This is a great article. I have been pursuing a CCNA certification because I have been thrust into a Security role. I found an intriguing Cyber Security Associates degree program at my local Community College that is sponsored by Cisco. The tools for developing these skills are impressive and generally available. I've found the official Cisco Curriculum resources to be especially beneficial but I have also utilized the Sybex resources and find these resources enhance my understanding of the Cisco technologies. All in all, working toward this goal has had the benefit of improving my performance at work. In the end, that's what's really important.