In this post, we’re going to cover whether the Cisco DevNet Associate certification is worth pursuing. If you’re a networking professional in any capacity, such as a network engineer, technician, etc., this article will give you a good idea of what kind of value you can expect to find with Cisco’s DevNet track.
Before we answer whether the certification is worthwhile, we first need a basic understanding of what problems are being solved by network automation.
The Growing Enterprise Network
It’s no secret networks across the world are growing well beyond the initial expectations from several decades ago. Many networks are now distributed across multiple continents and consist of tens of thousands of devices and significantly more clients.
The sheer scale of modern networks has forced network engineers to spend more and more time managing the networks to ensure they are running optimally. The only way to scale the network is to hire more engineers and technicians, something that is not sustainable, nor practical.
Many companies are aware of this problem and starting to turn toward network automation as their their key to continued growth. The extent of a company’s network automation can vary from using scripts to push similar configurations across multiple devices all the way to full-blown network configuration management platforms.
Regardless of their platform, one thing is for sure: companies are looking more and more for network engineers able to perform automation tasks as well as network automation engineers.
The Cisco DevNet Associate
The DevNet certification track is Cisco’s acknowledgment of the changes in industry and employer requirements. The DevNet Associate is the first certification in the track released in February 2020 and tests the candidate on topics related to network automation.
The primary categories for the exam include:
- Software Development and Design
- Understanding and Using APIs
- Cisco Platforms and Development
- Application Deployment and Security
- Infrastructure and Automation
- Network Fundamentals
As you can see by the categories, to be successful in the DevNet track you must have knowledge in both software development and networking. This merging of what has been traditionally separate fields is required to keep up with the quickly changing industry.
Is it the Cisco DevNet Associate worthwhile?
On to the question at hand, is the DevNet Associate certification worth the time, money, and effort to earn? The answer is a simple yes, but let’s dig a bit deeper based on your career goals.
For Network Automation Professionals
If you’re looking to move into network automation as your career, then the DevNet Associate can be a crucial first step in that direction. The developer-focused exam validates you have at least the basic skills required to perform the role as a network automation engineer.
Responsibilities you may come across include:
- Writing Python code in a CI/CD environment
- Using REST APIs or RESTCONF to programmatically configure network devices
- Develop Ansible playbooks to make changes to devices
- And much more
While each individual experience can differ, my own experience has proven to be fruitful. I was offered a Network Automation Engineer role within one month of finishing my DevNet Associate and at a significant pay increase compared to my previous Network Architect role.
For Networking Professionals
For those wanting less of a software role and more of a networking role, the value in the DevNet Associate can be easily missed. Not only can completing the DevNet Associate help you perform many Network Engineering responsibilities more easily, but it can also give you a competitive advantage when interviewing for jobs.
If you search for open positions for network engineering, you’ll find many that list automation skills in the qualifications. Not learning (at a minimum) the fundamentals of automation can create notable limitations in your job opportunities as well as growth.
Simply put, earning the DevNet Associate certification can mean the difference between getting a job offer/promotion or getting passed over by another candidate.
Regardless of your long-term goals in your networking career, the Cisco DevNet Associate certification can serve as an excellent stepping stone for any networking professional.
If you’re interested in pursuing the DevNet associate, I encourage you to subscribe to my newsletter to get updates as new posts are published. If you’ve earned the certification already, be sure to leave a comment on your own experience and how it helped you in your career.