Top 12 Cisco Network Engineer Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's competitive job market, standing out as a Cisco Network Engineer requires a blend of technical prowess and soft skills that align with industry demands. Crafting a resume that highlights these top skills is essential for showcasing your expertise and securing your position in the networking field.

Cisco Network Engineer Skills

1. CCNA/CCNP
2. BGP
3. OSPF
4. MPLS
5. IPv4/IPv6
6. QoS
7. Cisco IOS
8. VPN
9. WLAN
10. Cisco Nexus
11. SD-WAN
12. Cisco ASA

1. CCNA/CCNP

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) are certifications offered by Cisco for network engineers. CCNA is an entry-level certification focusing on foundational network skills, while CCNP is a more advanced certification, requiring a deeper knowledge of networking concepts and Cisco solutions. Both are designed to validate the skills and expertise of network professionals in designing, implementing, managing, and troubleshooting wired and wireless networks using Cisco technologies.

Why It's Important

CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) and CCNP (Cisco Certified Network Professional) certifications validate a network engineer's skills in designing, deploying, securing, and managing Cisco networks, crucial for ensuring efficient, secure network operations.

How to Improve CCNA/CCNP Skills

Improving your CCNA/CCNP skills primarily involves a mix of theoretical learning, practical experience, and continuous professional development. Here's a concise guide:

1. Theoretical Learning:

   • Utilize Cisco's Learning Network for official study materials, blogs, and forums.
   • Read through the official CCNA and CCNP certification guides.

2. Practical Experience:

   • Engage in hands-on practice through Cisco Packet Tracer or GNS3 for network simulation.
   • Work on real equipment, if possible, or use remote labs like INE.

3. Professional Development:

   • Join Cisco certification study groups on platforms like Reddit or LinkedIn to exchange knowledge.
   • Stay updated with Cisco technologies by following Cisco Blogs.

4. Practice and Review:

   • Regularly take practice exams available on platforms like Boson to identify and improve weak areas.

5. Real-world Application:

   • Volunteer or seek internships that allow you to work on Cisco equipment and solutions to gain practical experience.

6. Continuous Learning:

   • Keep abreast of the latest Cisco technologies and industry trends by attending webinars, workshops, and conferences such as Cisco Live.

By integrating these resources and strategies, you can significantly enhance your CCNA/CCNP knowledge and skills, positioning yourself as a proficient Cisco Network Engineer.

How to Display CCNA/CCNP Skills on Your Resume

2. BGP

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is a standardized exterior gateway protocol designed to exchange routing and reachability information among autonomous systems (AS) on the Internet, enabling efficient, scalable, and robust inter-domain routing. For a Cisco Network Engineer, it's crucial for managing route advertisement and path selection in large-scale network environments.

Why It's Important

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is crucial for Cisco Network Engineers because it is the standardized exterior gateway protocol designed to exchange routing and reachability information among autonomous systems (AS) on the Internet, ensuring global data routing and connectivity.

How to Improve BGP Skills

To improve BGP on a Cisco network, focus on optimization, security, and scalability. Here’s a concise guide:

1. Optimization: Use route filtering to manage prefixes and reduce unnecessary route propagation. Implement route summarization to decrease the size of the routing table. Adjust BGP attributes like Weight, Local Preference, AS Path, and MED to influence path selection. Cisco BGP Optimization

2. Security: Secure your BGP sessions with MD5 authentication to prevent unauthorized access. Utilize BGP Route Filtering and Prefix Lists to prevent route hijacking. Implement RPKI (Resource Public Key Infrastructure) to validate the authenticity of BGP routes. Cisco BGP Security Best Practices

3. Scalability: Utilize route reflectors to reduce the number of BGP connections, which helps in scaling the network. Implement BGP Confederations in large AS to break down BGP into manageable smaller parts. Cisco BGP Scalability

4. Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Regularly monitor BGP sessions and performance. Use tools like show ip bgp summary to check session status and show ip bgp for route information. Enable BGP logging to aid in troubleshooting. Cisco BGP Troubleshooting

By implementing these strategies, you can improve the performance, security, and scalability of BGP on your Cisco network.

