The Organizational Relevance of Top Cisco Courses in 2021

Outlooks towards new-normal workspaces and work-from-home are evolving. Be it start-ups, small-medium businesses, or large enterprises; there is a renewed focus on prioritizing business continuity with zero or negligible interruptions.

Consequentially, all growth-oriented organizations now require seamless collaboration, network security, effective overall management of IT/network systems, an adequately trained and certified workforce. That’s where your teams’ upskilling on Cisco technologies through Cisco Training and Certifications plays a crucial role.

As the US cautiously moves towards the tail-end of the pandemic with a robust economic recovery, Cisco’s credentials as the go-to networking and security services provider, and its sheer value-addition, are once again firmly reiterated.

“Taking your employees through top Cisco courses, and Cisco’s networking, data center, telecommunication, DevNet, or security certifications is no longer a matter of choice but a necessity in 2021.”

The Competitive Edge through Cisco Certified Employees

Over 60% of decision-makers believe Cisco certified teams improve the service/support levels for their IT end-users and customers. More than 40% of the Cisco-certified workforce advances their organizations’ operational efficiency.

Cisco-certified employees are 37% more successful than those without certifications concerning the employee performance metrics. They are 43% faster, 42% more efficient at resolving technical issues, 40% more successful in completing network-concerned projects, and 40% quicker moving up the learning curve.

Certified team members also result in a 37% reduction in network downtime, 37% improvement in external CSAT, and 31% decline in network support costs.

The Most Sought-after Cisco Certifications

• 3 Associate-level Certifications: CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate), CCNA Cisco Certified DevNet Associate, and Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate certifications.
• 6 Professional Certifications: CCNP Enterprise, CCNP Data Center, CCNP Collaboration, CCNP Service Provider, CCNP Security, and Cisco Certified DevNet Professional certifications.

Certifications’ Details, Benefits for Organizations & Preparation through Top Cisco Courses 2021

1] CCNA certification validates your employees’ skills and knowledge of IT fundamentals, latest networking technologies, security, automation, and programmability. Ranked amongst the more respected associate-level certifications, it covers a range of topics from network fundamentals, network access, IP connectivity, IP services to security fundamentals while helping them keep pace with the ever-changing landscape. One must pass the 120-minutes long 200–301 CCNA exam to earn this certification.

Implementing and Administering Cisco Solutions (CCNA) v1.0: The 5-days instructor-led training covers networking, security, and automation. It provides your teams with knowledge and skills for installing, configuring, and operating a small-to-medium-sized network while preparing them for the 200–301 exam and earning the CCNA certification.

2] CCNA Cisco Certified DevNet Associate certification verifies your team members’ skills for implementing basic network applications utilizing Cisco platforms as a base. It tests their knowledge for implementing automation workflows across the network, security, collaboration, and computing infrastructure. The certification enables your workforce to apply the power of Cisco technology in applications and user experiences. A 120-minutes long 200–901 DEVASC exam must be passed for earning this certification.

Developing Applications and Automating Workflows using Cisco Platforms (DEVASC): The 5-days instructor-led training covers automation and network programmability. It brings a fundamental understanding of applications, automation, and Cisco platforms’ essentials. The Cisco course qualifies your employees to take advantage of the network while implementing applications for catering to various business needs and prepares them for the 200–901 exam.

3] Cisco Certified CyberOps Associate certification tests your cybersecurity workforce’s and Security Operations Center (SOC) teams’ day-to-day tactical knowledge and skills for detecting and responding to cybersecurity threats. It validates their skills and knowledge of security concepts, security monitoring, host-based analysis, network intrusion analysis, security policies, and procedures. The certification ensures the availability of security expertise before, during, and after any attack within your organization. Must pass the 200–201 CBROPS exam for earning this certification.

Understanding Cisco Cybersecurity Operations Fundamentals (CBROPS) v1.0: The 5-days instructor-led Cisco course addresses CyberOps. It lets your SOC team members acquire fundamental skills, techniques, and hands-on practices to prevent-defend against cyberattacks and prepare for the 200–201 exam needed for securing the certification.

4] CCNP Enterprise certification is considered one of the industry’s most widely recognized certifications. It validates your employees’ skills with enterprise networking solutions while allowing them to choose their technical focus area. The customizable certification provides a wide range of skills and a more profound focus on strategic technology, allowing your business to take advantage of automation for scaling and securing the networking infrastructure. One must successfully clear the core exam 350–401 ENCOR and any one of the six concentration exams for earning this certification.

Implementing and Operating Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) v1.1: The 5-days instructor-led training covers enterprise networking, routing, and switching. It offers knowledge and skills for configuring, troubleshooting, and managing enterprise wired and wireless networks. The Cisco course prepares you for taking the 350–401 exam, helpful for earning CCNP® Enterprise, CCIE® Enterprise Infrastructure, CCIE Enterprise Wireless, and Cisco Certified Specialist–Enterprise Core certifications.

