Top 10 Certifications for Network Engineers

There are many things you can do to grow professionally and stay relevant in the IT field. But certifications prove that you have the skills and those skills are aligned with the latest global standards. Here are the Top 10 Network Engineering Certifications to aim for in 2021.

Earning a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) is one of the best ways to prepare for a successful career in networking. Cisco owns 80% of the market when it comes to routing and switching technologies. The program teaches to install, monitor, and troubleshoot the network infrastructure products that are being used by major companies.

If you already have the CCNA, your next goal should be CCNP Certification (Cisco Certified Network Professional). Each professional-level certification requires only two exams: one core exam and one concentration exam of your choice. Currently, there are 7 different CCNP tracks you can take, so you can focus on your needs.

The CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert) is considered to be one of the most prestigious certifications. There are 7 CCIE Tracks you can take: CCIE Enterprise Infra, Wireless, Data Center, Security, Service Provider, Collaboration, and Design Expert. Each track specializes in a specific field of Network Engineering.

Python is an interactive and high-level programming language. It’s super easy to learn and understand Python syntax. That’s why it’s still being used to develop a lot of great programs. Youtube, Instagram, and Spotify are built off of Python. Now the scripting language found its way to manipulate networks and Python scripts can be integrated into network devices to automate monitoring capabilities.

Having a certification like the CCA-N (Citrix Certified Associate – Networking) is a huge increase in your value in the tech world. A lot of companies invest in cloud computing, which refers to the use of remote servers to store data and allow users to access information from anywhere. The CCA-N validates the knowledge and skills needed to manage Citrix NetScaler 10 for app and desktop virtualization solutions in an enterprise environment.

Recognizes knowledge of network sniffing and analysis using Wireshark, as well as TCP/IP network troubleshooting and network security. This is a good add-on to other certifications like Cisco, Juniper etc.

AWS is prominent and a widely-used service. It might be a new solution that your company is looking to utilize or you have a client to support that is using AWS, so it is a good idea to take the AWS Certified Advanced Networking certification.

VCP-DCV: VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization

Studying for the VCP-DCV: VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization will teach you how to deploy, admin, and manage virtualization technologies. Passing this certification will validate your skill to build virtual infrastructure using VMware vSphere 6.

If you have a lot of exposure and hands-on experience with AWS services and you have done some work on large-scale distributed systems, this certification is a must. The AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner certification is a prerequisite.

One of the sought-after certifications for 2020. You must have skills and knowledge to design, develop, and manage Google’s cloud architecture using Google Cloud Platform technologies. Cloud skills continue to be high in demand and earning this certification proves your deep knowledge in applying solutions for different company needs and scenarios.