Is the CCNA still the best entry-point for a Cisco career given the shift toward Cloud and SaaS?

All answers to this question.

The CCNA is still the foundation, but its "flavor" has changed. The 200-301 exam now includes Automation and Programmability, which are the keys to Cisco’s SaaS future. If you want to work in CX or Technical Marketing, the CCNA proves you understand the "language" of the internet. However, for a true entry-level candidate with zero experience, the CCST (Cisco Certified Support Technician) is a great "pre-step" that is gaining traction. It’s cheaper and focuses on the fundamentals of IT support. But make no mistake: for any "Engineer" title at Cisco, the CCNA is the baseline requirement that recruiters look for to pass the initial filter.

   Answered 2024-02-14 by Mary Bennett

That’s a fair point, but what about the "Splunk" effect? Now that Cisco owns Splunk, do you think a "CyberOps Associate" certification might actually be more valuable for new hires than a traditional CCNA? It seems like Cisco is hiring way more "Security Analysts" and "Observability Engineers" than traditional "Router Techs" these days. Is the CCNA becoming too "hardware-centric" for the new Cisco?

   Answered 2024-02-17 by Paul Martinez

• Paul, you’re touching on the "New Cisco" reality. While CCNA is the "how," CyberOps is the "why" and "where." However, you can't be a great Security Analyst at Cisco if you don't understand how a packet moves through a switch—which is what CCNA teaches. I’d recommend a "Stack" approach: get the CCNA for the foundation, then immediately follow up with a Splunk Core Certified Power User or CyberOps Associate. This combination makes you a "T-Shaped" candidate that Cisco recruiters absolutely love for their 2025 graduate programs.

     Commented 2024-02-18 by Richard Nelson

Don't overlook the "Soft Skills" for CX roles. Cisco values "Customer Success" highly. A CCNA plus a background in communication or project management is a killer combo for their Success Specialist roles.

   Answered 2024-02-20 by Lisa Carter

• This is so true. I work in CX at Cisco, and while my CCNA got me the interview, my ability to explain complex tech to a non-technical client is what got me the job.

     Commented 2024-02-22 by Kevin Lewis