As we head into 2023, you might be asking what are the best networking certifications for your career? And given how much time and money earning networking certifications can take, it’s no wonder.

Here at Dynamic, we’re asked for the same certifications time and time again. To clients, they’re a benchmark. Networking certifications are an indicator of three attractive qualities to employers: your skills, your experience, and your desire to continually learn and level up your skills.

According to Skillsoft’s ‘2022 IT Skills and Salary Report’, 91% of IT Professionals here in Europe hold at least one certification. Meanwhile, research from Cisco shows that 99% of organisations use certifications to influence their hiring decisions.

The statistics show that certifications aren’t just incredibly important for your career, but that a massive number of IT professionals are continuously improving their IT skills.

So we’ve spoken to Dynamic Search Solutions’ Managing Consultants, Chris Armistead-Cargan and Mark Humphreys; two of our Dynamic recruiters who have over 17 years of combined experience in Network and Infrastructure recruitment. And we asked them to share with you the certifications that their clients most want to see: AKA, the best networking certifications for your career in 2023.

The Best Networking Certifications For Professionals Working With MSPs

When we asked Mark for what he considers the most valuable certificate for anyone working in a Managed Service Provider environment, he only had one answer:

“The CCNP Enterprise: It’s a no brainer. The CCNP Enterprise sets you up for everything you need to know about working with networks at an MSP.”

And the statistics would have to agree. In Global Knowledge’s 2021 IT Skills and Salary Report, the CCNP Enterprise featured on multiple regions “Top 10 Paying Certifications” lists. And the 2022 report shows that Cisco certifications are in the “Top 5 Most Popularly Held” and “Most Pursued” certifications lists.

However, as certifications become more commonplace. On average, respondents hold four certifications in their field, with 41% of them earned in the last six months. So while the CCNP Enterprise is still one of the most valuable certs to earn, it doesn’t make you stand out as much as it used to.

After earning your CCNP Enterprise, you then have options to progress further down the Enterprise route, or into Wireless, Collaboration, Data Center, Network Security and now Cyber Security. 

But for those who are working at MSPs, there are two paths that IT professionals typically follow. 

“You have the opportunity to go down the ‘software defined route’ or the ‘security route’. The 300 – 415 ENSDWI Concentration Exam for the CCNP Enterprise is a great way to learn SD-WAN, which is one of the hottest skills on the market at the moment. Software Defined Networks are the future, especially within Enterprise, SD-Access, DNAC

Alternatively, you can go down the cyber security route: Cyber Security is always going to be needed. Which makes the CCNP Security an attractive complimentary Cisco certification to earn alongside your CCNP Enterprise.

Cisco FirePOWER is in massive demand at the moment. And the CCNP Security can offer experience working with this, depending on the exams you choose.”

The CCNP Enterprise is one of the strongest foundational certifications you can earn. But if you go get your CCNP Enterprise, get another track with it and double specialise? You’re set for 2023. You’ll be able to explore new career options, progress further down your chosen career path and bargain higher salaries.

The Best Networking Certifications For Professionals Working With ISPs

Meanwhile, over in the ISP space, Juniper is starting to make significant gains in the market. Mark had this to say about which Networking certifications would be the best for those working in ISPs:

“Juniper Certifications are becoming some of the hottest certifications on the market right now, especially in the Internet Service Provider space. They are really starting to challenge Cisco certifications in terms of value, and they could put you in a great position for 2023 in the ISP space. Because Juniper is cheaper for businesses. I work with a lot of companies that have, or are planning to make the switch to Juniper systems.”

Looking into the future of 2023 and beyond, CCNP level equivalent certifications such as the JNCIP-SP or JNCIS-SP are two certifications that will add long-term value to your professional career, especially if Juniper continues to expand in the market. But while Juniper are making gains in the market, this doesn’t mean they’re the only ones out there. We spoke to Chris Armistead-Cargan for what his clients want to see:

“Yes, Juniper is cheaper, which is obviously attractive for businesses. But that doesn’t mean Cisco is dead. A lot of companies still use Cisco, and don’t want to, or can’t make the transition over to Juniper systems. 

