CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert)

Certification

Description

CCIE Collaboration

CCIE Collaboration certification is designed for Architects specializing in voice, video and unified communications. Candidates must pass a two hour written exam on Cisco Enterprise Collaboration and an eight hour lab examination. Topics include configuration, troubleshooting and integration.

CCIE Data Center

CCIE Data Center is intended for professionals working with design, planning and implementation for data center infrastructure. Candidates must pass a two-hour written exam on data center infrastructure before completing a two-part, eight-hour timed lab exam, which assesses skills in diagnosing and troubleshooting complex data center topologies.

CCIE Routing and Switching

Networking concepts are covered in a written exam, after which candidates must pass an eight-hour lab configuring routing and switching equipment. It is designed for expert-level engineering professionals.

CCIE Security

The CCIE Security certification prepares engineers to architect, engineer and troubleshoot Cisco security technologies. To pass the lab exam, engineers must fully configure a secure network within eight hours.

CCIE Service Provider

Intended for network engineers at service providers, candidates must pass an eight-hour lab configuring service provider equipment.

CCIE Wireless

Aimed at gauging knowledge of wireless local area networks (WLANs) and theoretical underpinnings of wireless networks, candidates who attain this certification must pass an eight-hour lab configuring wireless networks.

Skills

Description

Network creation skills

At its foundation, an internetwork engineer is a computer network architect who can design networks to meet individualized business needs. An internetwork engineering program will provide needed network creation skills—including intranets, extranets and local and wide area networks—to fulfill that role successfully.

The latest and best technologies

Sure, you may be able to figure out how to build networks if you are fairly computer-savvy and have a good background in information technology. However, the advantage of formal training is that the latest and best technologies from the most brilliant minds in the field are showcased and taught, which will give you a leg up on the competition when it comes to finding a job after course completion.

How to maintain hardware and systems

Once you have created a larger network that incorporates several smaller ones, it can take up a lot of your time just to maintain the internetwork system and keep it running at peak efficiency. Not only are there frequent upgrades that often cause compatibility problems initially, but there are also many moving parts to an internetwork system that can malfunction or fail at any time.

How to protect the internetwork

All networks and systems are vulnerable to viruses and data breaches that could not only bring the system down but could also expose sensitive data to those who could use it in malicious ways. Cybersecurity is an important part of any internetwork engineer’s job due to the frequency of cyber-attacks in today’s digital environment.

How to work with people

People skills are important for internetwork engineers, who will most likely work with a team when large, complex networks are involved. Whether you are dealing with corporate leadership or technicians working under you, it’s important to work well with people so that the internetwork system can accomplish needed goals and be maintained successfully.

Skills needed for certifications

IT certifications demonstrate to an employer that you have the needed skills to create and maintain internetwork systems. Some useful certifications for internetwork engineers include the Cisco and Microsoft Certified Architect credentials and their prerequisites, such as the Cisco Certified Design Expert credential that is required for the more advanced architect certification.