TacAck – My security journey!

Hello All!

It’s been a while since i posted a CCIE-sec interview. Partly because i’ve been a little busy with all the ccie-study and also because of a hectic work-schedule. So to make up for it, i’ve a totally AWESOME interview lined up for you today. It’s an interview with none other than “Kingsley”.

If you’ve spent any time at all on CLND , OSL , IEOC or SecurityIE , you would have definitely come across Kingsley. He’s one of the most active members on all of these sites and he’s helped innumerable number of people with his answers. I’ve always been amazed with the quality of questions that he asks and also the depth of his knowledge. He’s definitely an inspiration to anyone who’s studying for his/her ccie and it’s an absolute pleasure to get a chance to interview him. So here’s the interview!

TacACK : Hello Kings , how are you doing today!

Never felt better before and today is beautiful.

TacACK: Where are you from?

I am from India

TacACK : When and how did your journey into cisco networks start?

I started my journey of Cisco in 2002 after completing by BE. I did my CCNA and got 1000/1000 which boosted me to get more into Cisco certs. Then I went for CCIE R & S training for 6 months after which I had to discontinue as I joined HCL Cisco (Partner company). I really study hard when it comes to certification. Apart from getting 1000/1000 in CCNA, I again scored 1000/1000 in two other papers. One in CCIP track  and other in CCSP. Totally, I got three 1000/1000 i.e., full scores in three of my Cisco certification. When I take a cert, I aim to get full marks. As I aim to get full marks, I study a lot. For nearly 6 years, I have been preparing for my professional certifications. My objective was to get enough knowledge before entering into CCIE.

TacACK : Why did you opt for the security track

For past 7 years, I am working for a Cisco Security product and hence I took the security track.

TacACK : What materials do you currently own?

For CCIE, I am using IPexpert and INE workbooks

TacACK : What is your daily study plan like?

I study whenever, I get time. Till my first attempt, I studied continuously compromising my personal life. But for the 2nd attempt preparation, I have decided to take proper rest, go for movies, spend time with my family and study. By doing this my mind is fresh and I am able to keep up the energy.

TacACK: One thing i really admire in you is your dedication towards serving the ccie-sec community by actively participating in forums like CLND and OSL. Thanks a lot for that. You’ve helped me and lot of other people.How do you find time for it ?:)

Till my first attempt I was part of CLND, OSL and INE community. After my 2nd attempt, I have joined the ccbootcamp community too. As if now, I am part of top four communities – IPE, CLND, INE and ccbootcamp. Following are the reason for me to be active in this group. I need to learn things. Hence I try to reply to all the queries. Even, if I  don’t remember and don’t know the answer, I go to Cisco docs, google, read, lab it and then reply. CCIE Security has lot of topics, We prepare in months. You may prepare for feature X in 3rd month and feature y in 6th month. In the 6th month, you would have forgotten topic x. How do we keep ourselves refreshing all topics? On these forums, we get queries from all features/topic. If you keep replying to them, you can keep yourselves updated. It is not possible to be sure that you cover all the topics. Being in forum helps you uncover the topics that you have not touched. When you start learning a lot, then it’s time you contribute to others. Then only you will find yourself balanced. Else you will be dumped with lot of knowledge. Learn and teach others, then you will a satisfacton.  If we have learnt something very hard and it’s good you share them with others. It can save their time. Remember, on these forums great people do share their knowlegde, when we post queires hence it is a justice that we help others. Also, you will always understand things in your way. It might be wrong sometimes. When you post on these forums, then you will get corrected. Just imagine, if understand a thing wrongly then after sometime you share your wrong understanding to others and that keeps going.

TacACK : What are your weakpoints in the blueprint and how do you plan on overcoming those?

I try to cover every CLI available of a feature using Cisco’s command reference.

TacACK : Do you have anyone you look upto? Someone you maybe try to emulate? ( Get the dynamips pun here?    )

I believe that everyone is unique and hence I can’t emulate. I am inspired by Tyson who has always helped me. Also I am inspired Keith, he also helped me a lot.Thanks to Brandon, he helps everyone. And offcourse Yusuf, he is great. Still more, many thanks to all of them who has helped me in preparing for my CCI

TacACK : Have you attempted the ccie-security lab before? If yes, what was that experience like?

Yes, I have taken one attempt. It was nice. I felt, I was well prepared but need to improve on my time managemant and cover somemore topics

TacACK : On a scale of 1..10, how close the materials are compared the real lab?

I would tell that they are somewhere around 7 to 9.

TacACK : 5 tips to any ccie-sec candidate?

Work to your soul and start loving things you learn.

Keep your mind fresh. Don’t keep studying for 24/7, take a break for a day or two and then study.

Be part of the forums and be active.

Share the knowledge that you have learnt.

Don’t give up. If you have cleared CCIE means you are one among the best in the world.

TacACK : How will you celebrate once you get the ccie digits?

I will be happiest man in the world

It’s just inspiring to interact with such a motivated and humble person. I’ve definitely learnt a lot from this interview and i hope it’s helped you too!

You can reach Kingsley through CLND, OSL, IEOC and SecurityIE. Just post a question and it’s highly likely that he will answer

Cheers,

TacACK