A Complete Guide to Becoming a Network Engineer
Many organizations require network engineers’ aid in designing, constructing, setting up, and maintaining their computer networks. Understanding how to develop a network engineering profession might help you decide if this is the right path for you.
Today’s job environment is in high demand for network engineers, but a profession in networking requires a wide range of technical abilities. You can enroll in introductory training courses or coding boot camps if you’re just getting started. There are, however, other options. For detailed instructions on how to become a network engineer, read on.
Network Engineer
Network Engineer, also referred to as a Network Administrator, is a tech professional who works in the computer networking field. They are a part of the IT department in an organization. They are expected to take responsibility for making sure that network hardware and computer systems in their organizations are working efficiently. Network Engineers do it by completing routine software updates, running diagnostics, and installing new hardware as it becomes available. Furthermore, they must take preventative measures to protect their networks from malware and other possible threats.
Network engineers are also liable for maintaining the company’s server systems’ stability and minimizing network failures to improve network performance. Prospective employees should have a thorough understanding of networking fundamentals as well as excellent problem-solving abilities to do these responsibilities well.
Qualifications for Becoming a Network Engineer
Below are the prerequisites that must be satisfied to become a successful Network Engineer:
A relevant degree
Any organization will look for a candidate with a relevant degree, and the appropriate degree shows you are qualified to do your job well. Usually, Network Engineers will have degrees like mathematics, computer science, and any equivalent STEM field degree.
Technical skills
A network engineer should be familiar with the technical aspects of wide-area networks (WANs) and local area networks (LANs), as well as the domain name system (DNS), cloud computing, virtual private networks (VPNs), and network security.
Experience
Even a junior network engineer applicant must demonstrate past work expertise as a network technician to an employer. Looking for tech apprenticeship possibilities is usually a good idea.
Soft skills
Strong interpersonal skills are required for a successful networking specialist. You’ll be in contact with a large number of coworkers and managers.
Reasons to work as a network engineer
Keeping up with the latest technology
By creating, securing, and organizing network systems, network engineers act as the company’s backbone. It necessitates a basic understanding of current technologies. The demand for this position is justified by the engineer’s skill set, which has the ability to improve the organization’s efficiency. They keep the company’s IT department informed about new developments and updates.
You are valued
As we’ve seen, a network engineer is in charge of the entire network system, making it a very important job. A network engineer will assist in smoothing the process of operational tasks such as delivering data, storing information, connecting with shareholders, and so much more, from creating a system to securing it from any cyber-attacks. This is one of the reasons for the high demand for this type of employment.
Salary
It’s no secret that the salary is competitive. Network engineers with the highest salaries earn well over $100,000 per year. Traveling to the office daily can seem like a burden to some people;Â the network experts have the liberty to work from home with a good Internet connection.
Career growth
Understanding networking is the cornerstone of IT. As a result, knowing how the network will help you succeed in your computer job, may pave the path for you to work as an IT manager or a cloud architect.
Now let us see how to become a Network Engineer:
Complete the needed education
After completing your intermediate, you can take up the Bachelors of Technology (BTech) in computer science or any other equivalent course like Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Engineering (BE). A formal degree like this can help you understand the job roles and responsibilities and make you capable of dealing with the different problems in your career. Organizations are also looking for professionals who have completed their degrees.
Understand the networking basics
“Rome wasn’t built in a day,” as the saying goes, and it applies here as well. You won’t be able to grasp networking abilities on day one. The first step is to learn about the fundamentals of networking concepts. You must comprehend how things work, such as “How are two systems connected?” or “What is the purpose of employing various types of cables?” and so on.
Level up the knowledge
Once you’ve completed the Basic Networking Concepts, you should look for more advanced information about this topic. This will require more effort and attention. There is a variety of live training available, as well as research papers, books, journals, and blogs. Besides core networking topics, explore related topics such as operating systems (Linux, Unix), networking trends, and so on.
Get certified:
You can choose to pursue vendor-specific certifications for network engineers at this point. Cisco’s beginner and mid-level certificates, SolarWinds’ certified professional certification, Microsoft 365’s Security Administrator Associate certification, and Microsoft’s Azure Administrator Associate certification are also options. Each of these credentials requires you to pass an exam. The following is a list of a few network engineer certifications that some employers may require:
- Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA)
- CompTIA Network+
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP)
- Certified Wireless Network Administrator (CWNA)
- AWS Certified Advanced Networking
- Juniper Networks Certified Enterprise Routing and Switching Expert (JNCIE-ENT)
Final Words
If you follow the traditional educational path, becoming a network engineer can take anywhere from five to six years. You must first get a bachelor’s degree in network engineering, computer science, computer networking, systems engineering, or a similar discipline after completing a three-or four-year bachelor’s degree program. Following that, earning various network engineering certifications can take anything from six months to three years. If you want to learn more about the Network Engineer course, check out InfosecTrain for more details.
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