Not unlike 'Microsoft', 'Cisco' leads the way amongst the world's most significant engineering technology corporations. Initially founded in the mid 1980's, at the start of the Silicon Valley IT revolution, Cisco is now the global front-runner in networking hardware, spending approximately Five Billion US Dollars a year on R & D. The web, it's said, succeeds because of Cisco engineering. 'Cisco' produce over two-thirds of the network-hardware employed around the world today. For individuals thinking about working in I.T. or Telecoms hardware-networking, 'Cisco' know-how is vital. Beneath the Cisco umbrella there also are sectors in Wireless Data & Communications-Data, VOIP & Security.

Its not surprising then that 'Cisco' offers many accreditation paths, covering all of its technologies and it's patents. In order to make things simple, individuals are usually advised to start their Cisco training at the exact same place, prior to acquiring more senior and specialist skills. There are 2 exams in the Cisco Certified Network Associate, or CCNA for short. They will prepare trainees of the right calibre with the requested technical know-how to control mid-level networks with 'routers' & switches.

Good practice for 'Cisco' exams is a weak thing with a number of training-providers. If you're studying a MS 'MSCE' or 'MCSA' for instance, some old Computers can be 'networked' together to permit affordable practice in your own home with real devices. This simply isn't do-able in a Cisco environment, as you would need enterprise class routers and switches, to say nothing of a significant bunch of PC's & various other very costly technologies. Cisco approved visualisers & network simulation-programs are the one and only acceptable option. Enabling you to practice 'on-screen', these types of software-systems give you the option to construct & test virtual networks. You 'work' with particular routers and data-switches, & may even 'interrogate' information as it travels through the network system. These are superb pieces of software, and no home-study or self-learning 'CCNA' course should be considered without one. We've incorporated 'RouterSim's' CCNA Network-Visualiser in all of our CCNA career tracks - this is a very highly respected simulator and certainly one of the finest we examined.

Following on from the CCNA, accreditation tracks are varied & could possibly incorporate a specialization in Wireless or Security fields, or you could look at progressing onto the CCNP ('Cisco Certified Networking Professional'.) The step from CCNA to the CCNP is quite significant, so its advisable to focus on completing the 'CCNA' initially. You should expect to be operating in a 'Cisco' environment for about a year or two (together with your 'CCNA' qualification) before you started to study for your 'CCNP'. If however you have already been in IT for some time, and perhaps achieved a certification that is equivalent to the 'CCNA' (for instance whilst in the military) you might be able to move straight to CCNP. Realistically no recruiter will consider you for a senior post when you haven't got a decent quantity of 'CCNA' grade practical hands-on experience & idea of industry.

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