5] CCNP Data Center certification verifies your teams’ skills with data center solutions while allowing them to choose their technical focus area. The customizable certification adds data center automation skills to your employees’ areas of expertise and positions them for advancement in the fast-unfolding world of data center technologies. A core exam 350–601 DCCOR and any one of the six concentration exams should be passed for earning this certification.

Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies (DCCOR) v1.0: The 5-days instructor-led course addresses data centers. It lets you acquire experience in implementing, securing, and automating network, compute, and storage infrastructure. And it prepares you for the 350–601 exam, necessary for earning CCNP Data Center, Cisco Certified Specialist-Data Center Core, and CCIE Data Center certifications.

6] CCNP Security certification tests your workforce’s skills with security solutions while allowing them to choose their technical focus area. The customizable certification adds security automation skills to your teams’ areas of expertise. Must pass a core exam 350–701 SCOR and any one of the six concentration exams to earn this certification.

Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies (SCOR) v1.0: The 5-days instructor-led training covers security. It provides hands-on experience in implementing core security technologies and learning best practices using Cisco security solutions. The Cisco course prepares you for the 350–701 exam, helpful for earning CCNP Security, CCIE Security, and Cisco Certified Specialist-Security Core certifications.

7] CCNP Collaboration certification verifies your employees’ skills with collaboration solutions while allowing them to choose their technical focus area. The customizable certification adds collaboration and automation skills to your workforce’s areas of expertise. A core exam 350–801 CLCOR and any one of the five concentration exams should be passed to secure this certification.

Implementing and Operating Cisco Collaboration Core Technologies (CLCOR) v1.0: The 5-days instructor-led course addresses collaboration. It enables your team members to integrate and troubleshoot Cisco Unified Communications Manager with Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) for user synchronization and authentication. The training lets you implement Cisco Unified Communications Manager provisioning features and configure and troubleshoot collaboration endpoints. At the same time, it prepares you for the 350–801 exam, leading to CCNP Collaboration, Cisco Certified Specialist-Collaboration Core, and CCIE Collaboration certifications.

8] CCNP Service Provider certification validates your teams’ skills with service provider solutions while allowing them to choose their technical focus area. The customizable certification adds service provider automation skills to your employees’ areas of expertise. Requires passing a core exam 350–501 SPCOR and any one of the three concentration exams for earning the certification.

Implementing and Operating Cisco Service Provider Network Core Technologies (SPCOR) v1.0 : The 5-days instructor-led training covers service provider networking and enterprise networking. It lets your workforce configure, verify, troubleshoot, and optimize next-generation Service Provider IP network infrastructures. The Cisco course explains service provider technologies, including core architecture, services, networking, automation, quality of services, security, and network assurance. Your teams also get to prepare for the 350–501 exam, helpful for earning CCNP® Service Provider and Cisco Certified Specialist–Service Provider Core certifications.

9] Cisco Certified DevNet Professional certification verifies your employees’ skills for developing and maintaining applications built on Cisco platforms while allowing them to choose their technical focus area. The customizable certification helps your team members perfect the art of writing code and designing applications that leverage Cisco platforms. It enables them to make the most of automation and DevOps through NetDevOps for efficiently scaling and securing the infrastructure. Must pass the core exam 350–901 DEVCOR and any one of the eight concentration exams for earning the certification.

Developing Applications Using Cisco Core Platforms and APIs (DEVCOR) v1.0: The 5-days instructor-led Cisco course addresses automation and network programmability. It empowers you to take advantage of the network and software development practices while implementing applications for fulfilling business needs. Your workforce achieves proficiency with applications, automation, and Cisco platforms. The training prepares you for taking the 350–901 exam, leading to Cisco Certified DevNet Professional and Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist-Core certifications.

“All forward-looking organizations recognize that an in-house Cisco-certified IT infrastructure workforce brings a lot to the table.”

Cisco-certified employees are often more knowledgeable and capable of taking on significant responsibilities. They are 42% better at selecting technology solutions. Most are strong performers obsessed with providing a higher quality of service to customers, leading to a 31% average improvement in overall company performance metrics.

Cisco training not only upgrades your teams’ Cisco skills but also proves to be a worthwhile long-term investment.

NetCom Learning is a Cisco Authorized Learning Partner for official certification training through seasoned instructors with extensive domain knowledge and decades of subject-matter experience. Learners get access to the official Cisco content, updated curriculum, Cisco enterprise skill development program, Cisco e-Learning, and a dedicated NetCom 365 portal.

Explore beginner to advanced-level courses for your team members and enroll today by choosing flexible delivery methods, from Virtual Instructor-led Training (vILT), Instructor-led Training, to Private Group Training and e-Learning options.

Sources: Cisco, Gartner, Statista, CRN, TechNewsWorld, CNET, CNBC, Forbes, Fierce Telecom, SiliconANGLE, Solutions Review, Linkedin, Business News Daily, CBT Nuggets, NetCom, Wikipedia, YouTube, and other information channels.