Starting the journey in earnest

​Last year when Cisco announced the new certification lineup, I decided I wanted to get the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure. I had just started a full time role as a network consultant, and it felt like time to double down and get my CCIE.


First step on this journey was to recertify my CCNP Route and Switch – it was due to expire in January 2020 and by maintaining a current CCNP, when the new exams are released I will also automatically get the ENCOR and ENARSI specializations – the ENCOR exam serves as the new “written” exam for the CCIE and as such this is a huge boost on the road to my goal. I am happy to say that I passed my CCNP Route exam in December, meaning that my certifications recertified for another 3 years and achieving this goal.


The next step from here was to formulate a strategy to attack the CCIE… First I tried reaching out to the people who have taught me for years to advise me on the best path to take. As with all good teachers, I got a gentle nudge pushing me in the direction of coming up with my own strategy. After all – everyone is different, and what works for others may not work for me.

​That being said, this is the strategy I have put together:

1. Start recording what I learn, in a format that is easily searchable (Hence this site)
   For years I have toyed with the idea of my own blog, recording my journey through my IT career. Setting the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure has really forced me to seriously revisit this idea
2. Gain each of the new CCNP certifications that relate to the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure
   The new CCIE is better aligned to the new CCNP courses, so gaining each CCNP as I go will help incrementally build up my knowledge towards the CCIE…
   Also its kind of like Achievements on the Xbox – helps drive me through my completionist personality
3. Review the differences between the old and the new exams and identify areas of overlap
   Once I have reviewed this I will post this to the blog
4. Study the topic overlap using older study materials (Which should be more readily available)
   Once I have decided on the materials I will use, I will post this to the blog
5. For the remaining topics, find alternate study materials
   As I find the new materials, I will post them here on my blog for future reference, and so that other people can also benefit from my research.

 
Thanks for reading, my biggest hope for this project is that the content here will be useful to other people and not just myself…. Well strictly that’s not my biggest hope, my biggest hope is that I achieve my CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure!
But seriously thank you for reading and I hope you have a happy, healthy and productive 2020.
 
Thanks
Andrew