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Cisco Certifications Overview

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sampada deshmukh
Cisco Certifications Overview

Cisco specializes in networking and communications products and services. The company is probably most widely known for its business routing and switching products, which direct data, voice, and video traffic across networks all over the world. However, Cisco cyber ops also offers storage networking, applications for unified communications, telepresence and collaboration (WebEx), and an array of services from simple product support to complete solutions for data centers and cloud management.

The Cisco Career Certification program also includes a number of specializations. These certifications acknowledge a professional's skills in a specific Cisco technology, such as data center application services, voicemail and messaging or rich media. Cisco specializations are organized into two primary categories: one targeting technical specialists and another targeting digital transformation specialists. Between these two categories, there are currently 15 specializations among which IT pros can choose.

Do you know the different Cisco certifications?

Certifications within Cisco's portfolio are the following credentials:
Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT)
Cisco Certified Technician (CCT)
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA)
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)


The Technical Specialist category includes specializations across six subcategories:

  • Collaboration
  • Data Center (FlexPod)
  • Network Programmability
  • Operating System Software program
  • Service Provider
  • Internet of things (IoT)

Digital Transformation Specialists includes credentials geared to Business Architecture and Customer Success.

The CCNA recognizes basic skills in installing, supporting, and troubleshooting wired and/or wireless networks. One can select from several tracks, including Cloud, Collaboration, Cyber Ops, Data Center, Industrial, Routing and Switching, Security, Service Provider, and Wireless. The CCNA is really a prerequisite for the professional-level CCNP certification. Prerequisites for the CCNA vary depending on the solution track chosen as do the number of required exams. All solution tracks require either one or maybe more exams.

Achieving a specialist credential generally requires passing 1 or 2 exams. Some credentials also impose prerequisites.

Entry-, associate- and professional-level credentials are valid for three years, CCIE and specialist certifications are valid for two years and the CCAr is valid for five years. To keep certifications current, Cisco professionals have to recertify by passing a recertification exam or advancing to a higher level in Cisco's certification hierarchy.


The CCENT is the first step of the Cisco certification path. It's an entry-level certification focused on creating, maintaining, and troubleshooting branch networks. It's an excellent foundation for IT professionals interested in networking careers.

Conclusion:
Is Cisco certification worth it in 2021?
Advantages of Cisco Certifications

So, ultimately, we can determine that earning a CCNA certification continues to be worth it. The rising elegance in the world of networking technologies predicts an immense lack of qualified networking professionals, which is a satisfactory reason to get started

It's obvious that you can get your CCNA considerably faster than a degree. Not to mention, within the time it takes you to definitely get a standard 4-year degree, you could attain both your CCNA and CCNP if not more certs.

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