Rating:  Summary: A must have book! Review: As a MCT I have found Roberta's book to be right on target. The 70-220 is not a normal Microsoft test. It along with the other design tests are of a very non traditional format. The design tests are more case study driven than the standard multiple choice tests. This book gives you many case studies for you to work with, which WILL help you when you go to take the test. I have read many of Roberta's security articles in MCP Magazine and value her opinions. This is a book about design and not about pure security. I lines up perfectly with all of the Microsoft objectives for the 70-220 test. It is a definite must read.
Rating:  Summary: A must have book! Review: As a MCT I have found Roberta's book to be right on target. The 70-220 is not a normal Microsoft test. It along with the other design tests are of a very non traditional format. The design tests are more case study driven than the standard multiple choice tests. This book gives you many case studies for you to work with, which WILL help you when you go to take the test. I have read many of Roberta's security articles in MCP Magazine and value her opinions. This is a book about design and not about pure security. I lines up perfectly with all of the Microsoft objectives for the 70-220 test. It is a definite must read.
Rating:  Summary: What a mess! Review: I am only on chapter 4, I am wondering if the author was "high" while writing this book! It seems just like a jumbled mess! Unlike great books, this one does not "talk" to the reader... it is full of prose and not structured very well. I bought this because of the authors popularity as a columnist, but perhaps books are not her cup of tea. I really am hoping it gets better (I will post another review when I'm done). I am quite knowledgeable on Win2K (using it since early betas, and I am CISSP), but this book is poorly written! I would look elsewhere if you are considering taking this exam. This book frustrates me.
Rating:  Summary: Long hard slog for very little return Review: I found this book to be an extremely long and tortuous read. I am experienced in NT4. The author tells you that a particular chapter will be very similar to concepts found in NT4 but warns agains skipping the chapter. After reading it, I found it was a complete waste of my precious study time. Other chapters are spent on concepts found extensively in the 210, 215, and 216 material ( W/S ,Server, and NW INFR). Fair enough that this material should be rehashed as it may be present in the 220 exam, but to waste whole chapters on this basic material is criminal. Of the 900 odd pages I believe about 700 is fluff and 200 is good material. Don't waste your money like I did. Go and get the Windows 2000 Security little black book by Ian McLean, along with some other concise texts such as the ExamCram book.
Rating:  Summary: Fantastic Book! Review: I had the pleasure of reading this book about a week ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I haven't taken the exam for Network Security yet, so I can't vouch for how much of the exam it actually covers, but I'm guessing it covers it all. Every chapter was packed with information. At the end of each was a scenario question that was indicative of a real-world situation, a lab or two to apply knowledge learned, and multiple questions on the material in all formats. I believe that having the opportunity to test yourself with questions of various types is important to learning the material and passing the exams. The end of the book included a large appendix with summaries and charts that included the most important information from all of the chapters, and a large glossary and index. It is so frustrating to need a fast fact and turn to the back of a book and find out it doesn't include these things. I would certainly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in Windows 2000 Security issues, those who are trying to pass the exam, as well as those in the field.
Rating:  Summary: Worthless Review: I have enjoyed reading Roberta's articles in MCP magazine and thought that this would be a definite 'must read' for the test. Big Mistake! I did pass the exam, but I put this book down after the 4th chapter and never picked it up again. The content provided is worthless in the real world and even in Microsoft's world. If you need a guide for this exam, don't get this book. If you have problems sleeping at night, this is a great cure!
Rating:  Summary: Worthless Review: I have enjoyed reading Roberta's articles in MCP magazine and thought that this would be a definite 'must read' for the test. Big Mistake! I did pass the exam, but I put this book down after the 4th chapter and never picked it up again. The content provided is worthless in the real world and even in Microsoft's world. If you need a guide for this exam, don't get this book. If you have problems sleeping at night, this is a great cure!
Rating:  Summary: Not Quite Right Review: I read this book and took the Security Design exam and didn't have the best success. The case studies included in each chapter were very helpful for preparing for the exam, but the exam itself didn't seem to require the knowledge of such detailed technical information that is included in this book (although I still found much of the information useful). I wish that this book would have included more general concepts and ideas (from a Microsoft perspective) than it did. I did pass the exam with this book alone, but just barely, and I do have some experience with Windows 2000.
Rating:  Summary: Messy with Errors Review: I started studying for this exam a few weeks ago. I have noticed many errors in this book along with what I can only call "fuzzy" thinking. I picked up a different book on the same subject recently and I was amazed how much easier to read and clearer it was. Sorry I can't remember which one it was. Roberta's book also has many diagrams which are just rubbish. Confusing, non-sensical and often at odds with what is being said in the text. Buy any other book than this one.
Rating:  Summary: Not the average security book. Review: Roberta Bragg is an excellent commentator for security in the industry, and does not disappoint with this book. I found that while most technical people are into tech-books, this is far from being a tech book and tends to focus more on the business needs and analysis of the security on Windows 2000. She examines pitfalls of politics, talks about where to get your biggest bang for the dollar, and takes consultants (MCSE's) from in front of the computers to the boardrooms. The book finnaly gets technical about 1/3 of the way through, as she begins to feed the more technical terms to readers. I find her style relaxing and easy to read. This book is ranks high on my list of reads, even if not for certification.
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