Keith Barker
Networking & Network Security
Standardize your network team on Cisco
Cisco Certification Training & Courses for IT Teams
From CCST through CCIE, every Cisco certification path comes with structured training, virtual IOS labs, and team admin reporting. Build a Cisco-fluent network team — and prove the capability coverage your auditors and leadership ask for.
11
Certifications
6
Role paths
3
Levels
Cisco-credentialed team
Built for teams that need to prove Cisco coverage to auditors and leadership.
CertificationsCisco11 certs · Entry to Professional
Spotlight
Most popular Cisco certifications
6 certificationsThe Cisco certifications IT directors most often standardize their teams on. Each one comes with virtual IOS labs and N2K practice exams included.
CCNA
AssociateLabsPractice200-301
Network fundamentalsNetwork accessIP connectivity
The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification validates a professional's ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks. It is ideal for network engineers, network administrators, and support technicians looking to enhance their skills and advance their careers in networking.
Exam investment: 300 USD
CCNP Enterprise
ProfessionalLabsPractice350-401 ENCOR, 300-410 ENARSI, 300-415 ENSDWI, 300-420 ENSLD, 300-435 ENAUTO, 300-440 ENCC, and 300-445 ENNA
Network DesignNetwork SecurityNetwork Protocols
The CCNP Enterprise certification validates the skills and knowledge of network engineers to design, deploy, and manage complex enterprise networks, including infrastructure, routing, and security. It is ideal for network engineers, network administrators, and other IT professionals who want to advance their careers in enterprise networking. For this certification you will need to take the core exam, ENCOR, and then one concentration exam.
CCNP Security
ProfessionalLabsPractice350-701 SCOR, 300-710 SNCF, and 300-715 SISE
Network security design and implementationThreat detection and mitigationNetwork infrastructure security
The CCNP Security certification validates the skills required to secure and manage network infrastructure, and to respond to security threats. It is ideal for network security engineers, security analysts, and other security professionals who want to advance their careers. In order to obtain this certification you will need to pass the core exam, 350-701 SCOR, as well as one concentration exam.
CCNP Datacenter
ProfessionalLabsPractice350-601 DCCOR, 300-610 DCID, and 300-615 DCIT
Data center designData center securityData center virtualization
The CCNP Datacenter certification validates the skills and knowledge of IT professionals in designing, implementing, and managing modern data center infrastructure. It is ideal for data center architects, engineers, and network administrators who want to demonstrate their expertise in data center design, security, and management. This certification is designed for professionals who want to advance their careers in data center management and architecture. For this certification you will need to take the core exam, DCCOR, and then one concentration exam.
CCNA Cybersecurity
AssociateLabsPractice200-201 CCNACBR
Security monitoringNetwork intrusion analysisSecurity policies and procedures
The CCNA Cybersecurity certification validates the skills and knowledge required to detect and respond to cybersecurity threats, and is ideal for security analysts, incident responders, and security engineers who want to demonstrate their skills in threat detection, analysis, and response.
CCST Networking
EntryLabsPractice100-150
Networking fundamentalsIP addressingNetwork security basics
The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking certification validates foundational networking knowledge and skills, making it ideal for individuals starting a career in IT or seeking to enhance their networking capabilities. It covers basic networking concepts, including network access, IP connectivity, and IP services.
2
Entry3
Associate6
Professional2
Entry3
Associate6
ProfessionalEntry Level
1 certificationCCST Cybersecurity
EntryLabsPractice100-160
Network securityThreat intelligenceIncident response
The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity certification is designed to validate foundational skills in cybersecurity. It is ideal for individuals starting their careers in cybersecurity or those looking to enhance their understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals. The certification covers essential topics such as security principles, network security, and endpoint security.
Associate Level
1 certificationCCNA Automation
AssociateLabsPractice200-901 CCNAAUTO
Software DevelopmentAPIsCisco Platforms
The CCNA Automation certification validates the skills and knowledge required to develop and maintain applications built on Cisco platforms. It is ideal for software developers, network engineers, and IT professionals who want to enhance their skills in network automation and programmability.
Professional Level
3 certificationsCCNP Collaboration
ProfessionalLabsPractice350-801 CLCOR and 300-815 CLACCM
CollaborationUnified CommunicationsCisco Call Manager
The CCNP Collaboration certification by Cisco validates advanced knowledge and skills in designing, deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting Cisco Collaboration and Unified Communications applications, devices, and networks. It is ideal for collaboration engineers, network engineers, and system engineers who want to advance their careers in managing and supporting collaboration solutions. For this certification you will need to take the core exam, CLCOR, and then one of the concentration exams.
