Does anyone here have a Network+ certification?

This seems to go along with this thread here:
https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...8/#post5833701

..where you're asking for the "quickest path" to a job. While I appreciate the incentive, there are no short cuts. You aren't going to get a certificate/diploma, and be guaranteed a job, or even have it matter sometimes. If you are looking to get into IT/Networking/Systems administration, I can tell you what I look for when hiring. And that is, someone with DEPTH of skills. EVERYTHING is connected, so you need to be able to look at the network, the systems on it, the appliances, and anything else, to troubleshoot things. The old adage of "if you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail" comes in to play. Only have networking skills? Then every problem will look (to you), like a network issue. And unless you can communicate what you know to someone else who may NOT have networking experience, they won't know anything about what to look for on their side.

Best advice I can give you is what others have said: load Linux in a virtual environment. Virtualbox is pretty trivial to set up, and loading Linux shouldn't take you long either. Configure services, learn how to set up bonded interfaces, play with bridging/firewalls/iptables. Flip things on and off, and learn how to read the logs; learn troubleshooting, and how to diagnose an issue. You're much more likely to get an entry-level job if you have basic troubleshooting skills and a good base of knowledge, rather than ONE set of basic skills with a 'certificate'.

Good luck.

I've been in IT for over 20 years. Looking to get some security certs and strengthen my security skills.

Figured getting an A+ and Network+ would help.

But I don't have the time to spend the next 10 years becoming a network guru, so I'm trying to learn from other what areas are the most important to focus on so I have a basic level of network knowledge to grow my security knowledge.

HTH

As said; good luck.