Cisco has more than 65,000 employees and annual revenue of US$40.0 billion as of 2010.
Cisco Career Certifications are IT Professional certifications for Cisco Systems products. There are five levels of certification: Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert, and Architect, as well as seven different paths, Routing & Switching, Design, Network Security, Service Provider, Storage Networking, Voice, and Wireless.
CISCO CERTIFICATION PATH
| Certification Path | Entry | Associate | Professional | Expert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design | CCENT | CCNA /CCDA | CCDE | CCDP |
| Routing & Switching | CCENT | CCNA | CCNP | CCIE R&S |
| Security | CCENT | CCNA Security | CCSP/ CCNP Security | CCIE Security |
| Storage Networking | CCENT | CCNA | CCNP | CCIE SAN |
| Service Provider | CCENT | CCNA | CCIP | CCIE SP |
| SP Operations | CCENT | SP Operations (CCNA SP Ops) | CCNP SP Ops | CCIE SP Ops |
| Voice | CCENT | CCNA Voice | CCNP Voice(formerly CCVP) | CCIE Voice |
| Wireless | CCENT | CCNA Wireless | CCNP Wireless | CCIE Wireless |
EXPERT LEVEL
Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert is the highest level of professional certification that Cisco currently provides and is considered one of the hardest certifications in the world. There are six active CCIE tracks, as shown below. As of October 6, 2010 there are 25,810 people with active CCIE certifications in the world.It has been voted as the most technically advanced IT certification by CertMag, and is generally reported as the highest salaried certification in IT salary surveys. It is said to the Doctorate of InterNetworking.
CCIE Paths
CCIE R&S certifies the expert-level skills required to plan, prepare, operate, monitor and troubleshoot complex converged networks. Professionals who achieve CCIE have demonstrated their technical skills at the highest level.
| Step One: CCIE R&S Written Exam |
|---|
| You must pass the two-hour, written qualification exam covering those technologies and applications that comprise |
| Step Two: CCIE R&S Lab Exam |
| The eight-hour lab exam tests your ability to get the R&S solution operating in a timed test situation. You must pass the lab within three years of passing the written to achieve certification. Your first lab attempt must be made within 18 months. |
- Implement Layer 2 Technologies
- Implement IPv4
- Implement IPv6
- Implement MPLS Layer 3 VPNs
- Implement IP Multicast
- Implement Network Security
- Implement Network Services
- Implement Quality of Service (QoS)
- Troubleshoot a Network
- Optimize the Network
- Evaluate proposed changes to a Network
- Implement Layer 2 Technologies
- Implement IPv4
- Implement IPv6
- Implement MPLS Layer 3 VPNs
- Implement IP Multicast
- Implement Network Security
- Implement Network Services
- Implement Quality of Service (QoS)
- Troubleshoot a Network
- Optimize the Network
It certifies expert-level knowledge of Voice-over-IP (VoIP) solutions in an enterprise environment. Forthcoming developments in this technology promise a dynamic career choice. Certified CCIE Voice experts are capable of building and configuring complex end-to-end telephony networks, troubleshooting and resolving VoIP-related problems and ensuring quality of service using in-depth understanding of Layer 2 and 3 network infrastructures.
| Step One: CCIE Voice Written Exam |
|---|
| You must pass the two-hour, written qualification exam covering those technologies and applications that comprise a Cisco Enterprise VoIP solution before you are eligible for the lab exam. |
| Step Two: CCIE Voice Lab Exam |
| The eight-hour lab exam tests your ability to get the VoIP solution operating in a timed test situation. You must pass the lab within three years of passing the written to achieve certification. Your first lab attempt must be made within 18 months. |
- Infrastructure Protocols
- Telephony Protocols
- Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM)
- S IP Telephony
- QoS
- Unified Messaging
- UCCX
- Presence
- UC Security
- Application Protocols
- Operations and Network Management
- Implement and Troubleshoot Campus Infrastructure and Services
- Implement and Troubleshoot CUCM Endpoints
- Implement and Troubleshoot CUCME Endpoints
- Implement and Troubleshoot Voice Gateways
- Implement and Troubleshoot Call Routing Policies
- Implement and Troubleshoot High Availability Features
- Implement and Troubleshoot Media Resources
- Implement and Troubleshoot Supplementary Services
- Implement and Troubleshoot Other CUCM Voice Applications
- Implement and Troubleshoot QoS and CAC
- Implement and Troubleshoot Messaging
- Implement and Troubleshoot Cisco Unified Contact Center Express
- Implement and Troubleshoot Cisco Unified Presence
The CCIE Security Programs recognizes individuals who have the knowledge and skills to implement, maintain and support extensive Cisco Network Security Solutions using the latest industry best practices and technologies.
Steps to Certification| Step One: CCIE Security Written Exam |
|---|
| You must pass the two-hour, written qualification exam covering networking concepts and some equipment commands before you are eligible to schedule the lab exam. |
| Step Two: CCIE Security Lab Exam |
| The eight-hour lab exam tests your ability to get a secure network running in a timed test situation. You must make an initial attempt of the CCIE lab exam within 18 months of passing the CCIE written exam. If you do not pass the lab exam within three years of passing the written exam, you must retake the written exam before being allowed to attempt the lab exam again. |
- General Networking
- Security Protocols, Ciphers, Hashes, and Encryption
- Application Protocols
- Security Technologies
- Cisco Security Appliances and Applications
- Cisco Security Management
- Cisco Security General
- Security Solutions
- Security General
- Implement secure networks using Cisco ASA Firewalls
- Implement secure networks using Cisco IOS Firewalls
- Implement secure networks using Cisco VPN solutions
- Configure Cisco IPS to mitigate network threats
- Implement Identity Management
- Implement Control Plane and Management Plane Security
- Configure Advanced Security
- Identify and Mitigate Network Attacks
PROFESSIONAL LEVEL
Equipped with a Professional certification, you are ready to manage today's complex networks - whether its working with core technologies, optimizing infrastructure, or keeping key applications secure and performing efficiently.
