Nowadays, network professionals are in high demand. Networking is an exciting yet challenging field that requires you to have relevant knowledge and skills. In this piece, we will give you an overview of what is networking, skills required to become a network engineer, top networking tools, popular networking courses online, and more to help you start your networking career or become a successful network professional.
![Networking Courses]()
Networking skills are in high demand across various industries, offering opportunities for career growth and higher salaries.
Explore popular Cisco Certifications
What is Networking?
Networking – Definition: A computer network is a set of computers that are connected together through a transmission medium so that they can share information. Below are some of the different types of computer networks that are used for different purposes:
- Wide Area Networks (WAN)
- L
Nowadays, network professionals are in high demand. Networking is an exciting yet challenging field that requires you to have relevant knowledge and skills. In this piece, we will give you an overview of what is networking, skills required to become a network engineer, top networking tools, popular networking courses online, and more to help you start your networking career or become a successful network professional.
![Networking Courses]()
Networking skills are in high demand across various industries, offering opportunities for career growth and higher salaries.
Explore popular Cisco Certifications
What is Networking?
Networking – Definition: A computer network is a set of computers that are connected together through a transmission medium so that they can share information. Below are some of the different types of computer networks that are used for different purposes:
- Wide Area Networks (WAN)
- Local Area Networks (LAN)
- Personal Area Networks (PAN)
- Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN)
Must Explore: What are the Benefits of Networking?
Networking Course Highlights
| Aspect |
Details |
| Type of Course |
Online, Self-paced, Distance learning |
| Duration |
4 weeks - 12 months |
| Course Pedagogy |
Video lectures, interactive simulations, hands-on labs, network configuration exercises, virtual networking projects, quizzes |
| Specializations |
Network Administration, Network Security, Cloud Networking, Wireless Networks, Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Network Automation |
| Eligibility Criteria |
Often no formal prerequisites; some advanced courses may require basic IT knowledge |
| Top Providers |
Cisco Networking Academy, Coursera, edX, Udemy, CompTIA, LinkedIn Learning |
| Top Recruiters |
IT companies, telecommunications firms, internet service providers, cloud service providers, financial institutions, large enterprises with complex networks |
| Certifications |
CompTIA Network+, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Juniper Networks Certified Associate (JNCIA), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Wireshark Certified Network Analyst (WCNA) |
Why Should You Pursue Online Networking Courses?
Candidates prefer online networking courses because of various reasons. Some of the prominent ones are:
- Online courses allow you to learn at your own pace and schedule, making it easier to balance education with work or personal commitments.
- Online networking courses are more affordable than traditional classroom-based courses, with many free or low-cost options.
- Networking courses online can be quickly updated to reflect the latest networking technologies and industry trends.
- Many online networking courses offer virtual labs and simulations, providing practical experience with network configurations and troubleshooting.
- Various online networking courses are designed to prepare you for valuable certifications like CCNA or CompTIA Network+, which can boost your credibility and employability.
- Online courses connect you with instructors and fellow students worldwide, expanding your professional network.
- You can choose courses focusing on specific areas like - cloud networking or network security, allowing you to tailor your skills to your career goals.
Who Can Learn Networking?
- Anyone who wants to learn about networking
- Business & IT Managers
- Aspiring IT Professionals
- Experienced IT and Networking Professionals
Prerequisites to Learn Networking
Many beginner-level networking courses have no specific prerequisites and only a basic understanding of computers is required.
Also Read: 100+ Networking Interview Questions and Answers
What Skills do I Need to Excel in Networking?
To excel in networking, you need both - technical and soft skills. This is so because networking professionals often work in collaborative environments, interfacing with various organizational stakeholders.
Here are the some of the technical skills:
- Familiarity with different types of networks and architectures (TCP/IP, OSI model)
- Analytics and Troubleshooting
- Wireless networking
- Firewalls and Network Security (VPN, Intrusion Prevention System, Intrusion Detection System, etc)
- General-purpose programming languages
- Hardware and Infrastructure
- DNS
- IP addressing and Subnetting
- Cloud networking (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
- IoT
- Virtualization and Network automation
Here are the some of the soft skills:
- Communication
- Multitasking
- Problem-solving
- Time Management
- Organizational skills
- Teamwork
Must explore - What are Cisco Certifications?
