Cisco Addresses Global Networking Skills Gap with New Entry-Level Certification and Updates to CCNA

Expanded Certification, Training Program and Localization Efforts Help Meet Worldwide Demand for Networking Talent.

SAN JOSE, Calif.- Cisco® today announced the addition of a new entry-level certification, CCENTTM (Cisco Certified Entry Network Technician) to its Career Certification Program, along with significant enhancements to the popular Cisco CCNA® associate-level certification. Simultaneously, Cisco also plans to localize both the curricula and certification exams to meet the worldwide demand for networking skills.

As networks continue to drive economic growth, collaboration and human interaction, the need for networking talent grows in importance. IDC is predicting as much as a 40 percent gap between the demand and supply of technical networking skills by year 2012. To address these needs, Cisco is making significant investments in its education and certification programs to equip more people for successful careers in networking.

CCENT presents a new point of entry to those just beginning to build a career in networking. As an optional stepping-stone to CCNA, CCENT validates the skills required to successfully install and verify basic networks – a requirement for most entry-level network support positions. At the same time, Cisco’s foundational CCNA curriculum has been revised to include a greater breadth of networking topics and more focus on performance-based skills to differentiate Cisco certified applicants in the IT job market. The CCNA curriculum will be released in English on July 26, 2007 and the exams will be released in English on August 1, 2007. Additional languages will be announced as translation plans are finalized.

“Cisco is committed to transforming how people interact and share information across the world. By powering the human network, we will enable a new approach for our customers to work in the global marketplace,” said Wim Elfrink, chief globalization officer and senior vice president of customer advocacy at Cisco. “We are dedicated to leading worldwide development of the right technical expertise, in the right place and at the right time, to make sure our customers and partners have the best possible experience with our technology. The introduction of CCENT and localization plans for our foundational curricula, underscore our commitment to accelerate the learning curve for technical talent across the globe.”

Laying the groundwork for more rigorous certification, CCENT validates the knowledge and skills needed to configure and verify small routed and switched networks, including the ability to configure IP addressing, implement basic security measures and understand the concepts of wireless networking.

A comprehensive understanding of networking fundamentals is the focus of CCNA. Certification at this level validates the knowledge and skills required to install, operate and troubleshoot a small to medium-sized routed and switched network, including the ability to implement and troubleshoot protocols to manage addressing and authentication, as well as establish and troubleshoot connections to service providers over a wide-area network.

The CCENT learning path includes:

* Required Exam: ICND1 640-822

* Recommended Course: Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices, Part 1

The CCNA learning path includes:

Required Exams:

o ICND1 640-822 and ICND2 640-816 or

o CCNA 640-802 composite exam

Recommended Courses:

o Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices, Part 1

o Interconnecting Cisco Networking Devices, Part 2

The CCNA Prep Center (www.cisco.com/go/prepcenter) is available to anyone with a Cisco.com login to help candidates prepare for the CCENT and CCNA exams. The CCNA Prep Center provides certification candidates access to a wide variety of resources to accelerate learning including, practice questions, labs, games, simulations, tips, expert advice, success stories and peer discussion forums.

“Career opportunities in networking are abundant and span a wide array of experiences from software applications and systems design to troubleshooting global networks that span all business, government and person-to-person communications,” said Jeanne Beliveau-Dunn, senior director for Learning@Cisco. “Networking offers people a broad opportunity for career advancement while learning about the world, about business and about ways to improve human interaction. The Cisco training and certification program provides network designers and engineers with a solid foundation on which they will change how people collaborate and communicate in the future.”

“Networks underpin nearly every industry today including, travel, fashion and entertainment and their presence is not likely to be diminished in the future,” said Christopher Cugno, senior network engineer for DreamWorks Animation SKG. “Holding a Cisco certification enabled me to enter the career of my dreams, and now I have the opportunity to work for one of the most recognized production studios in the world.”

To learn more about the Cisco certification programs, please visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/getcertified

In a related announcement, the Cisco Networking Academy® today announced the introduction of the new CCNA curriculum. The CCNA curriculum now consists of two tracks, CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration that target different student segments based on their academic experience and goals. Additional information is available at: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/2007/prod_062507c.html
Training and Availability

Authorized Cisco training is available from a global network of Cisco Learning Solutions Partners and the Partner E-Learning Connection. For complete details about the training and exam requirements for the Specialist and other certifications, visit: http://www.cisco.com/go/certifications.

Cisco Press, the leader in CCNA self-study products, will offer a comprehensive set of materials for the new CCNA exams, including CCNA ICND1 Exam Certification Guide (1587201828), CCNA ICND2 Exam Certification Guide (158720181X), and the CCNA Flash Cards and Exam Practice Pack (1587201909). All products will be available for purchase at: http://www.ciscopress.com/ccna