Hey everyone,

I’ve been learning cybersecurity and core concepts for the past 3 years, and I’m currently at a crossroads trying to decide on my next official certification move.

Right now, I'm almost ready to secure a test seat for the CCNA, but I want to get some community feedback first:

~ Is taking the CCNA first and then transitioning directly into the OSCP a good strategy?

OR

~ would it make more sense to throw Security+ or eJPT in the middle as a stepping stone before tackling OffSec?

My thought process behind starting with the CCNA is to build an unshakeable foundation in networking (routing protocols, CLI configuration, packet flow, and subnets) so I don't run into walls when pivoting into offensive security. However, I know the CCNA has a lot of vendor-specific configuration details that might not directly apply to hands-on red teaming.

For those who have taken this path or are already working in the field:

Is the CCNA worth completing right now if the endgame is pen testing / offensive security?

Should I jump straight to hands-on labs (like eJPT / HTB / CPTS) after CCNA instead of jumping straight into the OSCP ocean?

Would appreciate any insights, personal experiences, or alternative path recommendations! Thanks in advance!