And right now, there’s still more jobs on the market for a Cisco certified IT professional. For those who are working with service provider networks, the CCNP Service Provider is still a certification that’s going to be a significant boost to your career.”

The Best Network Security Certifications For Your Career

So we’ve touched on Security certifications while discussing the best certifications for both ISPs and MSPs. But what if you want the flexibility and ability to work at either? Lucky for you, this is where Fortinet’s NSE certifications step in. 

The Fortinet Network Security Expert (NSE) program offers 8 individual certifications that indicate your level of expertise with Fortinet Cyber Security systems. And Fortinet has exploded in the past few years. Fortinet has become increasingly valuable to employees and employers over the years. A trend which only looks likely to continue.

“Our clients at ISPs and MSPs both want Fortinet certified professionals. So earning your NSE certification really gives you flexibility in your career. Fortinet Security seems to be the hottest product out there at the moment. 

Of course they’re not the only systems out there. Cisco ASA and firePOWER are red-hot at the moment, and that doesn’t seem likely to change.

5 years ago, Fortinet wasn’t as big: But now, everyone uses it. It’s cheaper and it’s very good at what it does. So working towards your NSE 7 should be a career goal for every Cyber Security professional: But the NSE 6 is still a great certification to have”

The Three Best Networking Certifications for Your Networking Career in 2023

We asked Mark and Chris to summarise the three most valuable certifications to employers will be in 2023:

Mark: “The three hottest certifications in networking for 2023 are: The JNCIS-SP. NSE Fortinet 6, 7 or 8. And of course, the CCNP Enterprise.”

Chris: “For me, the most valuable certifications are the CCNP Enterprise, CCNP Security, and NSE 4 or 7. If they had an NSE 7, I’d want to speak to them. They’d automatically be a great candidate for a number of roles. Or if they had a CCNP Enterprise coupled with an NSE 4, they’d be a really valuable Network Engineer.”

Of course, we can’t tell you what is the best certification for you. That depends on the area of networking you work in, the systems you enjoy working on and your chosen career path. 

But what we can give you, is some expert insight into employers and the networking market as we head into 2023. As well as offer you advice from the experts on earning your certifications. For those looking to earn a CCNP Enterprise or other complimentary Cisco certifications, we’ve worked with industry experts to put together a comprehensive guide to earning your Cisco certifications.

The post Best Networking Certifications in 2023: Advice From The Experts appeared first on Dynamic Search Solutions.

We are excited to have more than 130,000 individuals become (ISC)² Candidates since launching in September 2022. Many of them will go on to earn their Certified in Cybersecurity (CC) as part of our One Million Certified in Cybersecurity pledge.

For those new to (ISC)², or those who’ve had their sights set on their CISSP for years now, you may not be sure exactly how you become (ISC)²-certified. Your certification is more than a single exam. There are three steps to earn your (ISC)² certification:

Step 1: Pass your exam

Step 2: Submit your certification application

Step 3: Pay your first Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF)

Let’s dive in …

Step 1: Pass your exam

Which exam to take depends on your goals, and where you personally are in your cybersecurity career. You can use our Qualification Pathfinder to help chart your course: https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/Qualification-Pathfinder

Once you select the certification you want to earn, you will sit for your exam at a Pearson VUE test center. Register for your exam with Pearson VUE with the same email address as your isc2.org account. If you pass, you will receive a letter informing you of your provisional results and inviting you to the next step …

Step 2: Submit your certification application

If you’ve passed the CC exam, your certification application is quite simple. You will agree to the (ISC)² privacy policy, and then affirm your commitment to abide by the (ISC)² Code of Ethics. This code is a cornerstone of our association and all members – and (ISC)² Candidates – must agree to uphold the cannons themselves, as well as report anyone who violates the code.

If your certification has an experience requirement – for example, the CISSP requires five years of paid relevant work experience in two of the eight domains of the certification – then you will also provide evidence of this in your certification application. This step is where another (ISC)²-certified member will endorse your experience and affirm your good standing in the industry. If you don’t know another (ISC)²-ceritifed member to do this, you can provide your work experience (with proof via tax returns, letters from supervisors, letterhead documentation, etc.) and (ISC)² will review and the association itself will serve as your endorser. If you do not have the required experience needed to earn full certification status, you will become an Associate of (ISC)² and will be able to pursue your paid experience.

