Is The CCIE Certification Still Valid In Today's IT World?.

Today, knowledge is power, so certifications and degrees are vital in job possibilities and career progression opportunities. Not all certificates, however, are made equal. However, the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) has been the most essential and knowledgable qualification in the networking industry for more than two decades. Cisco began offering the CCIE certification in 1993, and thousands of people worldwide have spent countless hours studying for it. Simultaneously, the IT industry has seen significant changes and upheavals in the previous decade, with the rate of progress increasing by the day. Is Cisco's CCIE certification still valuable for today's evolving IT environment?

Let's look at the benefits and drawbacks of this accreditation before deciding on its utility.

The benefits of obtaining a CCIE certification are numerous

If thousands of individuals worldwide are still paying thousands of dollars and studying long and hard to pass this exam, it's apparent that they believe it's worth their money and time! Here are some of the reasons why so many individuals are interested in this qualification.

The market leader is Cisco

Cisco is today's unquestioned networking industry leader. Despite numerous discussions regarding Cisco's future and allegations that the company is not evolving quickly enough to meet the changing needs of the industry, data prove the opposite.

The market share of various players in the global enterprise networking and communication industry is depicted in the graph below.

Even if Cisco's market share has declined in recent years, this graph clearly illustrates that it is still the market leader in networking. Furthermore, Cisco is one of the oldest corporations in this industry, with a long history of outstanding performance. Above all, Cisco's technologies are widely employed by the US military, leading banks, government agencies, and big enterprises worldwide.

For these reasons, CCIE certification can lead to many new work prospects all across the world.

It is something that hiring managers anticipate.

Many hiring managers nowadays assume that having a CCIE certification qualifies you as a networking specialist. And they are correct because this certification covers every facet of networking and allows a person as a true expert in the sector.

Take, for example, the situation of Wave Life Sciences, a biotechnology business situated in Boston. This company's network received a bad review as it prepared for the commercial launch of its application, and it had to be re-architected. Anthony Murabito, the vice president of IT, had only one requirement for possible networking professionals who could help him with this problem: CCIE certification.

This case study reveals the prevalence of CCIE and the expectations of people in positions of power.

There is no other option.

Though there has been much disagreement about the value of CCIE certification, the truth is that there is no substitute. There are a few networking certifications out there, but none of them are as extensive as the CCIE, and nothing beats Cisco's reputation.

Recent alterations

Cisco is also conscious of the quick changes in the IT industry and is working to ensure that its certification remains relevant in today's technology and business environment. This is why Cisco has included an "emerging technologies" element in the written portion of the CCIE exam. Questions about IoT, cloud computing, network programmability, and other developing technologies can be found in this section. Although this portion is not as comprehensive as the networking section, it is still an excellent place to start to ensure that candidates are aware of current trends. All of these upcoming technologies together account for around 10% of the overall score.

This component was added in 2016, and Cisco is still tweaking the certification to incorporate new emerging technologies.

All of this means that the CCIE will remain necessary until another top certification emerges, and it will serve as a standard for identifying the proper personnel and knowledge.

CCIE certification drawbacks

As with anything, there are drawbacks to CCIE certification, and the following are a few of the most notable:

It's both costly and time-consuming.

Today's IT engineers are overworked. Furthermore, they are continuously attempting to establish a balance between their professional and personal lives.

A demanding course like CCIE can put their timetable off in this situation. According to Network World, finishing this course can take anywhere from six to 18 months, depending on how many hours you're willing to put in each day and your learning abilities. It may feel like you've returned to college, but you'll still have to work and spend time with your family. For some people, this is too much of a burden.

CCIE is not only time-consuming but also costly. Depending on how many extra books you plan to acquire to pass this exam, the course can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $15,000 to finish.

Aside from time and money, there are also logistical concerns. The written and lab components of the CCIE exams are separated. While the paper exam can be taken anywhere, the eight-hour lab exam is only available at nine Cisco locations or through their mobile lab facilities across the world. This constraint may necessitate some extra planning to complete the exam.

This certification will take up a significant amount of your time, money, and effort without question. So, unless you're certain you'll be able to finish the course and gain substantial advantages, this course may not be worth your time and money.

The exam is difficult.

Because it is thorough and covers all networking aspects, the CCIE is quite popular among hiring managers. However, from your perspective, it is a challenging exam that necessitates substantial preparation due to a large amount of information covered. Worse, unlike other certifications such as CCNA and CCNP, there are no set goals or syllabus. You will be expected to know everything there is to know about networking since you will be asked questions about it.

Such requirements can increase your stress levels and make the planning procedure time-consuming.

Job vacancies

A CCIE certification can undoubtedly lead to a large salary and some of the most extraordinary networking professions. But, in reality, most networking positions don't require such deep expertise; thus, you're overqualified for them!

This is an actual catch-22 scenario. Though this certification can help you advance your career, you may not have the opportunity to do so if you aren't working for the proper firm.

It's common to be forced into lower-paying jobs that don't always require a CCIE certification, which can be aggravating.

Emerging technology opportunities

New technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain are sweeping the globe, and those with knowledge and abilities in these fields stand to benefit greatly. Many experts believe that by focusing on growing their knowledge in these emerging technologies, they may make the same amount of money, if not more, and have better career options than by preparing for CCIE certification.

In addition, we're heading toward a more software-oriented, vendor-agnostic working environment, and the CCIE's value in these settings may be restricted.

As a result, these are some of the certification's drawbacks.

Is the Cisco CCIE certification still valid?

Now that you've learned about the benefits and drawbacks of CCIE certification, you can decide if it's worth your time, effort, and money.

The truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this topic; it all depends on your profession, situation, and aspirations. Here are several circumstances in which the CCIE certification will be helpful.

Why If you'll be working with Cisco devices in the future, the CCIE is the only certification that will provide you a high level of respect and credibility within your company.

• When you want to advance your career and earn more money in the networking sector, and you're willing to relocate to different locations or even nations to do so.
• You're just starting in networking and want to focus on Cisco's products.
• When you want to demonstrate to the world that you're dedicated and have what it takes to succeed in a networking job. CCIE is considered as a representation of your personality and grit in this way.
• If you want to be a networking expert, the CCIE certification is the best option.
• Employers and hiring managers still look for CCIE certification and consider you an expert if you have it.

While this is not an entire list, it does demonstrate that CCIE credentials are only helpful for a specific group of people and may not be as widely applicable as they were a decade ago.

Furthermore, the value of this certification is a personal choice that varies from person to person and, in some cases, from scenario to situation. So, in the end, the most excellent judge is you when it comes to determining whether or not to pursue this qualification. We hope that the primary benefits and drawbacks have helped you make an informed decision.

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