Forum

Here is a summary of what you need to know when you start prepping for the new exam PW0-200 (WLAN Security):

http://www.cwnp.com/about/news/2006/2006_01_02.html
The new exam PW0-200 was released on Jan 2 2006.

http://www.cwnp.com/exams/pw0200_objectives_2006.html
These are the new PW0-200 exam objectives.

http://www.cwnp.com/exams/pw0200_objectives.html
These are the objectives for the OLD, retired exam PW0-200.

http://www.cwnp.com/exams/pw0200_objective_changes.html
This is what changed from the old exam to the new exam.

The first edition of the CWSP Study Guide won't cut it anymore. Many people have inquired about the new version of the CWSP Study Guide. McGraw-Hill is publishing the new book, and has given June 2006 as the availability date. This new book will cover the new exam PW0-200 objectives. Devin Akin has created a recommended reading list for WLAN security. These books cover the new CWSP exam objectives. To see the list, go here: http://www.cwnp.com/cwsp/requirements.html

The official CWSP practice test questions on cwnp.com have been updated to a totally new pool of 120 items. If you have an active license, you will automatically have access to these new questions.

I am going to self-study for the CWNA(old test) and take a class for CWSP(this April-which includes the newer objectives). Will I be able to handle the CWSP course if I self-study for the current CWNA? The training company thinks it will be a rough ride...

If you self study and pass CWNA, then you should be ok to attend a CWSP class.

It will help you in preparation for the security class to hone your skills and knowledge on Layer 3 security solutions such as VPNs.

Draymond10,

The current CWNA course is very lecture-heavy so if you are good at getting knowledge transfer from reading books, you should be okay with that as a prep for the CWSP course. (Of course, attending a class usually makes learning the material much easier.)

The CWSP class, on the other hand, is much more lab-based. I've found these labs to really help learn the security concepts, which means attending the class will give you an even bigger advantage to reading books.

Keep in mind, some people can just read a book and learn while others have to attend classes before they get it. It really depends on how you learn the best, and how quickly you want the "knowledge transfer" to happen. Hope this helps.

Thanks for everyone's input. Seems I have my hands full here. Anyone else have something to add? Anyone in central jersey that took this test?

draymond10,

Yes. You can do it. You can self study for the CWNA and attend a CWSP class afterward-you may find it challenging but hopefully it will be a gratifying effort.

I think it is worth restating that you should read the 802.11 documents as you use the Study Guides.

And remember - the exams questions are written from the exam objectives- not the Study Guides.

For goodness sakes man, read the 802.11 standard!

Good Day,

moe

Are you saying read the standards directly from IEEE?
Go Here?
http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/802.11.html

I opened the 802.11h standard and its 75 pages...seems long to read through all of them. Study these along w/ the study guide? Is there a place where I can d/l all the standards in one .zip or something?

Hi draymond10,

That's the right place, and yes, the 802.11 standand and its amendments are LONG...and the worst part is that being "long" isn't the bad part. The standard and its amendments are interwoven and have a "language" all their own. That said, they are THE BEST resource for knowledge. An additional book to help you weave through the standards is:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738144495/qid=1136215049/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-7569976-6008143?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

Devinator

draymond10,

It seems like whenever I study I always have additional questions. The CWNA guide is great (I don't say that lightly- I think it is one of the best technical books I've read) but when it is not enough then the standard can answer a lot of questions. I also found that looking ahead into the CWAP study guide was helpful when I needed a little extra detail. As for the CWSP- the 802.11i and 802.1X should help quite nicely.

Start with your study guides but have the Standard to go deeper if necessary.

802.11-1999, 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g should prove quite useful.

Good Luck,

moe

If I pass, beers for everyone...