Computer Networking has always been one of the most demanding career profile. And with the various technological advancements, the Networking field is becoming extremely vast. So if you are deciding to choose Computer Networking as your profession, it will be great! But wait.. have you decided on the particular domain in Networking to make your career objective?
Yes, as mentioned above, Computer Networking is quite a very broad field in itself. From the fundamentals of Routing and Switching to the advancements of Wireless Networking, there exist various domains. Now, it’s up to you to analyze all these domains and select the right one. Here, in this article, we will let you know about all these Networking Career Domains to provide you a basic understanding. Let’s take a look at these domains
1. Routing and Switching
Routing and Switching is the basic functionality of computer networking that covers the knowledge and skills required to enter into the Networking profession. Some of the most common job titles associated with Routing and Switching are – Network Administrator and Network Analyst. You can go for Experts Training Sessions, Tutorials, etc. to command over it. Also, after having adequate knowledge of Routing and Switching, you can earn a Networking Certification in a particular field. When you are certified, your skills are more marketable and more in demand. There are various vendors like CISCO, Juniper, etc. who provide Networking Certifications in Routing and Switching. Among all these, Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) Routing and Switching is most popular and demanding. The career path of CISCO Routing and Switching is provided below:
CCNA Routing and Switching:
- Exams Required: 200-125 (CCNAX), 100-105 (ICND1), 200-105 (ICND2)
- What You Should Prepare: Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices: Accelerated (CCNAX) or Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) and Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 2 (ICND2)
- Eligibility: Not any.
CCNP Routing and Switching:
- Exams Required: 300-101 (ROUTE), 300-115 (SWITCH), and 300-135 (TSHOOT)
- What You Should Prepare: Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE), Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (SWITCH), and Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks (TSHOOT)
- Eligibility: CCNA Routing and Switching or any CCIE certification can act as a prerequisite.
CCIE Routing and Switching:
- Exams Required: CCIE R&S Written Exam 400-101 and CCIE R&S Lab Exam
- What You Should Prepare: Cisco Expert-Level Training for CCIE R&S
- Experience: Min. 7 years of job experience
2. Security
In today’s environment, where the rate of cyber threats is increasing day-by-day, it becomes essential for every organization to have Network Security solutions to protect their platform. Network Security is broad area on its own that covers multiple security measures processes and technologies. The career opportunities in the domain are also very high. Some of the most common job titles associated with Networking Security are – Network Security Engineer, Security Analyst and Cybersecurity Engineer. Some of the major types of Network Security are listed below:
- Access control
- Firewall
- Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
- Data Loss Prevention
- Antiviruses
There are various Networking Certifications that are provided specifically for the Security domain such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), CompTIA’s Network+, Certified Ethical Hacker Certification, CISCO Certification, etc. Let’s took a look at the career path of CISCO Security Certifications.
Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) Security:
- Exams Required: 210-260 (IINS)
- What You Should Prepare: Implementing Cisco Network Security (IINS)
- Eligibility: Valid CCENT or valid CCNA Routing and Switching or any CCIE Certification can act as a prerequisite.
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Security:
- Exams Required: 300-206 (SENSS), 300-210 (SITCS), 300-208 (SISAS), 300-209 (SIMOS)
- What You Should Prepare: Implementing Cisco Edge Network Security Solutions (SENSS), Implementing Cisco Threat Control Solutions (SITCS), Implementing Cisco Secure Access Solutions (SISAS), Implementing Cisco Secure Mobility Solutions (SIMOS)
- Eligibility: CCNA Security or any CCIE certification can act as a prerequisite
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Security:
- Exams Required: CCIE Security Written Exam 400-251 and CCIE Security Lab Exam
- What You Should Prepare: Contact your local Cisco Authorized Learning Partner
- Experience: Min. 7 years of job experience
3. Data Center
The Data Center domain came in limelight because of the increasing demand for centralized networking, distributed computing, and software-based networks. Due to this, the demand for highly skilled professionals in this domain has also increased. Some of the most common job titles associated with Data Center Networking are – Data Center Analyst, Data Center Network Engineer and Data Center Technician. The major types of Data Centers are listed below:
- Enterprise Data Centers
- Colocation Data Centers
- Cloud Data Centers
- Managed Services Data Centers
To make a career in Networking in the Data Center domain you have to cover various aspects from installation & configuration to the maintenance and in progress functioning of the data center structure. There exist various Networking Certifications that will help you to validate your understanding of Data Center Networking such as Cisco DC Certifications, Juniper DC Certifications, VCE Certifications, etc. The career path of Data Center Certifications is as follows:
Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) Data Center:
- Exams Required: 200-150 (DCICN) and 200-155 (DCICT)
- What You Should Prepare: Introducing Cisco Data Center Networking (DCICN), Introducing Cisco Data Center Technologies (DCICT)
- Eligibility: Not any.
