The essence of CCNP exam why and for whom
Certification: Cisco CCNP Routing and Switching - Cisco Certified Network Professional Routing and Switching
The CISCO Certified Network Professional (CCNP) is a mid-level networking certification as given by CISCO for certification at the professional level. CCNPs usually require either a CCNA certificate of the same type or a CCIE in any other network CCIE certifications. The Cisco certified certifications are among the most recognized network certifications available in the business, and a treasure for any aspiring IT professional. There are currently a multitude of CCNP certificates available in Routing and Switching, Data Center, Security, Service Providing, Service Provider Operations, Voice, and Wireless.
Overview
The CCNP, as said above, is a mid-level certification, to call out professional-level specialists. A CCNP can be taken only if the corresponding CCNA certificate has been achieved, or if a CCIE certificate in any domain has been taken. As such, most of the people taking them are associate-level IT technicians /engineers that wish to advance their professional knowledge/career. As it is very widely recognized, the CCNP is a very useful certification to have for a network technician/engineer. As a CCNP isn’t required as a prerequisite for any other exams, it is considered a good stopping point for most IT people, although a CCIE could also be obtained.
Throughout the article there will be links pointing towards the main page of the exam in question which will provide adequate training, resources, and exam number information so you can train, study, prepare and take the exam successfully. To get a certification, each candidate must pass 3 to 5 separate exams, usually 4, each exam being attainable in more than one certification. For example the CCNP Route exam can work as a qualification for CCNPs, CCIP and CCDP certifications. In order to successfully receive a CCNP certification in Routing and Switching for example, you need to take the CCNP Route, CCNP Switch, and CCNP Troubleshooting to be eligible to receive the certification. Some certifications, such as the CCNP Data Center, will allow you to choose which 2 out of 4 exams to take besides the other mandatory 2, so you can better tailor the training you receive in order to take the exams to your real-life needs.
CCNP Routing and Switching
The CCNP Routing and Switching certifies the technical knowledge and expertise of candidates required to plan, implement verify and troubleshoot networks at both the local and the enterprise-level, and, together with other CCNP professionals in security, voice, and wireless in order to provide appropriate solutions to companies regarding networking. As such, professionals holding a CCNP Routing and Switching can occupy roles such as network engineer, support engineer, systems engineer or network technician. To get the certification, the candidates must pass 3 exams for each of the following: Route, Switch, and troubleshoot. Further details are available on the main CISCO site.
CCNP Data Center
The CCNP Data Center exam is the go-to certification for business and technology architects, as well as implementation engineers that wish to find an efficient solution for the designing, installation and maintenance for their data center.
Not only does CISCO provide the best solutions in data center work, it also provides tailored training for data center engineers to better encompass the needs of the firm. 4 exams are needed to pass and take the CCNP data center, with 2 of them being selectable.
CCNP Security
The CCNP Security certification certifies that the holder has demonstrated the required skills and technical knowledge to develop a security infrastructure, recognize threats and vulnerabilities to networks, and mitigate security threats. They also work with IDS/IPS, Firewalls and VPNS. It is the dream-certificate for those who wish for professional-level certifications in Security. 4 exams are needed to pass this exam and get the certificate.
CCNP Service Providers
The CCNP Service Provider is a certificate for service provider network engineers, systems engineers, and network specialists responsible for delivering a scalable carrier-grade infrastructure capable of rapid expansion to support ongoing introduction of new managed services and other customer requirements. Like with most CCNPs, 4 exams must be passed in order to take the certification, yet other certifications, such as the CCIP exam can also act as a prerequisite besides the CCNA in Service provider.
The CCIE Service Provider Operations certifies that the holder has the technical knowledge and also the skills (at Tier II or Tier III as a support engineer) in regards to troubleshooting and maintaining service provider IP NGN core (PE-PE and PE-CE) network infrastructures. Unlike the CCNP Service Provider, the CCIE Service Provider Operations must be able to isolate network performance problems, implement proactive fault measures by using operational management processes, network management systems and frameworks. 4 exams are needed to get the certification.
CCNP Voice
The CCNP Voice as you may expect, certifies that the holder has the knowledge and technical skills to integrate into underlying network architectures. Not only that, it validates a robust set of skills in implementing, operating, configuring, and troubleshooting a converged IP network. Unlike most CCNPs, there are 5 exams needed to take the CCNP Voice, however there isn’t a CCIE Voice available.
CCNP Wireless
The CCNP Voice certifies that the holder has the technical knowledge and skill required for the designing, implementing, and operating of Cisco Wireless networks and mobility infrastructures.It is the go-to certification in terms of professional level wireless networking. 4 exams are needed to take the certification.
Conclusion
The CCNP certifications aren’t just world-wide recognized piece of paper, but a stepping stone in the career of an IT technician. While it can be intermediary, it can also be final, depending on the personal aspirations and abilities of each individual. Whether a young associate with at least a year of experience in the domain his looking to further rise up the ladder, or a seasoned technician looking for a raise in his paycheck, people flock to the CCNP exam and CISCO for its renown and quality of training.
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