Professional Paths
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP®) certification validates the ability to plan, implement, verify and troubleshoot local and wide-area enterprise networks and work collaboratively with specialists on advanced security, voice, wireless and video solutions.
| CCNP Prerequisites |
|---|
| Valid CCNA certification or any CCIE Certification can act as a pre-requisite. |
| Required Exam(s) | Recommended Training |
|---|---|
| 642-902 ROUTE | Implementing Cisco IP Routing (ROUTE) |
| 642-813 SWITCH | Implementing Cisco IP Switched Networks (SWITCH) |
| 642-832 TSHOOT | Troubleshooting and Maintaining Cisco IP Networks (TSHOOT) |
Cisco Certified Network Professional CCNP Voice validates advance knowledge and skills required to integrate into underlying network architectures. Furthermore, this certification validates a robust set of skills in implementing, operating, configuring, and troubleshooting a converged IP network. With a CCNP Voice certification, a network professional can create a collaboration solution that is transparent, scalable, and manageable.
| CCNP Voice Prerequisites |
|---|
| CCNA Voice or any CCIE Certification can act as a pre-requisite. |
| Required Exam(s) | Recommended Training |
|---|---|
| 642-437 CVOICE v8.0 | Implementing Cisco Unified Communications Voice over IP and QoS v8.0 (CVOICE v8.0) |
| 642-447 CIPT1 v8.0 | Implementing Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Part 1 v8.0 (CIPT1 v8.0) |
| 642-457 CIPT2 v8.0 | Implementing Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Part 2 v8.0 (CIPT2 v8.0) |
| 642-427 TVOICE v8.0 | Troubleshooting Cisco Unified Communications v8.0 (TVOICE v8.0) |
| 642-467 CAPPS v8.0 | Integrating Cisco Unified Communications Applications v8.0 (CAPPS v8.0) |
CCNP Security certification program is aligned specifically to the job role of the Cisco Network Security Engineer responsible for Security in Routers, Switches, Networking devices and appliances, as well as choosing, deploying, supporting and troubleshooting Firewalls, VPNS, and IDS/IPS solutions for their networking environments.
| CCNP Security Prerequisites |
|---|
| Valid CCNA Security certification, or Valid CCSP certification, or Valid CCNA certification plus SND exam pass |
| Required Exam(s) | Recommended Training |
|---|---|
| 642-637 SECURE v1.0 | Secure v1.0 Securing Networks with Cisco Routers and Switches (SECURE v1.0) |
| 642-627 IPS v7.0 | Implementing Cisco Intrusion Prevention System v7.0 (IPS v7.0) |
| 642-617 FIREWALL v1.0 | Deploying Cisco ASA Firewall Solutions (FIREWALL v1.0) |
| 642-647 VPN v1.0 | Deploying Cisco ASA VPN Solutions (VPN v1.0) |
ASSOCIATE LEVEL
The associate level certification validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size enterprise level router and switched networks. This includes design implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN.
CCNA Paths
At the CCNA level, CCNA certified individuals will specialize in specific technologies. All specialized tracks require an individual to pass and maintain a CCNA certification.
Take the first steps to a career in network management by pursuing a CCNA certification. By pursuing this certification you will broaden your skill sets, and ability to manage and optimize network systems. The CCNA certification is a stamp of approval for associate-level professionals interested in networking.
Exam Code: 640-802
The Introducing Cisco Voice and Unified Communications Administration (ICOMM v8.0) is associated with the CCNA Voice certification. This exam tests a candidate's knowledge of the architecture, components, functionalities, and features of Cisco Unified Communications solutions. It also tests the knowledge needed to perform tasks such as system monitoring, moves, additions and changes on Cisco Unified Communications Manager, Cisco Unified Communications Manager Express, Cisco Unity Connection, and Cisco Unified Presence. Candidates can prepare for this exam by taking the Introducing Cisco Voice and Unified Communications Administration
Exam Code : 640-461
| CCNA Voice Prerequisites |
|---|
| Valid CCNA or any CCIE Certification can act as a pre-requisite. |
A CCNA Wireless certification will validate your ability to configure, implement and support wireless LANs using Cisco equipment. Join that growing number of IT professionals who can manage a wireless LAN configuration across all access points and stations by becoming CCNA Wireless certified. Implementing Cisco Unified Wireless Network Essential (IUWNE) exam is the exam associated with the CCNA Wireless certification.
Exam Code : 640-721
| CCNA Wireless Prerequisites |
|---|
| Valid CCNA or any CCIE Certification can act as a pre-requisite. |
The Implementing Cisco IOS Network Security (IINS) exam is associated with the CCNA Security certification. CCNA Security certification lays the foundation for job roles such as Network Security Specialist, Security Administrator and Network Security Support Engineer. It is the first step for individuals wishing to obtain their CCSP certification.
Exam Code : 640-553
| CCNA Security Prerequisites |
|---|
| Valid CCNA or any CCIE Certification can act as a pre-requisite. |
ENTRY LEVEL
The lowest level of Cisco's certification is CCENT (Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician). CCENT covers basic networking knowledge. It is appropriate for entry-level network support positions. CCENT certified people can install, manage, maintain & troubleshoot a small enterprise network, including basic network security. CCENT is the first step towards a CCNA certification.
The CCENT certification is earned upon passing the Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices Part 1 (ICND1) Exam(640-822 ICND1).