CCNP ENARSI / CCNP ENARSI vs CISSP
CCNP ENARSI vs CISSP: Which Certification Fits Better?
CCNP ENARSI suits engineers who already know core enterprise concepts and want a practical routing concentration. CISSP suits experienced security or infrastructure professionals moving into senior roles. If you plan to earn both, start with CCNP ENARSI: it is the more foundational of the two, and the concepts it builds carry directly into CISSP. Tackling CISSP first usually means re-learning fundamentals under exam pressure.
When CCNP ENARSI is the better choice
- Engineers who already know core enterprise concepts and want a practical routing concentration
- CCNP candidates focused on escalation, support, and advanced troubleshooting work
- Students who want a Cisco specialization that maps directly to operational depth
When CISSP is the better choice
- Experienced security or infrastructure professionals moving into senior roles
- Managers, architects, and leads who need a strategic security credential
- Professionals building toward governance, risk, and enterprise security leadership
What CCNP ENARSI training covers
- Advanced routing and redistribution
- WAN technologies, VPNs, and path control
- Service performance and fault isolation
- Secure enterprise edge operations
What CISSP training covers
- Security and risk management
- Asset, identity, and architecture security
- Assessment, operations, and software security
- Governance and leadership-level decision making
Comparison FAQs
Which certification is better for beginners: CCNP ENARSI or CISSP?
CISSP is usually the easier starting point, while CCNP ENARSI makes more sense once you already have stronger fundamentals.
Does CISNET offer training for both CCNP ENARSI and CISSP?
Yes. CISNET offers live, instructor-led training for both CCNP ENARSI and CISSP, so you can choose the path that best matches your current experience and target role.
How should I choose between CCNP ENARSI and CISSP?
CCNP ENARSI suits engineers who already know core enterprise concepts and want a practical routing concentration. CISSP suits experienced security or infrastructure professionals moving into senior roles. Pick the one that matches the job you want next.
Which pays more: CCNP ENARSI or CISSP?
Typical Canadian roles tied to CCNP ENARSI run $90K-$135K CAD, while CISSP-related roles run $110K-$250K CAD. Actual pay depends far more on the specific role, your experience, and the city than on the certification alone.
Can I earn both CCNP ENARSI and CISSP?
If you plan to earn both, start with CCNP ENARSI: it is the more foundational of the two, and the concepts it builds carry directly into CISSP. Tackling CISSP first usually means re-learning fundamentals under exam pressure.
Need a direct recommendation between CCNP ENARSI and CISSP?
Talk to CISNET and get a recommendation based on your current skills, not generic internet rankings.
Get in Touch
