Global IT developer Cisco announced at its annual Cisco Live! EMEA event that it would be offering new certifications and courses for AI skilling to support the AI-enabled workforce.
These new offerings range from AI basics to learning how to incorporate AI in specific roles to advanced networking design classes for professionals who design, build, and run networks that support AI workloads.
“At Cisco, we believe an AI-powered workforce is critical because AI has tremendous potential– but can deepen the digital divide if we don’t act intentionally, making sure that no populations get left behind,” said Par Merat, vice president of Cisco Learning & Certifications. “We’re moving full speed ahead to help IT professionals prepare and upskill for this latest technology transformation and the use of AI with our purpose at the forefront: to power an inclusive future for all.”
The IT giant says that they’re enabling skills-based AI readiness in three ways:
- An Introduction to Modern AI course for those seeking to better understand AI and why it is important. It will be available to everyone at NetAcad.com.
- A new learning path through Cisco U has been created to help engineers and architects build AI skills for professional roles and learn skills necessary for implementing AI Solutions on Cisco Infrastructure.
- Cisco will update its existing learning materials in its Data Center and Security certification tracks to incorporate AI-related information for IT professionals at different levels of expertise.
The AI Solutions on Cisco Infrastructure Learning Path
Cisco’s new AI Infrastructure learning path will cover the entire AI learning continuum. Through this, users will be able to gain the AI infrastructure skills required to move their organizations and individual careers forward.
The first leg of the new learning path– called Essentials– will be Cisco’s current Rev Up to Recert which runs from February 7 to March 24. Advanced material will also be available before Cisco Live U.S. in June 2025.
“Essentials is everything you need to get started in building AI infrastructure,” Merat wrote. “It begins with three courses on AI basics and a series on AI infrastructure requirements. It then covers AI network architectures, AI data considerations (including privacy and sovereignty), compliance (sustainability and power management), and hardware resources.”
Cisco notes that this material is primarily intended for DC network engineers, DC system engineers, IT infrastructure architects, IT operations engineers, and anyone working on a multi-vendor approach to building AI infrastructure.
Adding AI to Cisco certifications
Further, Cisco will refresh its existing certifications to ensure they include AI-related material that IT professionals at multiple levels will find relevant. At the associate level, candidates will learn how to use predictive AI to secure networks and at the professional level, candidates will learn how to use AI-powered and AI-driven analysis.
The new certification highlights include:
- CCDE AI Infrastructure Elective testing: Announced last June, the first day to test for this new elective will be February 9 at Cisco Live Amsterdam. It is the first significant addition to Cisco’s certification offerings. It will cover topics such as designing scalable AI solutions, leveraging AI for network automation, and ensuring secure and efficient data handling in AI-driven environments.
- New CCDE Specialist Badges: Also beginning February 9, CCDEs will be eligible to earn new badges that reflect the elective that a CCDE-certified expert selected during their examination. The badges will be available for Large Scale Networks, On-prem and Cloud Services, Workforce Mobility, and the new AI Infrastructure elective.
- Data Center certifications to include AI: Cisco’s DCID concentration will now include an AI and AI Infrastructure domain to validate skills in designing modern Data Center AI Infrastructure. Further, the company will rename the DC Design certification as the Designing Cisco Data Center Infrastructure for Traditional and AI Workloads.
- AI for Network Engineers badge becomes externally available: Candidates who complete the Understanding AI and LLMS as a Network Engineer tutorial will now be directed to an assessment upon completion. After passing the assessment, they can claim a Credly badge, which will validate their skills in understanding the theory, background, and use cases for AI and LLMs as a network engineer.
- Integration of AI-related skills throughout certifications, learning, and training: Cisco will also add relevant AI and ML skills to existing certifications. Additionally, Cisco’s cybersecurity certifications have been updated to reflect the use of AI to augment incident response and threat defense. They’ve embedded AI/ML skills and operations into their multi-cloud specialist certifications, specifically their Cloud Connectivity (ENCC), Secure Cloud Access (SCAZT), and Network Assurance (ENNA) certifications and training. ENNA will also be incorporating AI/ML advancements embedded in Cisco ThousandEyes.
“As ever, we are committed to continuing to update our learning materials and our certifications to respond to new technologies and new demands on IT professionals– and Cisco’s new AI learning journeys allow everyone to build AI skills,” Merat said. “The continual growth of our AI programming for learners is a reflection of market demand, talent transitions, and Cisco’s capacity to help create career and economic opportunities across the globe.”
Cisco has been gearing up to ensure that partners and customers are ready for the AI revolution. Read more about Cisco’s new AI solutions for accelerating adoption.