How to Display BGP Skills on Your Resume

3. OSPF

OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is a link-state routing protocol used in IP networks to determine the best path for data packets to travel within a network. It dynamically updates routing information between routers, efficiently handling changes in network topology and calculating shortest paths using Dijkstra's algorithm. OSPF is widely implemented in large enterprise network environments, including those utilizing Cisco equipment, to ensure efficient, reliable, and scalable network communication.

Why It's Important

OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is crucial for a Cisco Network Engineer as it enables efficient, scalable, and dynamic routing within large and complex networks, ensuring optimal data paths and network resilience through its fast convergence and link-state routing capabilities.

How to Improve OSPF Skills

Improving OSPF performance in a Cisco network environment involves several strategies focused on optimizing routing efficiency, reducing unnecessary traffic, and ensuring network stability. Here are concise tips for a Cisco Network Engineer:

1. Network Design:

   • Area Design: Implement a hierarchical OSPF design with multiple areas to limit the size of the routing table and reduce SPF calculations. Cisco OSPF Design Guide

2. OSPF Parameters Tuning:

   • Cost: Adjust the OSPF cost of interfaces to influence path selection, optimizing traffic flow. Configuring OSPF
   • Hello and Dead Intervals: Fine-tune Hello and Dead intervals to improve neighbor relationships while balancing between convergence and bandwidth usage. OSPF Timers

3. OSPF Features:

   • Stub Areas: Utilize stub areas to prevent external routes from being propagated within an area, reducing the size of the OSPF database. Stub Areas
   • Route Summarization: Implement route summarization at area boundaries to decrease the OSPF database size and improve convergence times. Route Summarization

4. Stability Mechanisms:

   • BFD (Bidirectional Forwarding Detection): Deploy BFD for rapid detection of link or neighbor failures, enhancing OSPF's reaction to network changes. BFD for OSPF
   • SPF Throttling: Control the frequency of SPF calculations to stabilize OSPF during topology changes. SPF Throttling

5. Monitoring and Maintenance:

   • Logging and SNMP Traps: Enable OSPF logging and SNMP traps for proactive monitoring and issue resolution. Monitoring OSPF

Implementing these strategies will enhance OSPF performance and reliability in a Cisco networking environment. Remember, each network is unique, so adjustments should be made according to specific network requirements and goals.

How to Display OSPF Skills on Your Resume

4. MPLS

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is a high-performance networking technology that directs data from one network node to the next based on short path labels rather than long network addresses, avoiding complex lookups in a routing table and speeding traffic flows. It is widely used in service provider networks and large enterprise networks for efficient, scalable data transport.

Why It's Important

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is crucial for a Cisco Network Engineer because it enhances network efficiency and performance by enabling faster packet forwarding and simplifying the management of network paths, crucial for optimizing both large-scale network traffic flow and ensuring quality of service (QoS) for critical applications.

How to Improve MPLS Skills

Improving MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) in a Cisco network involves optimizing performance, enhancing security, and ensuring high availability. Below are key strategies:

1. Performance Optimization:

   • Traffic Engineering (TE): Utilize MPLS TE to control path selection based on bandwidth, avoiding congestion. Cisco MPLS TE
   • Quality of Service (QoS): Implement QoS policies to prioritize critical traffic, ensuring bandwidth for important applications. Cisco QoS

2. Security Enhancement:

   • VPN Services: Deploy MPLS VPNs, both Layer 3 (L3VPN) and Layer 2 (L2VPN), to securely connect remote sites. Cisco MPLS VPN
   • Encryption: Use IPsec over MPLS for sensitive data, adding a layer of encryption for protection. IPsec over MPLS

3. High Availability (HA):

   • Fast Reroute (FRR): Implement MPLS FRR to quickly reroute traffic upon a failure, minimizing downtime. Cisco MPLS FRR
   • Redundant Paths: Design the network with redundant paths to ensure continuous service during link or node failures.

4. Monitoring and Management:

   • SNMP and NetFlow: Use SNMP for monitoring MPLS network health and NetFlow for traffic analysis, aiding in proactive management. Cisco NetFlow

5. Capacity Planning:

   • Regularly review traffic patterns and growth trends to adjust MPLS TE tunnels and bandwidth allocations, ensuring the network can handle future demands.

