friday (11 Oct 2024), I passed my JCNIP-SEC.  That was 13 Juniper certifications in less than 12 months.  I have done in no particular order.

JNCIA-JUNOS/DEVOPS/DC/SEC/MISTAI

JNCIS-ENT/SP/DC/SEC/DEVOPS

JNCIP-ENT/DC/SEC

I started down the path of Juniper certifications because I wanted to do something new.  I wanted to try and learn something else beside Cisco.  I didn't know where to start so I started with JNCIA-JUNOS.  I used the Open Learning and Eve-NG to watch the videos and then get hands-on with what I was seeing.  I fell in love with the command line syntax of Juniper and their way of displaying the configurations.  That lead to following the path of more free learning to see what parts I like of Juniper. 

After I started to get some Juniper under my belt my company reached out to see about doing certain tests for partner requirements, so I did things like DC and Devops (wasn't going to do them but they paid so away I go to learn).  I also did JNCIS-SEC for that reason.  That brought back my love of security.  So I figured then that is where I want to go for my JNCIE.  But first I had some other personal goals like the 5A-3S-1P and 5S Credly badges because I wanted them.

Security for me has always been fun because there is always someone out there smarter than you so it keeps you having to learn.  It means you have to keep pushing to know what is happening.  Learn the new bad techniques and the new good techniques.  So I said heck with it and did the JNCIP-SEC, got my 3P along the way as well, and said time for the JNCIE-SEC.

Having a CCIE I know that there is more than hands on for an Expert level test.  There is understanding other ways of doing things, what happens if I do something over here, and the understanding of what in the crap is going on behind the scenes.  Those pieces are what made me miss my first attempts at my CCIE and once I had them down I was more prepared and could pass.  So for this Expert level test I have a reading list already planned that will grow and grow I am sure.  I am starting with 

Juniper SRX Series: A Comprehensive Guide to Security Services on the SRX Series

Juniper Day One: SRX Series Up and Running with Advanced Security Services

SRX Getting Started - Configuration Examples & Troubleshooting (JumpStation)

The Unofficial JNCIE-ENT Prep Guide 

The last one I know is for JNCIE-ENT but Jeff has some really good info in it for configurations so I am going to read through it.  Combine these four things with all the docs that I can get my hands on from Juniper and any blog posts as well, I am hoping to go into this with as much as I can from more than just configuration but theory.  We will see what happens.  

For the hands on I have an Eve-NG lab that I use as well as the Study Bundle from Juniper.  I also signed up for some classes from them for ATP and just other pieces again to make sure that I cover all that I can.  I am expecting this test to be rough.  My goal is 6 to 8 months that I sit for it but we will see.  

I am using this blog as nothing more than a note place for me.  It may or may not have pretty pictures.  It will be more on my thoughts of what I learned that day more than likely so probably incoherent.  But we will see what comes from it.