CCNP Service Provider
ProfessionalLabsPractice350-501 SPCOR, 300-510 SPRI, and 300-535 SPAUTO
Service provider network infrastructureMPLS VPNsIP NGN architecture
The CCNP Service Provider certification validates the skills and knowledge of service provider network engineers to configure, implement, and troubleshoot complex service provider network infrastructures. It is ideal for network engineers, network architects, and network administrators who want to advance their careers in the service provider industry. For this certification you need to take the core exam, SPCOR, and the one of the concentration exams.
DevNet Professional
ProfessionalLabsPractice350-901 AUTOCOR, 300-435 ENAUTO
Network programmabilityAPIs and data modelsAutomation and orchestration
The Cisco DevNet Professional certification validates the skills of developers and network engineers who develop and manage network applications, and automate network infrastructure. This certification is ideal for professionals who want to develop and deploy applications on Cisco platforms. To earn this certification you will need to pass the core exam, 350-901 DEVCOR, as well as one of the concentration exams.
Customer outcome
Cisco capability your team can prove on the job
Customer leaders describe Cisco training value in operational terms — faster troubleshooting, clearer onboarding, and a defensible view of who's ready to own which part of the network. That's the outcome leadership cares about, not seat-time or completion percentages.
Operational outcomes
Reported by IT leaders running Cisco environments
Role-based paths
Cisco certifications by IT job role
Match Cisco certs to the actual roles your team holds. Each path bundles the right certs plus the operational depth engineers need day-to-day.
Cisco certs for Network Engineers & Architects
3 certificationsThe routing, switching, SD-WAN, and architecture certs your network team should hold. CCNA establishes the team's shared baseline; CCNP Enterprise proves senior capability for design and operations.
CCNA
AssociateLabsPractice200-301
Network fundamentalsNetwork accessIP connectivity
The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification validates a professional's ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks. It is ideal for network engineers, network administrators, and support technicians looking to enhance their skills and advance their careers in networking.
Exam investment: 300 USD
CCNP Enterprise
ProfessionalLabsPractice350-401 ENCOR, 300-410 ENARSI, 300-415 ENSDWI, 300-420 ENSLD, 300-435 ENAUTO, 300-440 ENCC, and 300-445 ENNA
Network DesignNetwork SecurityNetwork Protocols
The CCNP Enterprise certification validates the skills and knowledge of network engineers to design, deploy, and manage complex enterprise networks, including infrastructure, routing, and security. It is ideal for network engineers, network administrators, and other IT professionals who want to advance their careers in enterprise networking. For this certification you will need to take the core exam, ENCOR, and then one concentration exam.
CCST Networking
EntryLabsPractice100-150
Networking fundamentalsIP addressingNetwork security basics
The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Networking certification validates foundational networking knowledge and skills, making it ideal for individuals starting a career in IT or seeking to enhance their networking capabilities. It covers basic networking concepts, including network access, IP connectivity, and IP services.
Cisco certs for Security Engineers & SOC analysts
3 certificationsDefend the Cisco-firewall stack with CCNP Security and the CyberOps-aligned CCNA Cybersecurity. Pairs with the CCST Cybersecurity on-ramp for new SOC hires.
CCST Cybersecurity
EntryLabsPractice100-160
Network securityThreat intelligenceIncident response
The Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) Cybersecurity certification is designed to validate foundational skills in cybersecurity. It is ideal for individuals starting their careers in cybersecurity or those looking to enhance their understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals. The certification covers essential topics such as security principles, network security, and endpoint security.
CCNA Cybersecurity
AssociateLabsPractice200-201 CCNACBR
Security monitoringNetwork intrusion analysisSecurity policies and procedures
The CCNA Cybersecurity certification validates the skills and knowledge required to detect and respond to cybersecurity threats, and is ideal for security analysts, incident responders, and security engineers who want to demonstrate their skills in threat detection, analysis, and response.
CCNP Security
ProfessionalLabsPractice350-701 SCOR, 300-710 SNCF, and 300-715 SISE
Network security design and implementationThreat detection and mitigationNetwork infrastructure security
The CCNP Security certification validates the skills required to secure and manage network infrastructure, and to respond to security threats. It is ideal for network security engineers, security analysts, and other security professionals who want to advance their careers. In order to obtain this certification you will need to pass the core exam, 350-701 SCOR, as well as one concentration exam.
