Much like 'Microsoft', 'Cisco' leads the path amongst the world's biggest technology businesses. It started with many others in the I.T. silicon-valley explosion of the early 80's, and has become the world's principal networking hardware developer. Each year Cisco's R and D spending on it's own comes to approximately $5 billion. Technological know-how from Cisco underpins the entire web. Cisco provide over 2/3rds of the network-hardware employed worldwide today. For trainees thinking about working in IT or Telecoms hardware-networking, Cisco knowledge is paramount. The company in addition has developed commercially in newer technology systems like Voice-Over IP (VOIP), 'Security' & Wireless-Data transfer.

Essentially, the back-bone of 'Cisco' technological systems are the company's 'routers', data-switches & 'controllers'. Data can move around any 'network ' as a result of these 'Cisco' devices. Just as an 'Operating System' is required in a computer so that it can connect throughout a 'network ', the network-hardware also has its own language and protocols that have to be set-up, maintained and configured. Business networks must efficiently and regularly have to expand, consequently on-going maintenance means specialists must trouble-shoot, reconfigure & reprogram regularly. With the switch to complete system-integration of voice and information in today's business workplaces (in addition to military & other environments), Cisco is at the peak of most contemporary communications.

The two examinations are 640/802, and they are broken down like this - 'Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices' Pt1 and Pt2, or 'ICND1' (640/822) and ICND2 (640-816). An alternative name for Part-1 is Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician or CCENT for short. Although all of this can look like a mouthful (as often seems the truth with IT acronyms,) the simplest way to take this accreditation is as a grouped together CCNA (640/802) examination. This specific path would hugely gain from being combined with the 'CompTIA A+' & Network+ qualifications, because they provide all of the important 'grounding' before attempting the more specialised Cisco-specific exams. A merged training-package such as this would take close to one year to complete if training part-time. Technical IT training programs should always offer reliable qualified support. Ensure you choose one with 24/7, immediate reply provision. Include all-inclusive multi-media tutorial training, and a highly effective exam-preparation system & you will be prepared for great success.

It is not really surprising then that 'Cisco' provides an array of certification paths, handling all its technologies & it's patents. Trainees tend to be advised to start with exactly the same certification course, & then move into specialised sectors as they progress. There are 2 examinations in the Cisco Certified Network Associate, or CCNA for short. These will prepare individuals who are suitable with the necessary technical-expertise to work with medium-sized networks with routers & data switches.

One area which is frequently over-looked with preparing for 'Cisco' examinations is how to reproduce the 'Cisco' environment. MS trainees who are preparing to take their MSCE as an example can network a number of old PC's at home to experiment with. To build a practise 'Cisco' environment would actually be incredibly costly, because you'd have to put together many more PCs, with Commercial technologies & enterprise-class routers and switches. The solution then is to utilise Cisco authorised network simulators and visualisers. Such state-of-the-art software systems allow trainees to make sizable 'networks' in a 'virtual environment' , using on-screen facilities to select specific hardware models and practice 'interrogation' of data-movement. A software program of this nature is precisely what splits training courses apart - it is not wise to decide upon any 'Cisco' package that doesn't incorporate it. The hugely respected 'RouterSim's' CCNA Network-Visualiser is without doubt one of the most effective we've tried, and we include it in all of our 'CCNA' training programs.

Following your CCNA, accreditation routes are quite diverse & could include a specialization in Security or Wireless fields, or you might consider progressing on to the 'CCNP' (Cisco Certified Networking Professional.) It's not a good idea to consider taking the 'CCNP' until you have totally finished the CCNA. It's best to have a couple of years of Cisco experience alongside the 'CCNA' before progressing on to 'CCNP' accreditation. If however you've actually been in IT for quite a while, and have already achieved a certification that is equivalent to a CCNA (for instance whilst in the armed forces) you could possibly move straight to CCNP. Fundamentally business employers will demand that a candidate with rather advanced qualifications has had the right level of practical experience to go with them.

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