Networking

2020 is going to be amazing in the IT industry. There will be a lot of learning and unlearning. By the way, Cisco DevNet together with the 200-901 exam will be launched on February 24, 2020. This is a new terrain for many professionals. No doubt, DevOps and programming have become really important in the IT world in recent years. For those specialists who are planning to take up job roles in DevOps, software development, or automation, it is critical to validate their knowledge in this field. For this reason, the DevNet certification track has been developed by Cisco and it is expected to be launched in February, 2020.

The Cisco DevNet certification path is developed to meet the high demand of the evolving IT industry with the focus on DevOps & automation. By the launch of this track, new credentials will be introduced from the Associate level to the Specialist and Professional ones. It is also believed that the expert-level certificates will be added with time. In this blog article, we will give you a closer look at this new Cisco program and different levels that will be available at the launch.

New Cisco DevNet Certification Program

The DevNet certification pathway is a new addition to the Cisco tracks. The certificates under this program are designed to validate the professionals’ skills in areas, such as Cisco programmability strategy, network ops, security, and Cisco APIs. The new path is intended for software developers, DevOps engineers, automation specialists, and other software experts. The DevNet credentials will come in the same path as other Cisco certifications, which means they will be available as DevNet Associate, DevNet Specialist, and DevNet Professional. We will look at these levels one by one.

DevNet Associate

This is the first level in the Cisco DevNet certification path. The candidates for this program will be required to pass one test (200-901 DEVASC) in order to earn the certificate. This exam covers different topics that validate a solid foundation designed for the associate-level professionals. The objectives to be covered in the certification content entail the following:

• Understanding and usage of APIs;
• Software development & design;
• Network fundamentals;
• Application deployment and security;
• Infrastructure & automation;
• Cisco platforms & development.

It is important to note that the associate-level credential is similar to the entry-level certificate and is not designed for the IT specialists with certain specialization. There are no official prerequisites for the Cisco DevNet Associate certification. However, Cisco recommends that the students have more than a year of work experience in software development, including Python programming. This certificate will be valid for a period of three years.

DevNet Specialist

This credential is the next level of the Cisco certification path. From this point, the candidates can begin to focus more on specific specialization areas. There are various options that will be available under this track. From February, the students will have the opportunity to choose among the following exams to obtain this specialist-level certificate:

• Cisco 300-435 ENAUTO;
• Cisco 300-535 SPAUTO;
• Cisco 300-635 DCAUTO;
• Cisco 300-735 SAUTO;
• Cisco 300-835 CLAUTO;
• Cisco 350-901 DEVCOR;
• Cisco 300-910 DEVOPS;
• Cisco 300-915 DEVIOT;
• Cisco 300-920 DEVWBX.

Those individuals who are planning to earn the DevNet Specialist credential are required to pass only one exam to get certified. Additionally, there are no prerequisites for obtaining this Cisco certification. This means that the applicants who are already working and using any of these skills can choose this certificate that aligns with their current job role.

DevNet Professional

This is the highest level in this new certification path that will be launched on February 24, 2020. The candidates for this credential will be evaluated based on their knowledge and skills in using APIs, application deployment, Cisco platforms, infrastructure, automation, and security. The core exam for this certificate is 350-901 DEVCOR. You can learn more about it on the official webpage. You have to get the Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist credential to complete the core test. The concentration exams will focus on specific domain topics and the individuals will have to take one of them in order to earn Cisco Certified DevNet Professional. The concentration tests you have to choose from include:

• Cisco 300-435 ENAUTO;
• Cisco 300-535 SPAUTO;
• Cisco 300-635 DCAUTO;
• Cisco 300-735 SAUTO;
• Cisco 300-835 CLAUTO;
• Cisco 300-910 DEVOPS;
• Cisco 300-915 DEVIOT;
• Cisco 300-920 DEVWBX.

If you look at these exams closely, you will realize that they are similar to those from the DevNet Specialist certification track. The implication of this is that you will showcase your DevNet Professional with your specialist-level credential. Essentially, these certificates are valid for a period of three years and there are different options of recertification for them.

DevNet Expert

Nothing special was said about the expert-level credential and for good reasons. It is not likely that this Cisco certification will be launched alongside other DevNet paths by February 24, 2020. However, this doesn’t mean it won’t be released in the near future. It is expected that Cisco will release this certificate afterwards. The tracks and prerequisites for this expert-level credential have not been announced, which means we will have to wait until more details are given.

