Closing The IT Network Skills Gap

How managers can understand and prepare for new networking skill requirements

A commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Cisco

Executive Summary
Managing talent in the network environment is becoming increasingly challenging for CIOs, IT
managers, and HR decision-makers. Traditionally, the network has been viewed as the “dial tone”
of IT — providing “always on and always available” connectivity. But the network’s sophistication is
evolving rapidly as it transitions from a basic transport system to a business-critical application and
services delivery platform. To keep pace with the new business requirements, companies are
investing heavily in new tools and infrastructure.

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CCNA Career Certification - 2

The Cisco® CCNA® certification for network associates validates the ability to install, configure,

operate, and troubleshoot medium-sized routed and switched networks, and implement and verify
connections to remote sites in a wide-area network (WAN). The Cisco Networking Academy® CCNA
Discovery and CCNA Exploration curricula discuss basic mitigation of network security threats and
provide an introduction to wireless networking concepts and terminology. These new curricula also
include the following protocols: IP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Serial
Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay, Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2), VLANs,
Ethernet, and access control lists (ACLs).

CCNA Benefits
● Globally recognized, this is the foundation to all Cisco certifications
● Represents the ability to optimize network systems

1 Discounts range from 50 to 80 percent off the price of the exam based on regional economic factors
2 Students must pass the first attempt of their final exam for CCNA Discovery 4 Designing and Supporting Computer Networks or CCNA Exploration
4 Accessing the WAN with a 75 percent or higher and receive a “P” in the gradebook from their instructor to be eligible for a discount voucher

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CCNP Career Certification

The Cisco® CCNP® certification for network professionals validates the knowledge and skills
required to install, configure, and troubleshoot converged local and wide area networks with 100 or
more nodes. With a CCNP certification, a network professional demonstrates the knowledge and
skills required to manage the routers and switches that form the network core, as well as edge
applications that integrate voice, wireless, and security into the network. The Cisco Networking
Academy® CCNP curriculum teaches students how to build scalable Cisco multilayer switched
networks, secure converged wide area networks, and optimize converged networks.

CCNP Benefits:
● Validates the skills needed to manage increasingly complex networks
● Demonstrates the ability to leverage core technologies to optimize performance across an infrastructure

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The Cisco Learning Network

Connect, Contribute, and Collaborate with the Cisco Learning Network: www.cisco.com/go/learnnetspace

The IT Industry
The global IT industry is growing rapidly and becoming more sophisticated with a variety of technologies such as the following:
●Virtual Private Network (VPN)
●Wireless
●Security and Storage
●Unified Communications
●IP Video and Cisco® TelePresence
●Collaboration
●Web 2.0 Technologies

This growth has increased the need for knowledgeable and qualified IT professionals, creating a wide range of global career opportunities.

The Cisco Learning Network

The Cisco Learning Network is an online Web 2.0 social network that allows members to collaborate, learn, share knowledge, and access certification exam preparation materials through discussion forums, blogs, videos, wikis, quick learning modules, technology games, and practice questions. It is designed for Cisco certified individuals, IT professionals, students, career changers, and individuals interested in a career in IT,

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Hardware & Software

Networking Academy Corporate Partners
Socially-responsible corporations understand that a better social climate leads to a better business climate. In the area of social responsibility, Cisco recognizes the importance of cultivating strategic partnerships to achieve a positive, sustainable difference.
Global Partners maintain a global presence, is committed to the three resource categories: Enabling, Extending, and Employing resource categories. Global partners provide Networking Academy with financial and in-kind donations with a minimum of a three-year engagement
		Panduit is a global leading manufacturer of high-quality products for wiring and communications applications. They provide innovative products that offer maximum reliability at the lowest total installed cost. This capability gives them a powerful advantage in the competitive global marketplace.
Associate Partners are committed to the Employing category as well supports one additional resource category, provides financial and in-kind donations with a minimum of a two-year engagement.
		NDG NETLAB Academy Edition is the remote lab appliance for information technology training and distance learning. Students and instructors can share worldwide access to your real lab equipment in a training environment that is easy to use and manage.
		SIGMAnet, Inc. is a leading Information Technology Products, Solutions & Services provider to Business, Education and Government. Since 1986, SIGMAnet has helped customers lower their total cost of IT ownership (TCO) by providing Full Service IT Asset Management Services (ITAM), Lifecycle Services (ITLS), and Advanced Technology Solutions & Services (ATS).

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