codesanitize

Are your networking expertise retaining tempo with the rise of AI, automation, and cloud? When you’re feeling the strain to upskill and keep related, you’re not alone. The tech panorama is evolving at warp pace, and conventional certifications is probably not sufficient to arrange you for the challenges forward.

That’s why Cisco is launching a sequence of updates throughout studying and certifications, starting with our new title: Study with Cisco.

We acknowledge that on the coronary heart of our digital future are the individuals who construct, safe, and evolve it. Study with Cisco encompasses all Cisco-related coaching, elevating digital expertise at each degree and enabling international financial alternative with industry-recognized certifications. Regardless of the place you reside on this planet or the place you might be in your skilled life, Study with Cisco empowers you to broaden your profession prospects with persistently up to date, steady studying.

This rebrand and our certification updates are designed that will help you construct an AI-ready ability set, develop your experience, and navigate the complexity of recent IT environments—all whereas simplifying the certification journey and increasing your workforce alternatives.

Higher aligned with the CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE model you realize and love

Beginning February 3, 2026, we’re updating and simplifying certifications to higher align along with your profession targets. We’re bringing extra readability to the certification framework by specializing in the names you already belief: CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE. Whether or not you’re simply beginning out or advancing to a specialist or knowledgeable degree, you’ll discover a clear path ahead that matches your targets. Right here’s how DevNet and Cybersecurity certifications are altering.

How DevNet certification is altering

With AI-driven networking comes the necessity for deep expertise in automation, software program growth, and software design. To fulfill that demand, we’re launching a brand new automation certification monitor constructed on the success of our DevNet program.

On February 3, 2026, the DevNet certification monitor might be rebranded as CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE Automation.

These up to date certifications function main updates to the exams and coaching supplies with a good better concentrate on automation and AI-ready networking expertise.

New Cisco Automation certifications will launch on February 3, 2026:

• CCNA Automation
• CCNP Automation
• CCIE Automation

These certifications will substitute our present DevNet certification monitor and are designed to offer you a aggressive edge in a multi-vendor setting, getting ready you to steer in a world the place community automation and AI are not optionally available—it’s important.

Mark your calendar: Examination subjects might be launched in July 2025. Get notified

Notice: Beginning February 3, 2026, anybody holding an energetic DevNet Affiliate, Skilled, or Knowledgeable certification will robotically be acknowledged as CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE Automation licensed, respectively.

New Collaboration Specialist certifications

With hybrid work now the norm, collaboration know-how should evolve—and community engineers should evolve together with it. Present your employer (or potential employers) you’re forward of the sport with one in every of our collaboration certifications, specializing in cloud-only, hybrid, or on-premises applied sciences—no matter’s most related to your function. Any of those Collaboration exams may be taken together with a core examination to earn the CCNP Collaboration Certification.

The Cloud certification is model new and the one one to focus solely on the cloud:

The opposite three Collaboration certification exams have been newly up to date (v2.0):

These skills-focused certifications will make it easier to show your experience, particularly in high-demand areas like Webex contact heart applied sciences and cloud.

Cybersecurity certifications, aligned with the CCNA and CCNP model

To raised replicate Cisco’s main safety portfolio, we’re additionally rebranding our cybersecurity certifications underneath the acquainted CCNA and CCNP umbrella. Now you may earn both an Affiliate or Skilled-level certification on this space:

• Cisco Licensed Community Affiliate (CCNA) Cybersecurity
• Cisco Licensed Community Skilled (CCNP) Cybersecurity

Chances are you’ll be questioning why easy title adjustments and alignment shifts matter. Why mess with a very good factor?

Right here’s why we predict it’ll make a distinction:

• Enhanced recognition: Aligning with the well-known CCNA and CCNP manufacturers immediately lends better credibility to your cybersecurity expertise. Employers acknowledge these certifications as benchmarks of competence.
• Clear profession path: This replace clearly defines your path in cybersecurity, whether or not you’re beginning out (CCNA) or advancing your experience (CCNP). This makes it simpler to plan your profession development and determine the abilities it’s worthwhile to purchase.

Notice: When you at the moment maintain an energetic CyberOps or Cybersecurity certification, you’ll robotically be acknowledged as a CCNA or CCNP Cybersecurity certification holder based mostly in your present certification degree as soon as the certs go dwell.

Construct expertise for the clever community

Total, we’ve determined to make these adjustments to finally higher serve you and your technical wants. Whether or not your focus is automation, cybersecurity, or collaboration, you’ll be higher outfitted to:

• Grow to be an AI and automation expertise virtuoso.
• Navigate complicated, hybrid environments.
• Select a certification path that’s simpler to observe and extra aligned along with your profession targets.

