In addition to having the right focus, having an actionable plan in hand is also essential. This is particularly important considering the number of professional bodies and certifications available today. Potential IT professionals may find it increasingly stressful to find the right track to pursue, especially with the range of professions within the IT field, including Networking, Data Analytics, Programming, Blue/Red Teaming, Risk Assessment, Audit, Cloud Security, Cyber Security, and Database Administration to name a few.
To start with, let's stick to the most reliable, globally recognized, and utterly worthwhile body - Cisco. It's one of the best ways to kick off your IT career. Certifications and professional training under Cisco have proven to be a valuable tool to help IT personnel find professionally and financially rewarding career opportunities. Opting for Cisco training and certification is a surefire way to validate your IT knowledge and technical skills that perfectly match with your ideal jobs. Cisco certification, even though vendor-specific, is universally acclaimed because of the way it trains the candidates for the IT field. The platform is loaded with IT-related opportunities and innovative tech that can help networking enterprises gain numerous benefits.
The Most Demanded Cisco Certifications
With several certification options under the Cisco board, it is important to choose your certification wisely. If you are applying for Cisco certification for the first time, you will only be able to access the associate-level certification. However, if you already have a few of these certifications under your belt, you have several more options. Therefore, we have covered the three best and most rewarding Cisco Certifications in demand currently. Go through the following information and choose the right path for your networking career.
Cisco Certified Network Associate Routing and Switching (CCNA R&S)
For any network newbie, CCNA R&S is still a popular certification choice. This is where most professionals working with Fortune 500 started off their IT career with. The certification still stands strong with the most demand in the industry even today. To play its part, Cisco offered a wider range of CCNA choices and added further tracks into the certification to help the candidate choose wisely. These additional tracks include security, wireless, cloud, and data center. As the name suggests, CCNA R&S covers switching and routing notions and all the relevant infrastructure elements in the networking technology. The knowledge and skill set revolves around networking as well as switches and Cisco routers operating systems. To be eligible for the CCNA R&s certification, candidates can opt for a CCNA composite exam or continue with ICND2 exam. You can opt for professional assistance for Cisco training, practicing sample questions, and online exams.
Cisco Certified Network Associate - Cloud (CCNA Cloud)
CCNA-cloud is another great and reliable choice for beginners looking for secure job opportunities in the growing IT job market. Since most organizations are transitioning to the Cloud, there's a growing demand for networking professionals who can operate on the cloud and have a thorough understanding of cloud operations and control. CCNA-cloud prepares the candidates to operate in cloud infrastructures and offer them both knowledge and technical skills that they can offer their employers. And as the cloud is expected to grow, so will the demand for CCNA-cloud professionals. While there are no strict prerequisites for attaining this certification, it's highly recommended that candidates have a basic knowledge of networking and cloud protocols and technologies. The certification will require completing two exams successfully, CLDADM and CLDFND. Both exams will include questions related to the basics of the cloud as well as Cisco products. Today's cloud computing era is bringing in lots of lucrative opportunities for Cisco certified professionals. It's never too late to add that credential onto your resume. So, do that now and create a variation in your career.
Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT)
CCENT is another beginner-level certification that any newbie in the field can opt for. It is indeed one of the best choices for beginners to gain instant qualification of Cisco and entering the networking job world. The CCENT certification is all about network support skills and knowledge. These experts are also known as beginner-level network administrators, who are responsible for performing, develop, and manage all business networking requirements. Currently, the CCENT exam is 100-105 ICND1. As far as the prerequisites are concerned, it is ideal if the candidate has some basic knowledge of operating systems and computer functions. This certification is also suitable for any potential IT professional who wishes to work as a system engineer, administrator, or network technician in the near future. For candidates who are looking forward to completing the Cisco program or other higher-level Cisco certifications, CCENT can be the first step of the ladder. Candidates can expect decent job opportunities in the IT industry after gaining a Cisco certification in the networking field, which eventually brings in various rewarding and lucrative offers in the future with experience.
Conclusion
A Cisco certification can play a vital role in helping you kickstart your IT career. The globally recognized and accepted certification can instantly boost your career opportunities and land you in your dream jobs. Also, since these were associate-level certifications, there's only moving ahead from this point. After completing these certifications, you can opt for higher-level certifications and diversify your area of expertise to stand out in the crowded job market. Since IT is an ever-evolving industry, it's crucial to grow with it to keep the opportunities coming and knocking on your door.
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