Palo Alto Networks PCNSA Certification Profile

Here’s an exclusive profile of North American IT pros who hold a Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Administrator (PCNSA) certification. The data is from our global IT Skills and Salary Report so you won't find it anywhere else.

If you're not familiar with the certification, here's a PCNSA overview.

 

Job functions and job titles that commonly hold the PCNSA certification

1. Infrastructure, Networking and Telecommunications
   1. Network Administrator
   2. Networking Engineer / Analyst / Technician
   3. Infrastructure Manager
   4. System Administrator
2. Cybersecurity / IT Security
   1. Security consultant or integrator
   2. Security engineer or analyst
   3. Compliance Manager
   4. CISO/CSO/ISO
3. IT architecture and design
   1. Enterprise Architect
   2. Network Architect

 

How many years of experience do you have in your career?

Years of experience	% of respondents
1-5 years	23%
6-10 years	15%
11-15 years	15%
16-20 years	8%
21-25 years	31%
26+	8%

 

Average salary of a PCNSA-certified IT pro

• 2020
  • $111,484
• 2019
  • $106,736

 

Average bonus

• $3,914

 

What are some of the primary factors that led to an increase in your base salary?

Primary factors that led to a salary increase (select all that apply)	% of respondents
Performance in current job	55%
Obtained industry certification	36%
Standard company increase	27%
Cost of living increase	27%
Developed new skills that were of added value	27%
Additional responsibilities in current position	18%
Promotion within company	9%
Promotion and transfer to another company	9%

 

Job Security

• 69% feel “extremely good”
• 23% feel “somewhat good”

Job satisfaction

• 31% are “extremely satisfied”
• 46% are “somewhat satisfied”
• 15% changed employers last year

 

Workplace challenges PCNSA certified holders experience

Challenges in the workplace (select all that apply)	% of respondents
Executing with urgency and excellence	38%
Lack of career development and growth opportunities	31%
Access to resources (i.e., budget, people) to help the organization achieve its goals	31%
Unclear job roles and responsibilities	23%
Developing team skills	23%
Workload	23%
Communication and working with supervisors	23%
None	15%
Employee morale	8%

 

PCNSA Certification Holders and Cross Certification

 

Time since last certification earned

• 0-6 months: 62%
• 7-12 month: 15%
• 1-2 years: 15%
• 3-5 years: 8%

The majority of IT pros with their PCNSA certification are actively pursuing certifications as most have earned their most recent certification in the last six months.

 

Here are other certifications Palo Alto Networks certified professionals hold:

•  (ISC)²
  • CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional
• Check Point
  • CCSA – Check Point Certified Security Administrator R80.20
  • CCSE – Check Point Certified Security Expert R80.20
• Cisco
  • CCNA Routing and Switching (now CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate)
  • CCNP Routing and Switching (now CCNP Enterprise)
  • CCNA Security
  • CCENT - Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician
  • CCDA Design
  • CCDP Design
• CompTIA
  • Security+
  • Network+
  • A+
  • Linux+
  • Cloud+
  • CASP+ (Advanced Security Practitioner)
• EC-Council
  • CEH – Certified Ethical Hacker
• ITIL
  • ITIL Foundation
• Microsoft
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
  • Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
  • Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert
  • Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate
  • Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate
• Wireless
  • CWNA – Certified Wireless Network Administrator
  • CWDP – Certified Wireless Design Professional
• VMware
  • VCP6.5-DCV: VMware Certified Professional 6.5 - Data Center Virtualization
  • VCP7-DTM: VMware Certified Professional 7 - Desktop and Mobility
  • VCP6-DCV: VMware Certified Professional 6 - Data Center Virtualization

 

Certifications they are pursuing or plan to pursue

• 77% are actively pursuing a certification
• 15% plan to pursue one in the next 12 months
• 83% are pursuing a cybersecurity related certification

 

Most popular certs being pursued

1. Palo Alto Networks
   1. PCNSE – Palo Alto Certified Network Security Engineer
2. Cisco
   1. CCNP Routing and Switching (now CCNP Enterprise)
3. (ISC)²
   1. CISSP – ISSEP Information Systems Security Engineering Professional
4. AWS
   1. AWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate

 

Ready to earn your PCNSA certification?

 

Prepare for the exam with our Palo Alto Networks Essentials: Configuration and Management (EDU-210) course.