Cisco CCENT and CCNA at The Training Foundry

Cisco at the Training Foundry

Demand for Skills and Certification

Studies around the world show a growing demand for information and communication technology (ICT) professionals and a critical shortage of qualified candidates to fill the positions. Innovations such as social networking, cloud computing, e-commerce, web conferencing, and desktop virtualization are changing the way we live, work, play, and learn, and these capabilities are all powered by networks. The Cisco Networking Academy CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration courses provide the experience needed to help meet the global demand for qualified ICT candidates to design, install, and manage these networks. The CCENT and CCNA Certifications validate these Skills. Set aside just 5 days for training at The Training Foundry to launch your networking career!

CCENT Certification

Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT™) validates the ability to install, operate and troubleshoot a small enterprise branch network, including basic network security. With a CCENT, network professionals demonstrate the skills required for entry-level network support positions - the starting point for many successful careers in networking. The curriculum covers networking fundamentals, WAN technologies, basic security and wireless concepts, routing and switching fundamentals, and configuring simple networks. CCENT is the first step toward achieving CCNA, which covers medium size enterprise branch networks with more complex connections.

CCNA Certification

Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA®) validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN. CCNA curriculum includes basic mitigation of security threats, introduction to wireless networking concepts and terminology, and performance-based skills. This new curriculum also includes the use of these protocols: IP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay, Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2),VLANs, Ethernet, access control lists (ACLs).

CCNA Security Certification

Cisco Certified Network Associate Security (CCNA® Security) validates associate-level knowledge and skills required to secure Cisco networks. With a CCNA Security certification, a network professional demonstrates the skills required to develop a security infrastructure, recognise threats and vulnerabilities to networks, and mitigate security threats. The CCNA Security curriculum emphasizes core security technologies, the installation, troubleshooting and monitoring of network devices to maintain integrity, confidentiality and availability of data and devices, and competency in the technologies that Cisco uses in its security structure.

The Training Foundry course offerings

CCENT

The Training Foundry offers courses leading to both CCENT and CCNA Certifications. For CCENT, choose CCNA Discovery Courses “Networking for Home and Small Business”, and “Working for a Small to Medium Enterprise or ISP”. These two courses (10 days in total) will prepare you for the CCENT Exam. Once you have achieved your CCENT, you can choose to continue with CCNA Discovery courses 3 and 4, which will lead to the CCNA Certification

CCNA

If you don’t want to start with a CCENT certification, you can study directly for the CCNA using either the CCNA Discovery or CCNA Exploration curricula. Both these curricula are run in the same manner - CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration each consists of four courses. Delegates are provided with access to the Cisco CCNA online training material and online skills tests, and are expected to do around 40 hours of self-study per course. They will also need to spend 5 days per course at The Training Foundry arranged at a suitable time. Time in The Training Foundry classroom will best be spent discussing issues with our experienced tutor, performing practical exercises with real routers and switches, and taking the necessary online tests and skills-based assessments to pass the courses.

CCNA Security

Once you have completed the CCNA courses (or have equivalent experience), you can tackle CCNA Security. The CCNA Security course develops an understanding of network security principles as well as the tools and configurations available on Cisco devices. The course materials and delivery format are similar to CCNA Exploration and Discovery. You will get 5 days of hands-on  instructor-assisted training, but you will need to put in around 40 hours of self-study as well.

Curriculum Objectives

The CCNA curriculum presents a comprehensive overview of networking; from fundamentals to advanced applications and services and security. The courses emphasise concepts and skills required to design networks, while providing opportunities for practical application and hands-on experience by teaching delegates how to install, operate, maintain and secure networks. Delegates use Cisco Packet Tracer. Packet Tracer is a comprehensive network simulation tool which allows users to build, configure, test and troubleshoot configurations of Cisco devices without needing Cisco hardware. It is an excellent learning tool which can be used to practise commands and test configuration prior to implementation on real Cisco devices in The Training Foundry Cisco lab. The lab provides delegates hands-on access to real cisco devices and networks. All courses require delegates to complete a Skills Based Assessment on real Cisco hardware. Hands-on lab instructions are provided for delegates to gain the skills and real-world experience required to complete the Skills Based Assessments.

CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration Comparison

CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration are designed to meet the diverse needs of different types of students by using different methodologies to teach the same core concepts. Both curricula provide the knowledge and skills required to pass the Cisco CCNA Certification Exam. The primary difference between the CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration curricula, is that the Discovery curriculum leads to the CCENT (Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician) certification exam after the first two courses. In addition, the Discovery curriculum progresses from home and small business networking to larger ISP and enterprise networks, whereas the Exploration curriculum approaches networking from a more theoretical standpoint, beginning with fundamentals of networking, and progressing to routing, switching and wireless concepts.

You can start your Cisco programme by booking the first 5 days for as little as £500 and then call off days from our calendar of courses as and when you are ready.

For more information on the Cisco CCNA Exploration and Discovery curricula, and to help you choose which to take, see the Cisco website at http://www.cisco.com/web/learning/netacad/course_catalog/index.html.

Alternatively give us a call on (0114) 225 5888 or drop in to discuss your requirements