The 2V0-81.20 (Professional VMware Security) exam is designed for intermediate-level IT professionals willing to certify their mastery of VMware’s security solutions. Also, it validates the skills related to administering the security functions and features of NSX-T Data Center, VMware Carbon Black Cloud, and Workspace ONE products. And by acing it, you will obtain the appropriate VMware Certified Professional-Security 2021 (VCP-SEC 2021) certification.

About the VMware Certified Professional - Security 2021 Certification

From the name, this certificate verifies a deep understanding of security solutions and features for a VMware environment. It is an intermediate-level designation that will also confirm if a test-taker understands the administration process of various security properties and functions of the VMware Carbon Black Cloud, Workspace ONE, and NSX-T Data Center.

VMware 2V0-81.20 Exam Facts

This exam features a maximum of 70 inquiries using a combination of drag and drop, matching, multiple-choice, and multiple-choice multiple selection task formats. At the same time, the final test can only be written in English and is proctored through Pearson VUE. It costs $250 per attempt in the USA and has a time limit of 130 minutes. As for applicants from other countries, the exam voucher price for them depends on the location.

A Breakdown of the VMware 2V0-81.20 Exam objectives

The first step that every candidate should take is to thoroughly study the exam guide, which is available on VMware's official website. Only there will you get the most up-to-date information about the topics that will be on the final test. In brief, you should be aware of the following knowledge areas:

Topic 4: Installing, Setting, and Configuring

This topic focuses on the learner’s ability to configure a range of solutions including firewall rules to support the security of Workspace ONE components, compliance profiles and policies within Workspace ONE UEM, as well as access policies for Workspace ONE Access. Moreover, this test will focus on a skillset in configuring and administering endpoint management, alongside knowledge of providers within a Workspace ONE Access, and authentication methods for Workspace ONE Access. To conclude, this knowledge area will evaluate a candidate’s proficiency in deploying CB Defense sensors, deploying and configuring NSX-T, outlining the installation of the NSX-T data center workflow, managing firewalls rules for NSX-T, connecting the NSX-T manager to a user directory, managing security policies and security groups within NSX-T, and configuring the key components of Guest Introspection in VMTools.

Topic 6: Troubleshooting and Repairing

Troubleshooting and repairing as part of this official exam will cover the difference between different troubleshooting tools, the troubleshooting of general NSX element issues, troubleshooting of basic Carbon Black issues, as well as troubleshooting of core Workspace ONE issues. What’s more, this section will also have a few questions extracted from the subtopics of troubleshooting basic connectivity, multi-cloud security, and physical infrastructure issues.

Topic 7: Administrative and Operational Tasks

Moreover, the last domain will cover numerous questions associated with the identification of traffic flows for the data center, identification of automation mechanisms related to configuring security policy, and the management of firewall policies. Also, this exam portion validates the candidates’ expertise in the monitoring of security in line with regulation assurance and compliance, the management of security policies to support disaster recovery and business continuity, the performance of patch management within Workspace ONE, and the management of access policies for an external Identity Provider Federation as well as Single Sign-On.

Candidates should note that the topics listed below will not contribute to the VMware 2V0-81.20 exam questions. But that doesn't mean that as a future professional working with VMware's security solutions you shouldn't be aware of these issues.

• Topic 1: Architecture and Technologies
• Topic 2: Products and Solutions
• Topic 3: Planning and Designing
• Topic 5: Performance-tuning, Optimization, and Upgrades

Job Prospects

So, when you earn your 2V0-81.20 certificate, you also become the owner of a wealth of knowledge and experience, which will open up many pathways for you to develop your career. In other words, you can apply for the following positions:

• Security Engineer

  Security engineers conduct detailed risk assessments, identify system vulnerabilities, create firewalls, and configure network systems to optimize the available security features. However, these individuals are not only responsible for responding to security threats but also document such issues to create a safe working environment. They demonstrate a solid realizing of advanced technical issues within a functional business environment, maintain hardware and software systems with security features in mind, and identify the current and emerging issues regarding the adoption of security operations, threat detection, and mitigation of security breaches.

  Consequently, they earn an average salary of $93,915 per year as stated on the PayScale.com website.

• Security Manager

  The technical roles and responsibilities of security managers involve the development and implementation of security procedures, protocols, and policies, budget estimation for completing security operations, and the recruitment and supervision of junior security professionals within the organization. What’s more, these individuals are involved in reviewing reports on security breaches, investigating and resolving technical issues, creating reports, analyzing data to support optimization, and planning security operations for specific tasks.

  Meanwhile, according to the latest sources including PayScale.com, a typical security manager makes an average of $70,340 per year.

• Information Security Analyst

  In brief, information security analysts are responsible for supervising computer networks to manage security breaches. They are committed to maintaining computer systems by constantly updating or upgrading the existing software and suggesting suitable optimization strategies depending on their position in the organization. Also, they may work closely with the general IT staff or users to ensure they understand the basic details of new security solutions, hardware, and programs.

  In terms of pay, information security analysts are guaranteed to make an average of $73,033 annually according to PayScale.com.

Career Path

By obtaining the VCP-SEC 2021 qualification, you end your security-related VMware certification path. This does not mean that you should stop there. Fortunately, VMware offers many professional tracks such as Data Center Virtualization, Network Virtualization, Application Modernization, each with different levels of specialist proficiency. So, everything is in your hands!