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Data Center:
- Exams Required: 300-175 (DCUCI), 300-165 (DCII), 300-170 (DCVAI), 300-160 (DCID), 300-180 (DCIT)
- What You Should Prepare: Implementing Cisco Data Center Unified Computing (DCUCI), Implementing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCII), Implementing Cisco Data Center Virtualization and Automation (DCVAI), Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCID), Troubleshooting Cisco Data Center Infrastructure (DCIT)
- Eligibility: CCNA Data Center or any CCIE certification can act as a prerequisite
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Data Center:
- Exams Required: 400-151 CCIE Data Center Written Exam
- What You Should Prepare: Contact your local Cisco Authorized Learning Partner
- Experience: Min. 7 years of job experience
4. Wireless Networking
In past organizations rely on cables to connect the devices. Nowadays, companies are preferring to have wireless devices and cloud computing for better functioning. Also, due to the technological advancements like – Software-Defined WAN (SD-WAN) DevOps, 5G, virtualization, etc., the field has become very broad. Some of the most common job titles associated with Wireless Networking are – Wireless Network Administrator, Wireless Network Engineer, and Mobility Engineer.
The Wireless Networking field requires you to be well-versed with wireless devices and protocols and have better analytical and problem-solving abilities. There are various Networking Certifications that are provided for the Wireless Networking area such as Aruba Certified Mobility Associate (ACMA), CISCO Wireless Certification, Certified Wireless Network Professional (CWNP), etc. The career path for Wireless Networking Certifications is as follows:
Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) Wireless:
- Exams Required: 200-355 (WIFUND)
- What You Should Prepare: Implementing Cisco Wireless Network Fundamentals (WIFUND)
- Eligibility: Valid CCENT or valid CCNA Routing and Switching or any CCIE certification can act as a prerequisite
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Wireless:
- Exams Required: 300-360 (WIDESIGN), 300-365 (WIDEPLOY), 300-370 (WITSHOOT, 300-375 (WISECURE)
- What You Should Prepare: Designing Cisco Wireless Enterprise Networks (WIDESIGN), Deploying Cisco Wireless Enterprise Networks (WIDEPLOY), Troubleshooting Cisco Wireless Enterprise Networks (WITSHOOT), Securing Cisco Wireless Enterprise Networks (WISECURE)
- Eligibility: Valid CCNA Wireless or any CCIE certification can act as a prerequisite
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Wireless:
- Exams Required: CCIE Wireless Written Exam 400-351 and CCIE Wireless Lab Exam
- What You Should Prepare: Contact your local Cisco Authorized Learning Partner
- Experience: Min. 7 years of job experience
5. VoIP
When you can make a phone call anytime and anywhere using your internet connection, you like it right? Yes, it is because of VoIP Networking. Basically, VoIP is a technology that allowing you to make a call directly from a computer or other related devices by converting your voice into a digital signal. And due to some additional features Voicemail to Email transcription, Call Screening, etc., it is high in demand. Some of the most common job titles associated with the VoIP domain are – VoIP Engineer, Telecom Engineer, and Unified Communications Engineer.
There are various strong VoIP certifications like Avaya Certified Implementation Specialist (ACIS), CISCO Collaboration Certification, SIP College VVoIP Professional (SSVVP), etc you can earn to validate your knowledge and skills. The career path for VoIP field with CISCO Collaboration Certification is as follows:
Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) Collaboration:
- Exams Required: 210-060 (CICD), 210-065 (CIVND)
- What You Should Prepare: Implementing Cisco Collaboration Devices (CICD), Implementing Cisco Video Network Devices, Part 1 (CIVND1), Implementing Cisco Video Network Devices, Part 2 (CIVND2)
- Eligibility: Not any.
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Collaboration:
- Exams Required: 300-070 (CIPTV1), 300-075 (CIPTV2), 300-080 (CTCOLLAB), 300-085 (CAPPS)
- What You Should Prepare: Implementing Cisco IP Telephony and Video, Part 1 (CIPTV1), Implementing Cisco IP Telephony and Video, Part 2 (CIPTV2), Troubleshooting Cisco IP Telephony and Video (CTCOLLAB), Implementing Cisco Collaboration Applications (CAPPS)
- Eligibility: Valid CCNA Collaboration certification or any Cisco CCIE certification can act as a prerequisite
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration:
- Exams Required: CCIE Collaboration Written Exam 400-051 and CCIE Collaboration Lab Exam
- What You Should Prepare: Cisco Expert-Level Training for CCIE Collaboration
- Experience: Min. 7 years of job experience
Networking is a high demand career all over the world. There are many fields and levels present in the networking. Choose one as your career goal and start learning today.