I just got an email that the CCSA NGX exam #156-215 (and other exams for the other certs) will be released on August 15th. This exam covers the NGX/R60 product, where the current exam (and my book) is for NG-AI/R55.

I’m currently looking at the exam outline and the differences in the products. They don’t look too great so far, which means my plan is to write up a couple of chapters covering the new material and release it on the Internet as an update to the book. Whether or not a successive printing of the book is updated is up to my publisher.

That said, this isn’t the end of the world. Anyone with their CCSA in NG-AI has it for three years. Check Point will likely offer the NG-AI exam until the successor to NGX comes out. This means that if you’re studying for the CCSA there is nothing wrong with taking the NG-AI version.

I just noticed Que put a sample chapter online.

http://www.examcram2.com/articles/article.asp?p=387728

It’s Chapter 3, Defining Security Policies with Smart Dashboard.

I noticed that the CCSA Exam Cram 2 is now available on Amazon:

It’s $23.79US, and if you spend another $1.21, it ships for free.

I’m happy the book is finally out (and am waiting for my author copy!), but I can’t help but notice that the author of the book is still listed incorrectly on all the online retailers that I checked. The printed copy is fine, though.

While reading a book and playing around with the equipment is great for learning, sometimes you need to ask a question from a real live human being.

My good friend Craig over at Securely Speaking runs a set for forums for discussion of security topics, and he has kindly created a board for discussing the CCSA Exam and other FireWall-1 topics.

I encourage everyone studying for the CCSA Exam to check out the board, and post their questions.

You won’t find braindumps or actual exam questions there, these are simply not tolerated. You will find me and some other people who can help you with your exam questions, though.

Check Point Certified Security Administrator

Exam 156-210.4

By Sean Walberg

Que Publishing, 2005

Includes complete coverage of the new Application Intelligence and Smart Defense objectives

This CCSA book has been completely rewritten to cover all the current objectives for the CCSA exam, including Application Intelligence and Smart Defense.

In this book, you will learn how to:

• Configure Application Intelligence and SmartDefense
• Make use of Network Address Translation
• Identify users with authentication rules
• License and backup your firewall infrastructure
• Understand and configure a security policy
• Monitor and interpret logs and control administrative access
• Monitor the health of your firewalls
• Work with the command line tools
• Protect your network from attackers using FireWall-1

CD Features MeasureUp Practice Questions

• MeasureUp’s innovative test engine gives you an effective tool to assess your rediness for the exam
• Detailed explanations of correct and incorrect answers
• Multiple test modes
• Random questions and order of answers
• Coverage of each CCSA exam objective

Welcome to the web site of Check Point Certified Security Administrator Exam Cram 2. Here you will find updates to the book, news on the CCSA certification, study aides, and a discussion board for the exam.

The writing on the book is complete, and it is in the final stages of editing. It should be released in the Summer of 2005.