| General Certifications and Focused CertificationsCisco | | | | before attempting certification. To obtain your CCIE, |
| offers three levels of general certification representing | | | | you must first pass a written qualification exam and |
| increasing levels of expertise: Associate, Professional, | | | | then a corresponding hands-on lab exam.CCIE |
| and Expert (CCIE). Different tracks across these | | | | SecurityCCIE certification in Security indicates expert |
| levels align with varying career needs. A variety of | | | | level knowledge of IP and IP routing as well as specific |
| focused Cisco Qualified Specialist certifications are | | | | security protocols and components.Becoming a CCIE |
| available as well to show knowledge in specific | | | | requires passing a set of exams |
| technologies, solutions or job roles.CCNAThe CCNA | | | | There are no formal prerequisites for CCIE |
| certification (Cisco Certified Network Associate) | | | | certification. Other professional certifications and/or |
| indicates a foundation in and apprentice knowledge of | | | | specific training courses are not required. Instead, |
| networking. CCNA certified professionals can install, | | | | candidates are expected to have an in-depth |
| configure, and operate LAN, WAN, and dial access | | | | understanding of the subtleties, intricacies and |
| services for small networks (100 nodes or fewer), | | | | challenges of end-to-end networking. You are strongly |
| including but not limited to use of these protocols: IP, | | | | encouraged to have 3-5 years of job experience |
| IGRP, Serial, Frame Relay, IP RIP, VLANs, RIP, | | | | before attempting certification. To obtain your CCIE, |
| Ethernet, | | | | you must first pass a written qualification exam and |
| Access Lists.CCNPThe CCNP certification (Cisco | | | | then a corresponding hands-on lab exam.CCIE VoIP |
| Certified Network Professional) indicates advanced or | | | | (350-030)CCIE certification in Voice indicates expert |
| journeyman knowledge of networks. With a CCNP, a | | | | level knowledge of VoIP solutions in the enterprise. |
| network professional can install, configure, and | | | | Candidates should be able to install, configure and |
| troubleshoot local and wide area networks for | | | | maintain Voice solutions over IP networks. The CCIE |
| enterprise organizations with networks from 100 to | | | | Voice track, however, does not certify an |
| more than 500 nodes. The content emphasizes topics | | | | understanding of the infrastructure over which VoIP |
| such as security, converged networks, quality of | | | | solutions are implemented. This contrasts with the |
| service (QoS), virtual private networks (VPN) and | | | | CCIE Service Provider-IP Telephony track which |
| broadband technologies.CCSPThe CCSP certification | | | | certifies an individual as a core IP expert with a high |
| (Cisco Certified Security Professional) indicates | | | | degree of VoIP literacy.CCIE StorageCCIE certification |
| advanced knowledge of securing Cisco networks. | | | | in Storage Networking indicates expert level |
| With a CCSP, a network professional can secure and | | | | knowledge of intelligent storage solutions over |
| manage network infrastructures to protect productivity | | | | extended network infrastructure using multiple |
| and reduce costs. The content emphasizes topics | | | | transport options such as Fibre Channel, iSCSI, FCIP |
| such as perimeter security, virtual private networks, | | | | and FICON. Storage Networking extensions allow |
| intrusion protection as well as how to combine these | | | | companies to improve disaster recovery, optimize |
| technologies in a single, integrated network security | | | | performance and take advantage of network |
| solution.CCIPThe CCIP (Cisco Certified Internetwork | | | | services such as volume management, data replication, |
| Professional) provides individuals working in service | | | | and enhanced integration with blade servers and |
| provider organizations with competencies in | | | | storage appliances.General Certifications: Three Levels |
| infrastructure IP networking solutions. CCIP | | | | of CertificationAssociate. The first step in Cisco |
| professionals have detailed understanding of | | | | networking begins at the Associate level. Think of this |
| networking technologies in the service provider arena | | | | as the apprentice or foundation level of networking |
| including IP routing, IP QoS, BGP, and MPLS.CCIE | | | | certification.Professional. This is the advanced or |
| R&SCCIE certification in Routing and Switching | | | | journeyman level of certification.Expert. This is CCIE, |
| indicates expert level knowledge of networking across | | | | the highest level of achievement for network |
| various LAN and WAN interfaces, and a variety of | | | | professionals, certifying an individual as an expert or |
| routers and switches. Experts in R&S solve complex | | | | master.General Certifications: Four Different |
| connectivity problems and apply technology solutions | | | | PathsNetwork Installation and Support. This path is for |
| to increase bandwidth, improve response times, | | | | professionals who install and support Cisco |
| maximize performance, improve security, and support | | | | technology-based networks in which LAN and WAN |
| global applications. Candidates should be able to install, | | | | routers and switches reside.Network Engineering and |
| configure, and maintain LAN, WAN, and dial access | | | | Design. This path is for professionals who design Cisco |
| services.Becoming a CCIE requires passing a set of | | | | technology-based networks in which LAN and WAN |
| examsThere are no formal prerequisites for CCIE | | | | routers and switches reside.Service Provider. This path |
| certification. Other professional certifications and/or | | | | is aimed at professionals working with infrastructure or |
| specific training courses are not required. Instead, | | | | access solutions in a Cisco end-to-end environment |
| candidates are expected to have an in-depth | | | | primarily within the telecommunications arena.Network |
| understanding of the subtleties, intricacies and | | | | Security. This path is directed toward network |
| challenges of end-to-end networking. You are strongly | | | | professionals who design and implement Cisco Secure |
| encouraged to have 3-5 years of job experience | | | | networks. |