Much like 'Microsoft', 'Cisco' leads the path as one of the world's most well known technological know-how companies. It started with many others in the I.T. Silicon Valley explosion of the 1980's, & has become the world-wide most important networking hardware manufacturer. Every year 'Cisco's' research & development investment on it's own amounts to some $5b. Technology from Cisco underpins the whole web. It is estimated that more than 70 percent of all world-wide network-hardware is under the Cisco brand name. For trainees considering working in IT or Telecommunications hardware-networking, Cisco know-how is essential. The business has also evolved commercially in more recent technology systems such as Voice Over IP (or VOIP), 'Security' & Wireless-Data transfer.

The challenge of exactly how to reproduce a 'Cisco' environment to prepare for examinations can often be overlooked. When you're rehearsing for a Microsoft examination, you can put together a couple of old Computers & have an actual network to learn with. This is not feasible in a 'Cisco' environment, since you would need enterprise-class routers and hardware, to say nothing of a large cluster of computers & various other very expensive technologies. Cisco approved 'visualisers' and network simulation programs are really the one and only acceptable option. Such state of the art software systems enable trainees to build sizable networks within a virtual environment , with on screen options to select specific hardware products and practise interrogation of data movement. Any self paced home learning 'Cisco' training course must incorporate one of these extraordinary pieces of software. The highly regarded RouterSim's 'CCNA' Network-Visualiser is undoubtedly among the best we've tested, & we include it in all of our CCNA programs.

Cisco's main interest is in routers, controllers and switches. Data can move around any 'network ' because of these 'Cisco' solutions. Networking-hardware has it's very own list of regulations & procedures. The hardware needs to be set-up & maintained correctly. Networks have got to run smoothly & regularly have to expand, so ongoing maintenance programs mean specialists need to trouble shoot, reconfigure and re-program regularly. Cisco is in the centre of just about all current workplace communications (business and government) as we watch the international movement towards complete voice & information systems-integration.

Following on from the 'CCNA', certification tracks are varied & might include a specialisation in Security or Wireless areas, or you could consider progressing on to the CCNP (Cisco Certified Networking Professional.) The step-up from CCNA to CCNP is rather big, so it's sensible to concentrate on finishing your 'CCNA' first. You need to have 2 yrs of industry experience together with your 'CCNA' before moving onto 'CCNP' qualification. Really the only exception would be if you have quite a few years of network practical experience built up and have dealt with much of the same detail as the 'CCNA' qualification. Essentially managers need to know that an individual with rather advanced accreditations has had an appropriate amount of practical hands-on experience to go with it.

Its not surprising then that 'Cisco' has an array of certification routes, covering all it's various technologies & it's patents. Trainees are usually recommended to begin with the same certification program, & then progress into specialised sectors as they develop. The 'Cisco' CCNA ('Cisco Certified Network Associate') training program contains 2 examinations, which will prepare the right starting applicant with the required expertise in the installing, configuring, operating, and trouble shooting of medium-sized enterprise-level router & data-switched networks.

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