Conclusion

If you are planning to get certified in the area of DevNet, the certificates highlighted above are what you should focus on in 2020. Regardless of the level that you want to achieve in the DevNet certification path, the most important thing is to get one. You can start with the lowest level and go to a higher one. It can be difficult at first, but then it will be easier. And if you like it, why don’t you try to obtain another one? Start your year and decade with a new credential in your CV.

The IT professionals who are skilled in a few areas of networking are in high demand. So, if you are serious about your career and want to take it to new heights, you should consider getting at least one top networking certification. Managing modern networks is not an easy task, and to become an expert, you need to learn how to work with many tools and technologies. If you are planning to work as a network administrator in a company, you should make sure that you have the skills required to carry out this job role. After obtaining any credential in this area, you can validate your skills and become a qualified specialist.

There are so many networking certificates that are offered by several vendors. However, we will only talk about the top 5 credentials that you can earn in 2020. So, without further ado, let’s go deeper.

1. Wireshark WCNA

The first certification that we have on this list is Wireshark Certified Network Analyst that is administered by Kryterion and was created by Laura Chappell. The certificate mainly revolves around the skills required to operate Wireshark technology and also sheds light on other networking areas, such as network security, network troubleshooting, and TCP/IP communications. This sought-after credential is accepted in over 90 countries around the world, and if you are someone who works professionally with Wireshark technologies, you should consider going for this certification.

To earn this credential, the candidates need to pass one exam. The test consists of 100 multiple-choice questions that should be answered within 2 hours. One of the most important things that you need to know about the Wireshark WCNA certification is that it stays valid for three years. Earning it can be very beneficial for your career, and that is why you should pursue this certificate right now.

2. SolarWinds SCP

SolarWinds is a popular provider of IT solutions, it offers several networking tools that are used worldwide. However, that is not all that SolarWinds does because it also has its own certification program, but currently it only offers the SolarWinds Certified Professional credential. It is one of the top certificates in networking and is all about maintaining and using SolarWinds management products and networks. Getting this certification can be important if you are working for a company that relies on its technologies.

One of the best things about this well-known certificate is that you just need to pass one exam (75 questions and 90 minutes). This credential has a validity of just three years, and after that time, you will have to take the test again to hold your certification status.

3. Cisco CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure and CCIE Enterprise Wireless

When you talk about the top certification vendors out there, you cannot forget about Cisco. It is a market leader when it comes to networking technologies and solutions. Most organizations use its technologies, and that is why they need the certified experts to handle these systems. Cisco offers many paths, one of which is Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE). These certificates show one’s experience and ability to manage and create complex networks.

There are two main certifications in this pathway, one is Enterprise Infrastructure and the other is Enterprise Wireless. The first credential is all about infrastructure operations while the latter focuses on wireless technologies. Other tracks in this domain include CCIE Data Center, CCIE Security, and CCIE Service Provider.

4. Cisco CCNA and CCNP

As you already know, Cisco is one of the market leaders when it comes to networking technologies, it provides networking solutions for a lot of organizations and that is what makes them so important. This is the reason why so many companies out there are always looking for the certified specialists to take care of their systems. As of now, Cisco offers two main certification tracks where one is Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) whereas the other is known as Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP).

The main difference between these two certification paths is that CCNA is designed for the specialists who have just one year of experience with Cisco solutions. As for CCNP, it is intended for the professionals with more than 3 years of experience with enterprise networking solutions.

5. CompTIA Network+

CompTIA is a non-profit organization that is known for offering many well-known certifications. Each certificate covers different domains and is designed for a different target audience. With that said, one of the most popular credentials that this vendor has to offer is known as CompTIA Network+, and as the name suggests, it is all about networks. If you manage to earn this certification, this means that you are proficient in troubleshooting problems, managing networking devices, and designing and implementing networks. The certificate is designed for those individuals who start their career in the IT industry, and obtaining this credential will certainly change their professional life.

Conclusion

Networking has become one of the biggest fields in the world and almost every tech company out there uses some kind of network. The thing is that if these organizations want to keep on functioning properly every day, they need to make sure that they have a working network. This is where the network administrators come in, and their task is to ensure that they handle all anomalies that might occur in the network. If you earn any of the above-mentioned certifications, you will increase your chances of getting a decent job in your preferred company.

Nowadays, the IT certifications have become a necessity because many organizations rely more on the certified specialists. If two candidates apply for the same job position, but one of these individuals is a certificate holder, the employer will certainly hire him or her, as it is easier to trust his/her skills. If you haven’t obtained a credential yet, it is high time to do this because the world needs such a professional like you.