I am taking a Uni Program basically around the Cisco cert stages. Cisco offers a program that simulates all of the software and hardware called "packet tracer". The content of the CCNA at least is now better at explain concepts and theories but it emphasizes some specifics(like some protocols) that aren't industry standard and are mostly Cisco product bias. That being said besides the protocol stuff I would say that the Cisco Bias sections are really easy to spot out because they start pumping up their products. Also Learning Ciscos operating system is good so you can translate that to other operating systems, much like programming languages. I say just buy the books get packet tracer, then take the cert twice once to get used to actual hardware then second to pass. Honestly you will likely fail the first one if you haven't done a Cisco exam before because Cisco makes crazy hard marking schemes and create a scary atmosphere for the exams.