CCSA Study Guides

I'm aware of these five Study Guides for the CCSA Exam. They're sorted by publishing date, newest on top. If you think there's something else that should be on this page, let me know at admin (at) cpug (dot) org.

Comments or reviews of these books would be especially welcome!

1. CCSA NG: Check Point Certified Security Administrator Study Guide - cpug.org Recommended!

ISBN: 0782141153
Published: 2003-01-14
Author: Justin Menga
Pages: 656
Publisher: Sybex
Notes: This book covers only up to Version NG FP3. While it's true that Check Point has since gone on to release NG AI and then R55, this is still the most current CCSA study guide available. This book does not cover SmartDefense and Application Intelligence, and these two topics are emphasized on the exam. The best strategy is to study this book thoroughly, then use the official Check Point manuals (the PDF's on your CD-ROM and Check Point's web site) to study the two remaining subjects. Despite these shortcomings, this is still the best book to use for preparing for the exam (if you're going to study on your own) and it's the text for the first half of my CCSA/CCSE Dual-Certification Course - Admin
Note: The Check Point CCSA Exam Cram 2 (Exam 156-210.4) (Exam Cram 2) book below now covers all the parts of the current exam. I have not yet reviewed it.

2. Check Point CCSA Exam Cram 2 (Exam 156-210.4) (Exam Cram 2)

ISBN: 0789731096
Published: 2005-05-20
Author: Sean A. Walberg
Pages: 312
Publisher: Que
Notes: This is an update of the previous CCSA Exam Cram book, and now includes everything for the 156-210.4 version of the exam. There's a web page for the book at http://ccsacertification.com/.

3. VPN-1/Firewall-1 CCSA/CCSE: Preparation for Check Point Certification

ISBN: 0954383001
Published: 2003-01-30, but not (yet?) available
Author: Neil Mackie
Pages: 550
Publisher: CoreFacts Ltd
Notes: This book has a publish date of 2003-01-30, but isn't available through Amazon.com. It appears to be available here: http://www.corefacts.co.uk/mainarea.html

4. CCSA Next Generation Check Point Certified Security Administrator Study Guide (Exam 156-210)

ISBN: 0072194200
Published: 2002-04-15
Author: Syngress Media Inc (Editor), Allen V. Keele, Barry J. Stiefel
Pages: 528
Publisher: Syngress
Notes: Written for NG SP1 and covers Exam 156-210. The Justin Menga book is far more current.

5. Check Point Firewall-1 Administration and CCSA Study Guide

ISBN: 0130938637
Published: 2001-11-05
Author: Steven Dangerfield
Pages: 384
Publisher: Prentice Hall
Notes: Published in 2001; the Justin Menga book is far more current.

6. CCSA Exam Cram (Exam: CP2000)

ISBN: 157610916X
Published: 2001-10-23
Author: Tony Piltzecker, Les Stovall
Pages: 328
Publisher: The Coriolis Group
Notes: Covers only the CP2000 version of the CCSA exam, which is no longer offered by Check Point.