Summary

Before you start

Set a reasonable goal based on your prior experience with networking, and keep in mind that networking is a concept that tends to take people a long time to learn. A professional network engineer could likely complete this course in a few days. I have been working in cybersecurity for the past three years in GRC and security operations and have spent a lot of time studying networking in my free time,and this course took me three weeks. A complete beginner may need to plan for much longer than that.

Points of reference:

• The WGU course resources include a 6-week "boot camp", which implies that a 6-week timeline is a rigorous, accelerated plan if you're a beginner.
• My mentor told me there are students who have been working on this course for an entire year and still haven't passed it. Do not be frightened by this. Just know that you need to apply yourself and study hard to get through this course.

Overview

This course covers a wide range of concepts including hardware/cables, wireless standards, networking and routing protocols (ones you've probably never heard of before), enterprise network topography, and even some random ones like mobile connectivity (like 4G & 5G) and satellite communication.

The heaviest focus is on enterprise networks, but you won't get away with ignoring the other things, because they'll come up too.

By the end, you'll be expected to demonstrate proficiency troubleshooting network issues, building/configuring networks, using Cisco router/switch CLIs, subnetting, and lots more.

Helpful Resources

• NetworkChuck series on Subnetting and IP addressing
  • This entire YouTube channel is full of great networking content, but if you're totally new to subnetting, I recommend watching this explanation.
• Practice IPv4 subnetting
  • Watch all the videos and use this practice site rigorously to practice your subnetting skills! You will need them on the test!
• Professor Messer's Network+ Training Video Series
  • These videos are GREAT for filling in knowledge gaps. You can take the 13hrs to watch them all or you can pick the ones that help you address gaps.
• Labs from Modules 3-6 of the CertMaster course content.
  • These are extremely helpful and important. Do not skip them!

Strategy, Tips, & Tricks

• When you take your final exam, (if you take it at a physical testing center), you get 30 minutes just to read the instructions and agreements. During this time, get a head start by writing out your subnetting cheat sheet (which you learn in the "Practice IPv4 subnetting" resource I shared above) before you start taking the test. This is a great way to save time and prepare for all the subnetting questions.
• When I started this course, I red someone else's post on Reddit, and they said they would not recommend reading all the CertMaster material, because it goes way beyond the exam scope. I took a cold practice test on my first day, and I got 80% on the first try, and from that I decided I should just focus on filling in my gaps and taking the test as quick as possible, so I did not read the full course material. However, as I mentioned at the beginning, I've been studying networking pretty diligently for the last three years or so, so I already knew a lot. ​I would not recommend skipping the reading if you're new to Networking. Networking is SO FOUNDATIONAL to everything in IT/Cybersecurity, and you need to build that foundation strong. ​Not everything in this course will be necessary for you in your career, but the fundamentals (internet protocol, subnetting, switching, routing, firewalls/rules, DHCP, DNS, etc.) will be crucial for you to understand, and I think they're well worth spending time on. Some of you may be trying to accelerate your degree like I am, but don't cut too many corners on this course.
• Get to a point where you understand the fundamental concepts really well (don't just memorize things. Make sure you know why things work), and then spend time memorizing the remaining concepts/details you need to pass the exam.
• Remember, the practice exams are always MUCH HARDER than the real exam! As soon as you can score 85% on the first attempt of a practice exam consistently, you are more than ready to take the final exam. Rest assured, the final exam is much easier (not easy, but easier**) than the practice exams.**

Must-Do list (do these to ensure success)

• Do all the labs from modules 3-6 of the CertMaster Prep course.
• Memorize the OSI model and what each layer does.
• Learn Cisco switch CLI commands!
  • These will be covered in the labs in modules 3-6, but you want to make sure you're very familiar with them and how they work.
  • Pro tip: If you're taking the final exam, and you are getting errors running commands you know should work, you might need to switch modes. You'll learn about the difference between "exec" mode and "config" mode and other modes. Be sure to pay attention to that. (This one bit me on my exam.)
• Learn and get good at answering subnetting problems (the IPv4 subnetting question I talked about will help you with this.)

Final thoughts

This is one of the more difficult courses I've done. Unless you have really strong networking experience, I would expect this one to require extra effort. Don't be afraid of it, and don't try to cut corners to get it done fast. Buckle down, study smart and study hard, learn the basic concepts really well because you will need them for the rest of your career*.*

This course does not have to stop you from moving forward and keeping momentum. If you're feeling stuck, use resources like Professor Messer or NetworkChuck to drill down the hard concepts, make flashcards, try to practice things hands-on to solidify the concepts, and move onto the next challenge.

You've got this! 💪