About 156-215.81 Exam
Why the CheckPoint R81.20 Security Admin Cert Still Stands Strong in 2025
The CheckPoint Certified Security Administrator R81.20 credential continues to remain a standout option in 2025 due to its direct focus on practical, firewall-centered network protection. Unlike theoretical certs that stay abstract, this one reflects real scenarios network admins face in enterprise-grade infrastructures.
The growing reliance on layered security architectures has made CheckPoint firewalls a core tool in many mid to large-sized companies. Because of that, professionals who can confidently work with R81.20 features like SmartConsole access, policy rules, and threat prevention layers are more valuable now than they’ve been in past years.
Having this cert doesn’t just show general security knowledge. It confirms you can actually deploy, manage, and monitor CheckPoint environments in a way that matches current industry configurations.
Who Actually Gains the Most from Getting 156-215.81
The CheckPoint 156-215.81 exam isn’t built for complete beginners. It’s structured for those already comfortable with basic networking concepts, even if they’re not yet security specialists. If you’ve worked in IT support, junior admin roles, or dealt with network hardware setups, you’ll probably adapt quickly to the material.
It’s ideal for anyone stepping into a firewall-centric job function. Especially in companies that already use CheckPoint security appliances, the cert can push junior IT staff into more security-specific responsibilities.
Here are just a few roles that naturally benefit from holding this cert:
Job Role |
Why It Helps |
Network Security Engineer |
Deepens firewall rule understanding and access control |
SOC Analyst (Tier 1 or 2) |
Strengthens log review, alert management, and mitigation |
Security Operations Engineer |
Supports high availability and gateway configuration |
Firewall Administrator |
Confirms real skills in CheckPoint firewall deployment |
If you’re looking to level up from a support or helpdesk position and want a concrete direction, this cert helps solidify your transition into hands-on cybersecurity work.
What You Actually Learn Along the Way
This cert takes you beyond basic theory and gets into the nuts and bolts of firewall management. You won’t just memorize definitions you’ll understand how different components of the CheckPoint infrastructure come together in real scenarios.
It builds fluency in:
- Policy rules: How to build and apply access policies based on users, apps, and time
- SmartConsole navigation: Using CheckPoint’s interface to configure rules and monitor events
- NAT and VPN handling: Address translation and secure connections between networks
- Threat Prevention: Configuring blades like Anti-Bot, Anti-Virus, and URL filtering
- Monitoring and logging: Tracking activity, troubleshooting, and auditing logs efficiently
By the time you’re done preparing, you’ll understand how to build out a secure rulebase, respond to incidents using built-in tools, and adapt to changing threat patterns in enterprise networks.
Is It Actually a Tough One to Crack?
Whether the exam feels tough or not really depends on your starting point. If you’ve dealt with CheckPoint gear before even lightly the structure of the questions will feel more intuitive. But if you’re coming from general networking certs like CompTIA Network+ or Cisco’s CCNA, expect a bit of a learning curve with the platform’s logic.
Many candidates who pass describe the test as fair but tricky. It doesn’t dive too deep into obscure material, but it does test your understanding of how CheckPoint implements familiar security concepts.
The key challenge? Getting used to CheckPoint’s language. For example, the way it structures security zones or policy layers is a bit different from what Cisco or Palo Alto might use. Once you understand those differences, it’s easier to tackle the exam.
Is the Certification Worth Your Time in 2025?
Yes. If your target is a role in cybersecurity operations, firewall management, or even security consulting, this cert gives you something concrete to show hiring teams.
Let’s break down its market value in terms of roles and average pay across North America in 2025:
Role |
Average Salary (2025) |
Firewall Administrator |
$85,000 to $105,000/year |
Network Security Engineer |
$100,000 to $125,000/year |
SOC Analyst (CheckPoint-focused) |
$70,000 to $95,000/year |
Aside from pay, the value lies in how this cert fits into a larger career path. It opens the door to:
- Advanced certs like CheckPoint CCSE
- Transitioning into cloud firewall roles
- Security-focused team leadership or architecture design roles
Companies handling regulated industries like finance, healthcare, and infrastructure often demand CheckPoint-specific skills, especially where firewall uptime and threat detection are mission-critical.
What You’ll Face in the Exam: Topics That Show Up
The content of the 156-215.81 exam is targeted. It sticks closely to practical skills CheckPoint admins actually use day-to-day. If you’ve configured policy layers or handled basic VPNs, many of these topics will feel familiar.
Topics generally include:
- CheckPoint core architecture
- Building rule bases and understanding traffic flows
- SmartConsole functions and best practices
- NAT rules, especially static vs. hide NAT
- Identity awareness integration
- Enabling and tuning threat prevention blades
- Handling VPN tunnels and connection management
You’ll also see some emphasis on troubleshooting logs, understanding how policy rules are matched, and configuring user groups and permissions effectively.
The goal is to ensure you’re not just clicking buttons, but that you understand how the different CheckPoint systems interact and protect a network.
How the Exam is Structured and Scored
This exam keeps things straightforward in terms of structure. You won’t have to perform any live tasks or simulations. All questions are multiple-choice, with both single-answer and multiple-answer formats.
Attribute |
Details |
Format |
Multiple Choice |
Question Count |
~90 questions |
Duration |
90 minutes |
Passing Score |
Around 70% |
Language |
English |
Each question is weighted equally, and you don’t lose points for wrong answers. Some questions will include short scenarios where you have to identify the correct rule or spot misconfigurations, but overall the test favors recognition over recall.
Knowing how the UI flows and what each section in SmartConsole controls will go a long way in answering questions accurately.
Study Smarter: What to Focus On While Prepping
Studying for CheckPoint exams isn’t like prepping for generic certs. Reading theory isn’t enough. You need to interact with the platform or at least understand how it behaves.
Here’s a more useful approach to prep:
- Lab time matters: Even if it’s a community edition or shared lab, try setting up policies, NAT rules, and logs.
- Go beyond reading: Watch how rules interact, how threat prevention blades get triggered, and how the SmartConsole UI handles alerts.
- Use actual log files: CheckPoint logs are key to many questions. Know how to filter, review, and interpret them.
- Practice real scenarios: Try to map concepts to actions. For instance, know what happens if a policy is placed in the wrong order.
- Focus on R81.20 content: Some older guides are still floating around, but R81.20 has unique behavior updates. Don’t study outdated material.
Many successful test-takers say they focused their last week on mock questions, quick revision tables, and short quizzes to build speed and confidence.
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