Step 3: Pay your first Annual Maintenance Fee (AMF)

As soon as your certification application has been approved, you will be notified via email and invited to pay your first Annual Maintenance Fee, known as your AMF. AMFs are used by (ISC)² to support the costs of maintaining the certifications and their related support systems.

If you earn the CC, or if you become an Associate of (ISC)², your AMF is U.S. $50 each year. If you earn the CISSP, CCSP, SSCP, CSSLP, CGRC or HCISPP, your AMF is U.S. $125 each year. If you are earning an additional certification (which includes the CISSP concentrations: CISSP-ISSAP, CISSP-ISSEP or CISSP-ISSMP) you will not have to pay additional AMFs beyond the one $125 payment each year.

What’s next?

Once you’re certified, you’ll get an invitation to claim your badge from Credly. This digital badge is a signifier of your accomplishment and is an easy way for you to display your credential online. You can use your badge on social media, in an email signature or on a website. When viewers click on it, they will see the knowledge, skills and abilities required to earn that credential, as well as the date that it was earned. Beyond your digital badge, you’ll receive a digital certificate to print or share online.

You’ll also have access to a variety of benefits including discounts on industry events, free online on-demand courses to support your professional development, access to a global network of professionals, such as in our online Community, to support your career growth and so much more. Stay in the know by following us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook . Update your communication preferences; and subscribe to our newsletters to receive important announcements.

As practitioners know all too well, it is paramount to remain up to date with the changing landscape of cybersecurity. We regularly conduct Job Task Analysis (JTA) studies to review exam content and outlines to ensure the accuracy, relevance and excellence of all (ISC)² exams.  

The Certified in Governance, Risk and Compliance (CGRC), formerly known as the Certified Authorization Professional (CAP) exam, was last refreshed in 2021. The certification is undergoing a name change to more accurately reflect the knowledge, skills and abilities required to earn and maintain this certification. As part of our regular updates to exams, it is now time to refresh the (ISC)² CGRC exam to better align with best governance, risk and compliance professional practices.  

We will begin the CGRC revision process with a JTA Study Workshop tentatively scheduled for February 13-15, 2023. We are asking that anyone who currently holds the CGRC (aka CAP) review the CGRC Exam Outline and consider the following questions:  

1. Do you believe that the current CGRC exam outline adequately covers the existing and emerging cybersecurity techniques and threats CGRC practitioners are facing in their jobs today? 
2. If not, what sort of topics/content should be added to the CGRC exam outline? 
3. What content currently on the CGRC exam outline is no longer relevant to today’s professionals? 

Please send your answers to these questions to CGRCJTA@isc2.org no later than January 30, 2023. Please include your ID # in your email. Your comments will be compiled and presented to the JTA Committee for further review.  

Be sure to submit this exercise via the CPE portal so that you can earn credit for participating in this essential activity. Thank you for your invaluable insights and help!  

With more than 150,000 CISSPs around the world, some of you have asked – what's the next step? For many of you, that next step is one of the CISSP concentrations focused on security architecture, engineering or management.

The CISSP-ISSAP exam was last updated in October 2020, which means we are beginning the process of a refresh again. (ISC)² is holding a Job Task Analysis (JTA) Study Workshop (tentatively scheduled for February 6-8), we are asking those who hold this (or any) CISSP concentration to review the current CISSP-ISSAP Exam Outline and let us know the following:

1. Do you believe that the current CISSP-ISSAP exam outline adequately covers the existing and emerging cybersecurity techniques and threats CISSP-ISSAP practitioners are facing in their jobs today?
2. If not, what sort of topics/content should be added to the CISSP-ISSAP exam outline?
3. What content currently on the CISSP-ISSAP exam outline is no longer relevant to today’s professionals?

Please send your answers to these questions to ISSAPJTA@isc2.org no later than January 23, 2023. Please include your ID # in your email. Your comments will be compiled and presented to the JTA Committee for further review.

Be sure to submit this exercise via the CPE portal so that you can earn credit for participating in this essential activity. Thank you for your invaluable insights and help!