Networking Tools & Frameworks
| Tool/Framework |
Description |
| Wireshark |
A powerful network protocol analyzer for packet capture and detailed inspection of network traffic. |
| Nmap |
Versatile open-source tool for network discovery, security auditing, and port scanning. |
| iPerf |
A tool for active measurements of network performance, particularly bandwidth testing between two endpoints. |
| Nagios |
An open-source monitoring system that watches hosts and services, alerting when things go wrong and again when they get better. |
| Angry IP Scanner |
A network scanner that can ping and detect live hosts, ports, and retrieve various network information. |
| NTOPNG |
A web-based traffic analysis and flow collection tool that provides real-time network usage and statistics. |
| Ansible |
An open-source automation platform for configuration management, application deployment, and task automation in networks. |
| Kiwi Syslog Server |
A powerful tool for collecting, analyzing, reporting, and archiving log data from various network devices and servers. |
| Cisco Packet Tracer |
A network simulation and visualization tool that allows for the design and testing of network topologies. |
| PuTTY |
Free SSH and Telnet client for Windows, used for remote access to network devices and servers. |
| SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor |
A comprehensive network monitoring and management solution for visualizing and analyzing complex networks. |
| GNS3 |
A network software emulator that allows the combination of virtual and real devices to simulate complex networks. |
Must Read: Top 10 Penetration Testing Tools of 2024
Explore: Networking Tools Online Courses & Certifications
Popular Job Profiles in Networking
There are a variety of job roles in the field of Networking. Some of the most popular networking job profiles include:
| Job Profile |
Average Annual Salary (in Lakhs) |
| Network Architect |
23.5 |
| Cloud Network Engineer |
12.3 |
| Network Security Specialist |
9.6 |
| VoIP Engineer |
5.9 |
| Network Administrator |
5.7 |
| Wireless Network Engineer |
5.5 |
| Network Analyst |
5.0 |
| Network Engineer |
4.7 |
![Top Job Profiles in Networking]()
Top Networking Course Providers
Here are some of the top providers:
- Popular Networking Courses on Udemy
- Top Networking Courses on Coursera
- Best Networking Courses on edX
- Popular Networking Courses on Pluralsight
Top Networking Courses for Career Growth
An online networking course can help you learn the basic as well as advanced concepts of networking, such as Routing, Switching, Network Security, Troubleshooting, and more.
Below are some of the top-rated networking courses:
- CompTIA A+ on Comptia
- Infrastructure and Network Security Architecture Planning on Udacity
- Networking Essential (N+) on Comptia
- CompTIA Security+ Certification Training on Comptia
- CISSP Certification Training Course on Simplilearn
- Network Analysis and Trouble Shooting Using Wireshark on Skill Lync
- TSHOOT 2.0: Troubleshooting Basics on Skillsoft
- Learn TCP/IP - Computer Networking fundamentals on Udemy
- Introduction to Computer Networks for Non-Techies on Udemy
- IT Support: Networking Essentials on edX
Free Networking Courses
If you're tight on funds, you can still enter the networking field by taking advantage of the
free networking courses online. Here are some of the best ones that you can opt from:
Books to learn Networking
- The Introvert’s Edge to Networking: Work the Room. Leverage Social Media. Develop Powerful Connections | Authors: Matthew Pollard, Derek Lewis, Jeb Blount
- Computer Networking Beginners Guide: An Easy Approach to Learning Wireless Technology, Social Engineering, Security and Hacking Network, Communications Systems | Author: Russell Scott
- Introduction to Networks Course Booklet | By: Cisco Networking Academy
Conclusion
A networking course will enable you to develop your networking knowledge and hands-on skills required to build, maintain, operate, and troubleshoot the network. Enroll in a networking course today to get started on your networking career and get a distinct competitive advantage.
Become a networking professional by learning basic and advanced networking concepts from these popular networking courses from top universities. Learn how computer networking works and get prepared to advance in the IT field. Start your course today.
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