I used the Sybex CCST Study Guide to prepare for my first Cisco certificate. Overall impression: it thoroughly covers all exam topics, with an especially detailed section on subnetting, a topic that I find challenging. The book doesn’t include too many practical exercises, so pairing it with Cisco’s Skills for All/Netacad course is ideal for hands-on practice with Packet Tracer. Some people also feel that the free Cisco course is all they needed to pass and that the CCST study guide is overkill, but I think that for total newbies to the field and for those wanting to do a CCNA this book is a worthwhile resource.

If you don’t feel like reading the in-depth review, there’s a TL;DR at the end.

After completing Cisco’s Skills for All networking course, I decided to dive into Todd Lammle’s Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Study Guide. The Skills for All course was extensive, with over 100 hours of content and practical Packet Tracer activities. However, I still felt the need for extra preparation to ensure I’d pass the exam.

Once I started working through the study guide, I realised that some key topics had been glossed over or rushed through during the Skills for All course. Or maybe it was just that, as a beginner in networking, some concepts didn’t really stick for me. The study guide, however, was far more detailed and better structured, going through the same topics in a way that made everything clearer. While some sections felt like they provided more information than was necessary for the exam, I appreciated the extra depth because it gave context and a strong foundation in the fundamentals of networking.

The first two chapters offer a solid introduction, covering concepts like the roles of modems and switches, MAC addresses, and other essentials. But it was the third chapter that really challenged me—and I believe it’s one of the most important chapters for anyone serious about networking or considering doing the CCNA cert. It dives deep into subnetting, something I didn’t quite grasp during the Skills for All course. The Sybex study guide walks you through subnetting for different network types (A, B, C) and covers calculating subnets, hosts, broadcast addresses, and more. It took me a few days to fully understand it, but after working through all the exercises, I felt pretty confident in my basic subnetting skills.

The later chapters cover virtual private networks (VPNs), security, Cisco devices, and connectors, all of which are directly tied to the exam objectives. I think the book does an excellent job of thoroughly preparing you for the exam’s content, and in my opinion, you could pass the exam with just this book alone.

That being said, I’d still recommend the Skills for All course, especially for the hands-on packet tracer activities. Todd Lammle’s book doesn’t include practical exercises, so pairing it with the Skills for All course is a great way to build both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

I actually took a pretty long break – around 3 months – after finishing the book before I actually took the exam so I had to review the material again. I had to revisit the subnetting chapter because I had forgotten how exactly to calculate the number of subnets and hosts for each subnet mask. Even after months away from the material, I found that I retained most of it, which is a testament to how well the guide explains things. A quick review was enough to refresh my memory, and I was back on track.

In conclusion, I’d give Todd Lamlme’s CCST Study Guide a solid 10/10. It might go into more detail than you need for the exam, but it lays a strong foundation for anyone interested in networking. Even though not every bit of knowledge is required, you’ll feel confident walking into the exam.

Final Thoughts: I’d recommend this book alongside the Skills for All course, especially for anyone new to networking. Dive into the practical elements, practice on your own with tools like Packet Tracer, and you’ll be set for success.

As an aside, people online say that the content is pretty similar to the content in the COMPTIA Network+, so you could do a 2-for-1 by doing Network+ after CCST. I can’t speak for this as I haven’t done Network+ yet, but I can attest that employers have no idea what the CCST is, it doesn’t even show up as a cert you can pick from a list on a job website to add to your qualifications. In general this exam is more of a confidence booster for you, and an introduction to the field, and will likely make very little difference to your getting a job.

TL;DR / Key Takeaways:

• Todd Lammle’s CCST Study Guide complements Cisco’s Skills for All course, offering deeper insights into topics such as subnetting, security, VPNs, and networking fundamentals.
• The book is highly detailed, sometimes more than needed for the CCST exam, but it provides a strong foundation for future certifications like CCNA.
• The study guide lacks practical exercises, so pairing it with Skills for All’s hands-on activities is beneficial.
• Overall, it’s a well-structured resource that thoroughly prepares you very well for the CCST exam.