Certification help

Don't focus so much on the certifications just to get a cert. I have met MCSE's and CCNPs that didn't know jack.

But if it's a Microsoft server I would buy a Microsoft book and learn it. Don't study the test study the material first, since you are so new. And lab it. Create a virtual environment at home and test out the stuff you are reading. And once you know it, take the test at some point. The first tests are the MCSA tests for Microsoft. But if I remember they only offer it on the latest versions of the OS. So either 2012 or Server 2016. May be wrong there though.

Windows Server 2012 and 2008 are not difficult at all and pretty well developed. I have a small environment of about 200 of them that I oversee and usually don't give me any trouble.

ETA: If this is a greenfield deployment, that's really nice, as you don't have to stumble on the bodies that have been buried for years.

It is a brownfield deployment. The guy that I took the place of left with no one knowing anything about the network. Once I came in, it was a mess. The last network guide was published 2 years prior to me getting here. The vendor is going to give us a few options, but I am hoping that we are leaning toward scrapping the entire current system and starting fresh with using the current servers as our backups.

I agree with you on not worrying about the certifications, but if they are going to pay for it then why not? Also, I am a hands on learner, so are there any classes out there that would benefit me, then I would love to know about them rather than self training.

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What would yall recommend me looking into for basics for server configuration?

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For the basics, YouTube - LINK

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I have met MCSE's and CCNPs that didn't know jack.

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I've met PhD's that didn't realize something wasn't getting power was because it wasn't plugged into an electrical socket. I've met MBA's and JDs that could barely do simple math. So there is that.

IT continues to hamstring itself over and over. People have an instant communication link at likely <100ms for everything they do globally and <1ms internally. I'd love to pull that plug for a bit and have people respect what IT brings. /soapbox

For OP, CBTNuggets, just listen, learn, practice. Certs are overrated. Get certs to add to career resume, not for practical work.

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I am fresh out of college and have a BS in Information Security

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is your goal to become an information security professional by first gaining administration experience?

i fully support that if so.

certs aren't really gonna help you much now. experience is what you need

If your company is paying for your certs, go for it as much as you can. Go for an MCSA/MCSE. Microsoft certs are more expensive. I just got my MCSE a few days ago and it took me 2 years to get it. The best way to get certified is to create a test lab and do everything yourself. Read through study guides and questions, and then try it in a test lab.

I created our own root and enterprise CA at my company just so I can study for these exams. We now use them. I also created a separate domain on a different network where I can just frick things up. It has turned into our test environment for our core software.

The value of certifications is highly based on the company you work for and what *they* value. Is there a certification that is required for the senior IT guys? If so, get that.

My personal recommendation since you have a degree in IT Security (kudos btw!) is to grab COMPTIA Network+ and Security+. If you want to stay in the security space you might consider CISSP after that.

If there is some specific architecture you are responsible for consider something oriented on that such as CCNA for Cisco, etc..

Where I work Security+ is required to get access to any system.

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I can totally relate to creating an environment just for studying. Over New Years I created a Kali Linux environment (as an attack machine) to go with an intentionally vulnerable web application I built to aid in my ethical hacker post-graduate work...Fun times.

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Have done the same with my two PC set up using a three monitor set up (1 vulnerable/2 for attacker) for all the reasons you mentioned other than the post-graduate studies (congrats by the way) but because I geek out on that shite in my spare time for fun. I'm boring as frick.

It's my hobby. I enjoy it just as much as I do when I'm gaming. My degree is in finance but my heart is in IT and computers. I have considered a career change and obtaining a second degree in InfoSec. But that requires money (the degree) which is why I self teach nearly all of this shite on my own. Not because of a potential career change but rather because it's one of my passions. I still remember being 4 years old in 1986 and learning DOS boot commands just to play Galaga on a old school IBM with the 3.5" floppy disks that my dad got. Disk Latch and all.

Good times. Good times.

Thanks everyone for the info, I am researching what yall gave me and will move from there. I have a feeling that just learning the ins and outs of windows server without a cert will help out a lot, so I ordered a book to start digging into it. Once this build is complete, I will most likely try to go after my CCNA.

Am I right in thinking that most switches run with the same concept as cisco? I was worried about being vendor specific, but I feel like I will get more out of a cisco cert.

I agree with everyone in the fact that most cert classes teach to pass the test, but I am someone who learns by making mistakes then going back and solving the issues to better understand the concepts. So, I do plan on setting up a DMZ at home that I can do what I want on.

And lastly, no, we are not using VMware, but we are trying to convince certain people that we should.

Thanks again.