Introduction
Welcome to the exciting world of Cisco certification! You have picked up this book because
you want something better—namely, a better job with more satisfaction. Rest assured that you
have made a good decision. Cisco certification can help you get your first networking job or
more money and a promotion if you are already in the field.
Cisco certification can also improve your understanding of the internetworking of more
than just Cisco products: You will develop a complete understanding of networking and how
different network topologies work together to form a network. This is beneficial to every networking
job and is the reason Cisco certification is in such high demand, even at companies
with few Cisco devices.
Cisco is the king of routing, switching, and security, the Microsoft of the internetworking
world. The Cisco certifications reach beyond the popular certifications, such as the MCSE, to
provide you with an indispensable factor in understanding today’s network—insight into the
Cisco world of internetworking. By deciding that you want to become Cisco certified, you are
saying that you want to be the best—the best at routing and the best at switching. This book
will lead you in that direction.