Get began right this moment—for free of charge

For these keen to start studying Generative AI Expertise, leverage our Understanding AI and LLMs as a Community Engineer tutorial and earn the AI for Networking badge.

For these eager to get began in constructing automation expertise, make the most of our Understanding Cisco Community Automation Necessities and in addition earn 16 Persevering with Training Credit to place towards recertification.

Desperate to study cybersecurity expertise – take Cisco NetAcad’s Introduction to Cybersecurity course and be on the street to earn your Cisco CCST Cybersecurity certification.

And if you’re a Collaboration engineer trying to sharpen your expertise forward of the certification updates, leverage our new Collaboration tutorials sequence on Cisco U.

Serving to you keep forward

As networks evolve, so should community engineers. Cisco is dedicated to serving to you lead within the period of AI and automation. Keep tuned to the Cisco Studying Community for extra updates and assets.

Wish to keep forward of the curve? Signal as much as keep abreast of our certification updates, and we’ll notify you robotically as soon as they go dwell. Join alerts

Do you suppose these adjustments will assist along with your technical expertise and profession? Tell us within the feedback.

Join Cisco U. | Be a part of the  Cisco Studying Community right this moment at no cost.

Observe Cisco Studying & Certifications

X | Threads | Fb | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

Use  #CiscoU and #CiscoCert to affix the dialog.

Share:

This weblog is a part of our concentrate on Cisco staff who’re “Striving for Sustainability” by discovering alternatives to combine sustainability of their day-to-day work.

After years in companies and enterprise improvement, Christopher Weiland charted a brand new path — making use of his know-how experience to drive sustainability innovation at Cisco. Very like the paths he rides within the Colorado backcountry, Weiland is a trailblazer — serving to form new approaches to product circularity.

Inform us about your journey in know-how and the roles you’ve held at Cisco earlier than shifting into sustainability.

Christopher: My curiosity in know-how began early — actually, I used to be commonly pulled out of center college lessons to troubleshoot points within the college’s laptop lab. That curiosity and technical know-how led me to review industrial engineering, which set the muse for roles at Microsoft, IBM, and finally Cisco, which I joined in 2000.

At Cisco, I targeted on companies and gross sales, performing some thrilling work to assist main service supplier clients navigate advanced networking options. After twenty years, I started to consider the subsequent part of my profession and began exploring how I might transition from a technology-focused function to at least one centered on sustainability.

What did that exploration seem like and the way did you navigate a profession shift inside Cisco?

Christopher: After having a tremendous profession in tech at Cisco, I used to be thrilled to appreciate that I might discover sustainability inside the Cisco group. Initially, I believed I would want a grasp’s diploma in environmental science or that I might need to depart the corporate to chart a brand new path. However then I found a bunch of passionate Cisco staff who had been supporting sustainability, spanning clear vitality, provide chain and circularity — all thrilling and impactful efforts. Product circularity specifically caught my consideration as an space the place my skillset might apply and the place I believed I might make a contribution.

So I actually embraced Cisco’s three E’s for skilled improvement — Publicity, Training, and Expertise. I began studying, taking lessons, and connecting with Cisco staff working on this discipline, even earlier than we had our Chief Sustainability Workplace. Finally that led to a chance for a stretch task and my first foray into sustainability-focused work at Cisco.

I’m now targeted on circularity — serving to to maximise the lifespan of Cisco know-how with higher processes for product reuse and accountable recycling.

Circularity is a crucial focus at Cisco. Are you able to clarify what it means and why it’s necessary?

Christopher: Inside Cisco’s environmental sustainability technique, the Plan for the Doable, one among our three priorities is evolving our enterprise to a round mannequin.

Which means holding merchandise in use for so long as doable — by way of reuse, refurbishment, and accountable recycling. Circularity is all about extending the lifetime of know-how, lowering waste, and minimizing the necessity for brand new uncooked supplies.

We take a holistic method, overlaying your entire product life cycle. First, we concentrate on round design, which implies enhancing product design for sturdiness and reusability. And that’s prime to backside — from the merchandise themselves to the packaging they arrive in. Second, we’re creating methods for environment friendly take-back and product redeployment, and third, we’re growing choices to help a round economic system. For instance, with applications like Cisco Refresh, which sells licensed remanufactured tools, our aim is to allow our clients and companions to undertake circularity.

It appears like circularity is extra than simply product design — how do methods and processes play into scaling this effort?

Christopher: Precisely. To scale circularity, we want extra than simply good product design. We want processes that help environment friendly take-back, recycling, and reuse.