6. Training and Certification:

   • Continuously update skills and knowledge through Cisco certifications like CCNP and CCIE, focusing on the MPLS and Service Provider tracks. Cisco Certifications

Implementing these strategies requires careful planning and ongoing adjustment to match the evolving needs of the network.

How to Display MPLS Skills on Your Resume

5. IPv4/IPv6

IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) is a protocol for use on packet-switched Link Layer networks (e.g., Ethernet). It provides an addressing system that assigns unique identifiers to devices, facilitating their communication over the internet. IPv4 addresses are 32 bits long, limiting the address space to 4.3 billion addresses.

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the successor to IPv4, designed to address the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses. It uses 128-bit addresses, significantly expanding the address space to accommodate the growing number of internet-connected devices. IPv6 also introduces features like simplified header format, improved security, and better support for mobile devices.

For a Cisco Network Engineer, understanding both IPv4 and IPv6 is crucial for designing, implementing, and managing networks that support seamless connectivity and security in mixed IP environments.

Why It's Important

IPv4/IPv6 is crucial for a Cisco Network Engineer because it underpins all network communications, ensuring devices can connect and exchange data efficiently across both local and global networks. IPv6 addresses the IPv4 address exhaustion, supports a vastly larger number of devices, and introduces improvements in routing and network autoconfiguration. Mastery over these protocols is essential for designing, implementing, and managing scalable, secure, and resilient network infrastructures.

How to Improve IPv4/IPv6 Skills

Improving IPv4/IPv6 performance and transitioning in a Cisco network involves several key strategies:

1. Dual-stack Configuration: Enable both IPv4 and IPv6 to run simultaneously. This ensures compatibility and a smoother transition. Cisco Dual Stack

2. Tunneling: Utilize tunneling mechanisms like 6to4 or ISATAP for encapsulating IPv6 packets within IPv4, facilitating communication between IPv6 devices over an IPv4 network. IPv6 Tunneling

3. NAT64/DNS64: Implement NAT64 in combination with DNS64 for translating IPv6 addresses into IPv4 addresses and vice versa, essential for communication between IPv4 and IPv6 networks. NAT64/DNS64

4. IPv6 Address Planning: Plan your IPv6 addressing scheme carefully to optimize routing efficiency and network organization. IPv6 Address Planning

5. Quality of Service (QoS): Implement QoS policies to prioritize traffic and ensure performance levels for critical applications in mixed IPv4/IPv6 environments. QoS for IPv6

6. Security: Ensure IPv6 traffic is included in security policies. Utilize IPv6-aware firewalls and inspect IPv6 traffic to protect against threats. IPv6 Security

7. Monitoring and Management Tools: Use network management tools that support both IPv4 and IPv6 for monitoring, troubleshooting, and reporting. Cisco Prime Infrastructure

8. Continuous Education: Stay updated with the latest IPv6 features and best practices through Cisco's learning resources. Cisco Learning Network

Implementing these strategies will ensure a robust and efficient IPv4/IPv6 network, facilitating a smoother transition to IPv6 while maintaining service quality and security.

How to Display IPv4/IPv6 Skills on Your Resume

6. QoS

QoS (Quality of Service) is a network mechanism that prioritizes and manages data traffic to ensure the efficient operation of critical applications and services, reducing latency, jitter, and packet loss on a Cisco network.

Why It's Important

QoS (Quality of Service) is crucial in a Cisco network to prioritize traffic, ensuring critical applications like voice and video operate smoothly without latency or jitter, optimizing network performance and resource utilization.

How to Improve QoS Skills

To improve QoS (Quality of Service) in a Cisco network environment:

1. Identify Traffic: Classify network traffic using access control lists (ACLs), class maps, and match statements.

2. Create Traffic Policies: Utilize policy maps to define specific actions for different traffic classes, such as prioritization, bandwidth allocation, or traffic shaping.

3. Apply QoS Policies: Attach the created policies to relevant interfaces using the service-policy command, ensuring policies are applied in the correct direction (inbound or outbound).

