Groscost says his
company would appreciate his obtaining a Cisco DevNet certification, especially
as customers have been bringing up automation more frequently. Ahead of the
release of the new certifications (set for February 24, 2020), Groscost has
been “getting his hands dirty” by watching training videos and content on
scripting and other relevant skill sets. “I’m by no means an automation
specialist, but when I talk to a customer, I like to understand what I can do
to help them,” he says.
Overall, Groscost thinks
Cisco's new and revamped designations will help the industry by validating
networking and developer skill sets, providing professionals credit for those
skills, and potentially yielding salary increases for people who obtain the certifications.
"It’s also going to help weed out the candidate selection for
DevOps," because companies will have a benchmark to measure skills,
Groscost says.
Looking ahead, there
will be fewer tests necessary for completing specific concentrations. For example,
the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification no longer has
different tracks. Multiple elements – wireless, security, routing and
switching, and concepts of network automation – are covered broadly in an
effort to consolidate the most relevant industry skills and knowledge within a
single exam. In addition, Cisco is eliminating prerequisites for certifications
at the associate and professional levels so candidates can start at the level
they choose without having to take a predefined path. (Read more here about the
biggest changes to Cisco’s certification lineup.)