We’re persevering with to analyze methods to try this — gathering insights and exploring methods to develop a scalable method. There’s a chance for us to take an energetic function in product redeployment, supporting clients who want to Cisco to cleared the path in product reuse and recycling.

Sustainability at Cisco is a cross-functional follow. How has your prior expertise working throughout groups utilized?

Christopher: Most of the expertise I developed in my technical and gross sales roles — like collaborating throughout groups, aligning enterprise wants with long-term technique, and problem-solving — translate on to sustainability initiatives.

Sustainability at Cisco isn’t confined to at least one workforce — it requires coordination throughout a number of enterprise capabilities. It’s a mix of technical experience, operational technique, and relationship-building.

Your dedication to sustainability has been fueled by your ardour for the outside. Are you able to share a few of your adventures and what you’ve gained from these experiences?

Christopher: I dwell in Denver, Colorado, and spending time within the pure world is a crucial a part of my life. Snowboarding, climbing and biking all enable me to hook up with nature — and discover my limits. I’m proud to notice I competed within the Bailey Hundo 4 occasions — a tremendous albeit dauting 100-mile mountain bike race with 10,000 toes of elevation achieve.

The Colorado Path holds a particular place in my coronary heart — it runs parallel to the Continental Divide, passes by way of 5 wilderness areas, and is without doubt one of the nation’s solely long-distance trails that enables bikes. I’ve bikepacked your entire path — over 550 miles over the course of 20 days.

However past the journey and the path itself, what makes it much more significant is the story of the way it was created by a bunch of people that had been keen to dream. I’m extremely impressed by Gudy Gaskill, the “Mom of the Colorado Path,” who led the all-volunteer effort to create this superb wilderness route by way of sheer persistence. She rallied individuals round a shared imaginative and prescient and stored the mission shifting ahead regardless of seemingly countless obstacles — bodily and bureaucratic.

In some ways, her story mirrors the work being executed in sustainability — huge change occurs by way of long-term dedication and flattening roadblocks, step-by-step. Whether or not it’s constructing a wilderness path alongside the rugged Continental Divide or shifting an trade towards circularity, it’s about bringing individuals collectively, fixing issues alongside the best way, and staying targeted on the long-term influence.

What recommendation do you’ve gotten for Cisco staff to become involved in sustainability?

Christopher: A good way to become involved in sustainability at Cisco is by becoming a member of your regional Inexperienced Crew — these are employee-led teams devoted to supporting environmental initiatives. I’m energetic with the Denver Inexperienced Crew, and it’s been rewarding to see the native influence we are able to have. We’ve labored on a wide range of volunteer tasks and group initiatives, together with working at an animal sanctuary, wetland remediation, and path constructing.

I additionally encourage anybody considering sustainability to coach your self on how  Cisco is driving sustainability influence in our operations and for our clients. An incredible start line is our Function Reporting Hub. There are insights into our Round Design program, effectivity targets, and Cisco’s round choices, like Cisco Refresh and our no-cost Takeback and Reuse program for end-of-use merchandise. I typically say these applications are Cisco’s finest stored secrets and techniques, and I encourage my colleagues to know their advantages and to share them with our clients and companions.

I’d additionally advise individuals to take a look at how their expertise could switch to new alternatives. You may be stunned how the talents you’ve developed in different components of Cisco will pay dividends — whether or not in sustainability or one other space of the enterprise.

What has your journey taught you about driving significant change inside Cisco?

Christopher: My journey at Cisco has proven me that profession development doesn’t at all times imply leaving — generally, it’s about uncovering new alternatives proper the place you’re.

I’ve additionally realized that sustainability, like profession development, is an area of fixed evolution and alternative. Cisco has the worldwide attain, affect, and innovation capability to drive significant progress in circularity.

However what resonates with me most is that sustainability requires long-term considering, persistence, and dedication — identical to endurance biking or path constructing.

Huge change occurs step-by-step, by way of dedication, collaboration, and a willingness to adapt alongside the best way.

Share:

New Cisco Analysis Reveals Overwhelming Demand for Agentic AI to Rework the Approach Expertise Distributors Ship Buyer Expertise

With agentic AI reaching a brand new stage of maturity, we’re nearer than ever to fixing among the most persistent buyer ache factors in enterprise environments. For example, a major share of community points stem from misconfiguration, one thing agentic techniques are poised to get rid of. That shift will result in smarter networks, stronger safety, and extra productive groups. As an trade, we’ve been speaking about these ideas for many years, and whereas we’ve made incremental progress, AI – and particularly agentic AI – could make that imaginative and prescient a actuality.