4. Enable Congestion Management: Implement queueing strategies (e.g., LLQ, CBWFQ) to manage traffic during congestion efficiently.

5. Configure Congestion Avoidance: Use mechanisms like WRED to avoid network congestion by selectively dropping packets.

6. Monitor and Adjust: Regularly monitor the network's performance using tools like SNMP or NetFlow and adjust QoS policies as necessary to meet changing network demands.

For detailed guidance and best practices, refer to Cisco's official documentation and resources:

• Cisco Quality of Service Overview
• Configuring QoS
• Cisco QoS Policy Management

By following these steps and leveraging Cisco’s comprehensive resources, a network engineer can effectively improve QoS, ensuring that critical network traffic is prioritized and that the network can operate efficiently under various conditions.

How to Display QoS Skills on Your Resume

7. Cisco IOS

Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is a proprietary operating system that runs on most Cisco routers and switches, providing network infrastructure services and enabling network connectivity and management.

Why It's Important

Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is crucial for a Cisco Network Engineer because it is the core operating system powering most Cisco networking devices, enabling the configuration, management, and operation of network infrastructure, including routers and switches. This knowledge is essential for designing, implementing, and troubleshooting network solutions.

How to Improve Cisco IOS Skills

Improving your skills with Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) involves a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Here are concise steps aimed at a Cisco Network Engineer for enhancing proficiency in Cisco IOS:

1. Official Cisco Learning: Start with Cisco's own Learning Network for official guides, resources, and courses tailored to various certification levels.

2. Practice Labs: Utilize GNS3 or Cisco Packet Tracer for hands-on practice in a virtual environment, allowing you to experiment with configurations without needing physical hardware.

3. Certification Studies: Aim for higher certifications like CCNP or CCIE. Resources like INE offer in-depth courses and labs tailored to these exams.

4. Read Books: Enhance your knowledge with books like "Cisco IOS Cookbook" by Kevin Dooley and Ian Brown, available on platforms like Amazon.

5. Join Forums and Communities: Participate in discussions on platforms like Cisco Community to share knowledge and solve real-world problems with peers.

6. Automation Skills: Learn network automation skills focusing on Cisco technologies through DevNet, Cisco's own developer network.

7. Stay Updated: Follow Cisco's official blog for the latest updates, insights, and advancements in Cisco technologies.

By combining these resources and continuously practicing, you'll significantly improve your mastery over Cisco IOS and enhance your capabilities as a Cisco Network Engineer.

How to Display Cisco IOS Skills on Your Resume

8. VPN

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a technology that creates a secure, encrypted connection over a less secure network, such as the internet, enabling remote users and sites to access a company's internal network resources securely.

Why It's Important

VPN is important for ensuring secure, encrypted connections over the internet for remote access and site-to-site communications, essential for protecting sensitive data and maintaining network integrity in a Cisco network environment.

How to Improve VPN Skills

To improve VPN performance and security in a Cisco network environment, consider the following concise recommendations:

1. Update and Optimize: Ensure all Cisco devices (routers, firewalls) are updated with the latest firmware and software. Use Cisco's optimization recommendations for specific models. Cisco Software Downloads.

2. Traffic Prioritization: Configure Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize VPN traffic, ensuring minimal latency and jitter for critical applications. Cisco QoS Guidelines.

3. Split Tunneling: Implement split tunneling to reduce bandwidth usage on the VPN by allowing non-sensitive traffic to bypass the VPN tunnel. Cisco Split Tunneling Guide.

4. Encryption and Protocols: Use strong encryption standards (such as AES-256) and secure VPN protocols (like IKEv2 or OpenVPN). Cisco VPN Security.

5. Redundancy and Failover: Implement VPN redundancy and automatic failover to increase reliability. Consider using Cisco's High Availability solutions. Cisco High Availability VPN.

6. Capacity Planning: Regularly assess and upgrade bandwidth and hardware capacity to meet increasing demands. Cisco Capacity Planning.