Cisco certs for Data Center & Virtualization Engineers
1 certificationUCS, ACI, Nexus, and storage capability for teams operating Cisco data-center infrastructure. CCNP Datacenter is the professional-level baseline.
CCNP Datacenter
ProfessionalLabsPractice350-601 DCCOR, 300-610 DCID, and 300-615 DCIT
Data center designData center securityData center virtualization
The CCNP Datacenter certification validates the skills and knowledge of IT professionals in designing, implementing, and managing modern data center infrastructure. It is ideal for data center architects, engineers, and network administrators who want to demonstrate their expertise in data center design, security, and management. This certification is designed for professionals who want to advance their careers in data center management and architecture. For this certification you will need to take the core exam, DCCOR, and then one concentration exam.
Cisco certs for Automation & NetDevOps Engineers
2 certificationsBring NetDevOps practices to the network team. CCNA Automation and DevNet Professional cover Python, APIs, and infrastructure-as-code on Cisco platforms.
CCNA Automation
AssociateLabsPractice200-901 CCNAAUTO
Software DevelopmentAPIsCisco Platforms
The CCNA Automation certification validates the skills and knowledge required to develop and maintain applications built on Cisco platforms. It is ideal for software developers, network engineers, and IT professionals who want to enhance their skills in network automation and programmability.
DevNet Professional
ProfessionalLabsPractice350-901 AUTOCOR, 300-435 ENAUTO
Network programmabilityAPIs and data modelsAutomation and orchestration
The Cisco DevNet Professional certification validates the skills of developers and network engineers who develop and manage network applications, and automate network infrastructure. This certification is ideal for professionals who want to develop and deploy applications on Cisco platforms. To earn this certification you will need to pass the core exam, 350-901 DEVCOR, as well as one of the concentration exams.
Cisco certs for Collaboration Engineers
1 certificationVoice, video, and unified communications platforms (CUCM, Webex, CLACCM) for teams supporting hybrid-work collaboration infrastructure.
CCNP Collaboration
ProfessionalLabsPractice350-801 CLCOR and 300-815 CLACCM
CollaborationUnified CommunicationsCisco Call Manager
The CCNP Collaboration certification by Cisco validates advanced knowledge and skills in designing, deploying, configuring, and troubleshooting Cisco Collaboration and Unified Communications applications, devices, and networks. It is ideal for collaboration engineers, network engineers, and system engineers who want to advance their careers in managing and supporting collaboration solutions. For this certification you will need to take the core exam, CLCOR, and then one of the concentration exams.
Cisco certs for Service Provider Network teams
1 certificationFor teams operating service-provider networks: SPCOR core plus advanced routing and automation specializations.
CCNP Service Provider
ProfessionalLabsPractice350-501 SPCOR, 300-510 SPRI, and 300-535 SPAUTO
Service provider network infrastructureMPLS VPNsIP NGN architecture
The CCNP Service Provider certification validates the skills and knowledge of service provider network engineers to configure, implement, and troubleshoot complex service provider network infrastructures. It is ideal for network engineers, network architects, and network administrators who want to advance their careers in the service provider industry. For this certification you need to take the core exam, SPCOR, and the one of the concentration exams.
Hands-on Cisco practice
Human-led training is the point: engineers practice real skills with expert guidance, not just video playback.
Why CBT Nuggets
How CBT Nuggets is different for Cisco teams
The platform features IT directors evaluating us against Pluralsight, Udemy Business, and LinkedIn Learning ask about most often.
Practitioner-led
Cisco training your team learns from
Built and taught by engineers who have spent decades running production Cisco infrastructure — not crowd-sourced contributors.
Jeff Kish
Data Center & Network Design
Lalo Nunez
Cisco Collaboration & Microsoft Teams Administration
Team outcome
Operational readiness for critical roles
Structured networking and infrastructure paths give teams a shared baseline before outages, migrations, and escalations test them.
Best fit for: leaders reducing single points of failure across network, cloud, security, and systems administration responsibilities.
Team training paths with Cisco
IT Directors use these curated training paths to certify their teams on Cisco technologies.
Frequently asked questions about Cisco training
Common questions IT directors ask when evaluating Cisco training for their team.