Think about a world the place clients by no means need to recap their scenario to a brand new assist agent, the place points are resolved earlier than they’re ever skilled by an end-user, and the place each interplay feels tailor-made to particular person wants and enterprise outcomes. That’s not only a higher expertise; it’s a transformational one. That is the agentic way forward for Buyer Expertise (CX).

The advantages are clear and compelling, however how prepared are organizations to undertake agentic AI? Whereas clients are desirous to reap the advantages of AI, how comfy do they actually really feel interacting with AI brokers as a substitute of people, and what are the consequences on the client relationship if one thing doesn’t work precisely as deliberate?

These are the forms of questions we had in thoughts after we launched our most up-to-date analysis research, surveying practically 8,000 enterprise and technical decision-makers worldwide on the way forward for agentic AI.

The findings confirmed some preconceived notions and completely challenged others. We all know that AI is progressing extremely quick and that it’s altering practically the whole lot about how we work, dwell, construct, function, and talk. These statements are virtually clichés at this level however are nonetheless true. What we didn’t completely anticipate is the ripple impact that AI is having throughout buyer expectations, and the pressing want for know-how distributors, a lot of whom are nonetheless solely exploring the potential for agentic AI in buyer expertise, to speed up their methods.

Listed here are three key takeaways from the report.

Key Findings

1. The Advantages of Agentic AI are Clear – and Demand is Hovering.
   93% of worldwide respondents imagine that agentic AI will allow B2B know-how distributors to ship extra customized, proactive, and predictive companies, bettering productiveness and creating time and price financial savings. And the demand is intensifying. 56% of respondents anticipate their buyer expertise interactions shall be dealt with by agentic AI inside simply 12 months, and that quantity jumps to 68% inside three years.
2. Human Connection Stays Important.
   Regardless of the thrill round AI, folks nonetheless want folks. Prospects need us to mix the effectivity of agentic AI with human connection to optimize buyer expertise. An awesome 96% of respondents mentioned that human relationships are essential when interacting with B2B know-how companions. Which means discovering the appropriate stability between human and machine is without doubt one of the most vital challenges leaders face as we speak.
3. Strong Governance is Non-Negotiable.
   Prospects perceive, maybe higher than anybody, that AI have to be deployed responsibly. A exceptional 99% of respondents acknowledged that it’s vital for know-how companions to show sturdy governance preparations to ship moral use of agentic AI. They demand transparency, safety, and a dedication to eliminating information bias

Wanting Forward

At Cisco, we’re drawing on 4 many years of knowledge, our deep trade data, and the belief of our clients to re-imagine Cisco Buyer Expertise as agentic AI-led. This analysis has validated our imaginative and prescient for the agentic way forward for buyer expertise however has additionally made one factor clear: we now have to maneuver quicker.

Share:

Revisting the platform vs. level options debate

The dilemma of whether or not to deploy an assortment of best-of-breed merchandise from a number of distributors or go along with a unified platform of “adequate” instruments from a single vendor has vexed IT execs perpetually.

As we speak, the pendulum is swinging towards the platform strategy for 3 key causes. First, complexity, pushed by the more and more distributed nature of enterprise networks, has emerged as a prime problem dealing with IT execs. Second, the traces between networking and safety are blurring, notably as organizations deploy zero belief community entry (ZTNA). And third, to reap the advantages of AIOps, generative AI and agentic AI, organizations want a unified knowledge retailer.

“The period of enterprise connectivity platforms is upon us,” says IDC analyst Brandon Butler. “Organizations are more and more adopting platform-based approaches to their enterprise connectivity infrastructure to beat complexity and unlock new enterprise worth. When enhanced by AI, enterprise platforms can improve productiveness, enrich end-user experiences, improve safety, and finally drive new alternatives for innovation.”

In IDC’s Worldwide AI in Networking Particular Report, 78% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the assertion: “I’m shifting to an AI-powered platform strategy for networking.”

Gartner predicts that 70% of enterprises will choose a broad platform for brand spanking new multi-cloud networking software program deployments by 2027, a rise from 10% in early 2024. The breakdown of silos between community and safety operations can be pushed by organizations implementing zero-trust ideas in addition to the adoption of AI and AIOps. “Sooner or later, enterprise networks can be more and more automated, AI-assisted and extra tightly built-in with safety throughout LAN, knowledge heart and WAN domains,” in response to Gartner’s 2025 Strategic Roadmap for Enterprise Networking.

Whereas the entire main networking distributors have introduced cloud-based platforms, it’s nonetheless comparatively early days. For instance, Cisco introduced a basic framework for Cisco Networking Cloud in mid-2023, Palo Alto Networks introduced its platformization technique in early 2024, and Excessive launched Platform One in December 2024. (See sidebar for a snapshot of vendor platforms.)