5/19/2004 -- Last week Cisco Systems announced two changes to its high-level Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification program: a revamp of the CCIE Security lab, and new blueprints for all the credentials’ hands-on lab exams.

The Cisco Web site states that the Security lab exam content will be revised on Oct. 1 to make “much of the core routing and switching…preconfigured on the devices, giving the candidate much more time to work on security-specific technology.”

According to Cisco, more details on the new Security lab exam can be found within the new Security lab exam blueprints, one of several blueprints Cisco recently published for its CCIE lab exams.

Jeff Buddemeier, Cisco manager of technical support and CCIE exam proctor, told CertCities.com that the company decided to release the blueprints, “to allow candidates to better plan their practice and preparation activity.”

“We decided there would be no impact on the confidentiality, fairness and level of difficulty if we posted the blueprints, and candidates would be much more comfortable knowing their study plan included the right technologies areas,” Buddemeier explained. “With the blueprints we have a tool to help convey the breadth of the CCIE exam, without giving away details.”

“We don't think the blueprints provide an unfair advantage because they don't include details of what candidates are expected to know in each technology area,“ he continued. “The only advantage is in knowing that you haven't left out a topic area completely from your preparation, and we think that is a great improvement for our customers.”

Buddemeier hinted that further “tweaks” to the CCIE exams would be coming, but did not provide further details.

For more information on these announcements and to view the new blueprints, go to the CCIE program Web site here. -Becky Nagel