Self-Assessment

Based on recent statistics, as many as half a million individuals are at some stage of the certification process but have not yet received one of their various certification credentials. Recent polls in Certification magazine indicate that two to three times that number might be considering whether to obtain a certification of some kind. That is a huge potential audience!

What we cannot know yet because the revised BCMSN exam is relatively new as this book goes to press are precise numbers for the BCMSN exam itself. Based on recent salary and job interest surveys, we know enterprise networking is a hot topic for IT professionals and a leading target for upcoming certification studies. One of the main factors that makes the BCMSN exam such an excellent career option is that it is a mandatory requirement for the Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), Cisco Certified Internetwork Professional (CCIP), and Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP) certifications. BCMSN is also an important base of knowledge for other Cisco certifications such as the Cisco Certified Security Professional (CCSP) and, eventually, the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE).

The reason we included a self-assessment in this Exam Cram 2 book is to help you evaluate your readiness to tackle the Cisco 642-811 BCMSN exam. But before you tackle this self-assessment, let's talk about concerns you might face when pursuing the BCMSN exam as well as what an ideal candidate might look like.