7. Monitor and Manage: Utilize Cisco's monitoring tools (like Cisco Prime Infrastructure) for real-time VPN traffic analysis and troubleshooting. Cisco Prime Infrastructure.

8. Secure Access: Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for VPN access to enhance security. Cisco Duo Security.

By following these steps, you can significantly improve the performance, reliability, and security of your VPN infrastructure within a Cisco network environment.

How to Display VPN Skills on Your Resume

9. WLAN

WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) enables devices to connect to a local area network through wireless communication, typically using Wi-Fi, within a limited area such as a home, school, or office building.

Why It's Important

WLAN is crucial for enabling flexible, scalable, and secure wireless connectivity, essential for supporting diverse devices and applications in modern network environments, enhancing mobility and productivity.

How to Improve WLAN Skills

Improving WLAN performance in a Cisco network can be approached through several strategies, focusing on optimization, coverage, and security. Here are key steps:

1. Assess and Optimize the Current Network Design: Re-evaluate the current WLAN layout, ensuring APs (Access Points) are strategically placed for optimal coverage and minimal interference. Use Cisco's Wireless LAN Design Guide for reference.

2. Update Firmware and Hardware: Ensure all network devices are running the latest firmware for performance improvements and security patches. Consider upgrading older hardware. Cisco provides guidance on firmware upgrades.

3. Implement Quality of Service (QoS): Prioritize critical business applications and manage bandwidth to improve the overall network performance. Cisco's Quality of Service Guide offers comprehensive insights.

4. Enhance Security Measures: Secure the WLAN by implementing the latest encryption standards, such as WPA3, and regularly updating passwords. Cisco's Wireless Security Guide provides detailed information.

5. Utilize Advanced Cisco Technologies: Implement Cisco technologies like Flexible Radio Assignment (FRA) and CleanAir for intelligent AP operation and interference management. Explore Cisco's CleanAir technology.

6. Conduct Regular Network Health Checks: Use Cisco Prime Infrastructure or DNA Center for continuous monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimization of the WLAN. Check Cisco's Prime Infrastructure and DNA Center for more information.

7. Engage in Continuous Learning and Training: Stay updated with the latest Cisco technologies and WLAN best practices through Cisco's Learning Network.

By following these strategies and utilizing Cisco's extensive resources, a network engineer can significantly improve the performance, reliability, and security of a WLAN infrastructure.

How to Display WLAN Skills on Your Resume

10. Cisco Nexus

Cisco Nexus refers to a family of network switches designed by Cisco Systems, optimized for data center environments. These switches offer high performance, scalability, and a comprehensive feature set for efficient data center network architecture, supporting both traditional and cloud deployments.

Why It's Important

The Cisco Nexus series is crucial for a Cisco Network Engineer because it offers high-performance, scalable, and flexible networking solutions designed for data centers, enabling efficient management and operation of modern, complex network environments.

How to Improve Cisco Nexus Skills

To improve Cisco Nexus performance and management, follow these concise steps:

1. Firmware Updates: Regularly update your Cisco Nexus devices to the latest firmware to ensure security, stability, and feature enhancements. Cisco Software Download

2. Network Monitoring: Implement network monitoring using SNMP, NetFlow, or Cisco's Nexus Data Broker for real-time insights and proactive management. Cisco Network Insights

3. Optimize Configurations: Review and optimize your switch configurations for performance, including adjusting MTU sizes, leveraging virtual PortChannels (vPC), and ensuring proper VLAN setups. Cisco Nexus Configuration Guides

4. Segmentation and Virtualization: Use Virtual Device Contexts (VDC) and Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN) for improved network segmentation, scalability, and flexibility. Cisco VXLAN Guide

5. Automation and Orchestration: Implement automation tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Cisco's own DCNM (Data Center Network Manager) for efficient network operations and configurations. Cisco DCNM

6. Training and Certification: Stay updated with the latest Cisco Nexus technologies and best practices through Cisco's training and certification programs. Cisco Learning Network

By following these steps, you can ensure your Cisco Nexus environment is optimized, secure, and capable of meeting the demands of modern network infrastructures.

