RSA SecurID Access Associate Exam Guide

[MeganHenderson]

Introduction
The RSA SecurID Access Associate examination is based on the critical job functions that an individual would typically be expected to perform with competence when providing RSA SecurID Access deployment services.

An RSA SecurID Access Associate is a person who works in a technical support, technical sales, professional services and/or other technical implementation role within RSA, within an RSA Partner organization, or within an organization using RSA SecurID Access.

The major job functions expected of an RSA SecurID Access Associate typically consist of three major areas of job role responsibility:

• General knowledge about RSA SecurID Access technology and product line
• Aptitude and familiarity with managing common RSA SecurID Access deployments and configurations
• Ability to support RSA SecurID Access deployments through troubleshooting common issues and providing
  knowledge transfer of basic operations to system administrators and operators

The RSA SecurID Access Associate examination contains questions on all areas of the RSA SecurID Access product line, including RSA Authentication Manager, RSA SecurID authenticators, RSA SecurID Access SSO Agent, and RSA SecurID Access Cloud Authentication Service. An exam candidate should be familiar with all of these components.

Candidate Background and Experience

An RSA SecurID Access Associate candidate should have a minimum of two years of professional experience in one or more of the following technical areas and understand how these technologies relate to and integrate with the RSA SecurID Access product. Elements of the RSA SecurID Access Associate exam touch upon each of these areas: 

• Internet and Networking technologies
  - DNS, TCP
• Operating systems and user administration
  - UNIX or Linux, Windows and Active Directory, LDAP Directory Servers
• Web and Application Servers and Browsers
• Cloud computing technology
  - Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) providers
  - SAML and related protocols
• Network and internet security fundamentals
  - Multi-factor authentication
  - SSL and related protocols

Examination Domains

The RSA SecurID Access Associate examination is comprised of three major Domains (subject areas). Each
Domain is represented by a series of questions designed to evaluate competence and knowledge of the elements
relating to that domain. The following table describes the proportion of the examination that relates to each
domain:

Domain	% of Examination
1.0: RSA SecurID Access General Product Knowledge	35 %
2.0: Installation and Configuration	45 %
3.0: Basic Troubleshooting & Maintenance	20%
Total:	100%

Domain 1.0: RSA SecurID Access General Product Knowledge
The RSA SecurID Access Associate must have a fundamental knowledge of the RSA SecurID Access theory of operation, component architecture, and operation of various authentication methods. The RSA SecurID Access Associate is expected to be able to work with system administrators and other IT personnel, educate them in the use and operation of an RSA SecurID Access implementation, and have a working knowledge of how various components (agents, servers, cloud components, and other ancillary devices) work together to provide protection to a security perimeter and critical resources.

Content Areas

• RSA SecurID Access Architecture
  - System components, their function, connections, and interoperability
• RSA SecurID Access User Authentication
  - Supported multi-factor authentication methods
  - User, Group, and Access policies
  - Identity Source and Realm structures
•  RSA SecurID Access Product Family
  - Product capabilities
  - Solution planning

Domain 2.0: Installation and Configuration
RSA SecurID Access Associates must have knowledge of the processes used to deploy components and
configure system operation.

Content Areas

• System component installation and setup
  - Software and hardware (Appliance) components
  - Server and Agent installation and configuration
  - Establishing communication paths
  - Configuring clustered environments
• Mapping LDAP and Active Directory Identity Sources
• Completing system-level configurations, policies, and data structures
• Configuring applications, agents, and end-user portals

Domain 3.0: Basic Troubleshooting and Maintenance

The RSA SecurID Access Associate must be able to troubleshoot specific fundamental and common issues relating to component installation and configuration, end-user access, and end-user authentication. In addition, the RSA SecurID Access Associate must also be able to provide advice about maintenance tasks relating to data backup and restoration, audit logging, and report management.

Content Areas

• Troubleshooting
  - Locating error and system logs for all components
  - Interpretation of Error and Log messages at the Server, Agent, Administration Console and Operating
  System levels
• Understanding of how to obtain assistance from or escalate problems to RSA Support
• Backup and restoration processes
• Audit Log locations and configurations for syslog logging
• Report Management
  - Creating manual reports and configuring scheduled report jobs

Examination Preparation

Product Training

Although RSA SecurID Access product training is not a strict requirement in preparation for the RSA SecurID Access Associate Examination, it is highly recommended. Analysis of test results for RSA Certification exams indicates that a majority of candidates who attend training prior to testing are more likely to successfully pass the exam on their first attempt.

For full and detailed descriptions of RSA SecurID Access course offerings, visit: https://community.rsa.com/community/training/securid-access.

Product Experience
Many of the areas addressed by the RSA SecurID Access Associate exam will be familiar to the candidate who has worked with the RSA SecurID Access product family.

The RSA SecurID Access Associate exam content areas cover a wide range of RSA SecurID Access product functions because an RSA SecurID Access Associate may be called upon to perform deployments, work closely with and educate system administrators and other personnel, and maintain the day-to-day operation of an RSA SecurID Access implementation.

Examination Details

Testing Centers, Locations, and Registration

The RSA SecurID Access Associate examination is administered by the Pearson VUE organization – an internationally known examination provider. Examination centers are located worldwide. Visit the Pearson VUE web site (http://pearsonvue.com/rsa/) and use the Test Center Locator to find a testing facility convenient to you.

You may also use the Pearson VUE site to create a personal login account and register for an exam. The RSA SecurID Access Associate exam code is 050-417-SECURIDASC01.

Exam Questions

The RSA SecurID Access Associate exam consists of 70 questions to be completed in 85 minutes. The exam consists of multiple-choice, multiple-response, or true/false type questions. The exam is computer-based and closed book – you may not utilize any printed material, personal computers, calculators, cell phones, etc. during the test.

The minimum passing score is 70%. Test results are calculated automatically at the conclusion of the test and testing center personnel can often provide you with an authorized copy of your results before you leave the testing center.

Exam Costs
The fee for taking the exam is US$ 150.00.

Language Availability

The RSA SecurID Access Associate exam is available in North American English.

What to expect at the Testing Center

You must present two forms of identification; one of which is a photo identification.

You will be required to electronically accept the terms of an RSA Certification Program Non-Disclosure Agreement before beginning the examination. You are given an additional 5 minutes above and beyond the examination time to read this agreement before accepting.

Re-taking the Exam
There is no limit on the number of times that you can re-take the certification exam. However, to maintain integrity and confidentiality of the test items, 14 days is the required elapsed time before retaking the test a third time. Please note that you must pay the full exam fee each time that you retake the