How to Display Cisco Nexus Skills on Your Resume

11. SD-WAN

SD-WAN, or Software-Defined Wide Area Network, is a network technology that enables the dynamic routing of traffic across a wide area network (WAN) using software-defined networking principles to automatically determine the most effective way to route application traffic between branches, data centers, and cloud services, optimizing performance and reducing costs.

Why It's Important

SD-WAN is important for a Cisco Network Engineer because it simplifies the management and operation of a WAN by decoupling the networking hardware from its control mechanism, improving bandwidth efficiency, reducing operational costs, and enhancing the performance of applications across remote offices.

How to Improve SD-WAN Skills

To improve SD-WAN, especially within a Cisco network environment, consider the following concise strategies:

1. Optimize Traffic Steering: Implement advanced routing policies for dynamic path selection based on application, user, or source. Cisco's Application-Aware Routing capabilities can enhance performance and user experience.

2. Enhance Security Posture: Integrate Cisco's SD-WAN security features including firewalls, intrusion prevention, and cloud security for secure direct internet access.

3. Leverage Analytics and Insights: Utilize Cisco's vAnalytics for real-time monitoring, troubleshooting, and capacity planning to ensure optimal network performance.

4. Implement Cloud OnRamp: Use Cisco's Cloud OnRamp for seamless integration with cloud services, improving application performance and simplifying operations.

5. Regularly Update and Patch: Stay up to date with the latest software versions and security patches from Cisco to ensure your SD-WAN solution is secure and performs optimally. Check Cisco's Software Downloads regularly.

6. Training and Certification: Encourage team members to pursue Cisco SD-WAN certification to deepen their expertise and stay abreast of the latest technologies and best practices.

By focusing on these areas, a Cisco Network Engineer can significantly improve the performance, security, and efficiency of an SD-WAN deployment.

How to Display SD-WAN Skills on Your Resume

12. Cisco ASA

Cisco ASA (Adaptive Security Appliance) is a security device that combines firewall, antivirus, intrusion prevention, and virtual private network (VPN) capabilities to protect networks and data from cyber threats and unauthorized access.

Why It's Important

For a Cisco Network Engineer, the Cisco ASA (Adaptive Security Appliance) is crucial because it provides robust firewall capabilities, VPN support, and threat defense technologies to secure network environments against external and internal threats, ensuring network integrity, data confidentiality, and secure connectivity.

How to Improve Cisco ASA Skills

Improving the performance and security of a Cisco ASA firewall involves several strategies, including software updates, configuration optimization, and regular monitoring. Here's a concise guide:

1. Software Updates: Regularly update the ASA software to ensure security vulnerabilities are patched and new features are utilized. Check for the latest software versions here.

2. Optimize Configurations: Fine-tune your configurations for better performance and security. Utilize features like threat detection, access control lists (ACLs), and quality of service (QoS) settings. More on configuring these features can be found in the Cisco ASA Series General Operations CLI Configuration Guide.

3. Enable Threat Detection: Configure basic and advanced threat detection to identify and mitigate potential attacks. Details on setting this up can be found here.

4. Regular Monitoring and Logging: Implement logging and use external tools for continuous monitoring. This helps in identifying issues proactively. Learn about monitoring and logging here.

5. Implement Redundancy and Failover: Ensure business continuity by setting up ASA in failover configurations. This ensures that a backup unit takes over in case the primary unit fails. Configuration details are available here.

6. Use Cisco’s ASDM: Cisco’s Adaptive Security Device Manager (ASDM) offers a graphical interface to manage ASA, simplifying the management and configuration process. More on ASDM can be found here.

7. VPN Performance Optimization: If using ASA for VPN, optimize its performance by adjusting encryption settings and using the latest protocols. Guidelines for VPN performance can be found within the VPN configuration guides.

8. Network Segmentation and Access Control: Improve security by segmenting your network and strictly controlling access between segments using ACLs and security levels.

9. Regular Security Audits: Conduct regular security audits and reviews of your ASA configuration and policies to ensure compliance with the latest security standards and best practices.

Remember, the specific steps and configurations will depend on your network environment and the ASA model in use. Always back up your current configuration before making significant changes.

How to Display Cisco ASA Skills on Your Resume