Top 12 Network Consultant Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today's fast-evolving digital landscape, a network consultant's role is more critical than ever, requiring a blend of technical proficiency and soft skills to ensure seamless connectivity and network security. A carefully crafted resume highlighting a mix of these top skills can set you apart, making you a prime candidate for network consultant positions in a competitive job market.

Network Consultant Skills

1. Cisco IOS
2. Juniper Junos
3. BGP
4. MPLS
5. OSPF
6. IPv6
7. Wireshark
8. VMware NSX
9. AWS Networking
10. Azure Networking
11. Python (for automation)
12. SD-WAN

1. Cisco IOS

Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is a proprietary operating system that runs on most Cisco routers and switches, providing a rich set of network protocols and features designed for routing, switching, internetworking, and telecommunications functions.

Why It's Important

Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is crucial for a Network Consultant because it is the core operating system powering most Cisco routers and switches, enabling the configuration, management, and operation of network infrastructure, ensuring connectivity, reliability, and security across diverse networking environments.

How to Improve Cisco IOS Skills

Improving Cisco IOS for a network consultant involves optimizing performance, enhancing security, and ensuring system reliability. Here are concise recommendations:

1. Upgrade to the Latest Version: Regularly check and upgrade to the latest IOS version for enhanced features and security patches. Cisco Software Download.

2. Optimize Configuration: Streamline configurations to improve efficiency and reduce complexity. Focus on essential services and disable unused features. Cisco Configuration Guides.

3. Enable Security Features: Implement security features like SSH for secure management access and ACLs to control traffic flow. Use features like IOS Firewall and IPS for threat mitigation. Cisco Security Configuration Guides.

4. Regular Backups: Schedule regular backups of the IOS configuration to prevent data loss and facilitate quick recovery. Cisco Backup and Restore Guide.

5. Monitor Performance: Utilize network monitoring tools to track performance and identify issues proactively. Cisco Network Management Solutions.

6. Implement Quality of Service (QoS): Configure QoS to prioritize critical network traffic and ensure optimal performance for essential services. Cisco QoS Configuration Guide.

7. Network Segmentation: Use VLANs and VRFs for network segmentation to enhance security and reduce broadcast domains, improving overall network performance. Cisco VLAN Configuration Guide.

By following these steps and leveraging Cisco's extensive documentation and support resources, network consultants can ensure an optimized, secure, and reliable network infrastructure.

How to Display Cisco IOS Skills on Your Resume

2. Juniper Junos

Juniper Junos, developed by Juniper Networks, is a high-performance network operating system that powers a wide range of routing, switching, and security devices. It provides a unified, consistent operating environment that improves network reliability, security, and scalability, essential for complex enterprise and service provider environments.

Why It's Important

Juniper Junos is crucial for a Network Consultant because it provides a unified, feature-rich operating system that enhances network reliability, performance, and security across Juniper's routing, switching, and security devices, enabling efficient network design, deployment, and management.

How to Improve Juniper Junos Skills

Improving your Juniper Networks Junos skills as a Network Consultant involves a combination of theoretical learning, practical experience, and staying updated with the latest in Junos technologies. Here’s a short and concise guide:

1. Official Juniper Training: Start with Juniper Networks' official training and certification programs. The Juniper Education Services offers a range of courses from beginner to advanced levels.

2. Practical Experience: Hands-on experience is crucial. Utilize Juniper vLabs for virtual lab access to Juniper devices and scenarios, allowing you to practice configurations and troubleshoot without needing physical hardware.

3. Online Forums and Communities: Engage with the Juniper Networks Community J-Net for discussions, solutions, and advice from fellow Junos users and experts.

4. Documentation and Resources: Always refer to the Juniper TechLibrary for comprehensive guides, configuration examples, and best practices.

5. Automation and Scripting: Enhance your skills in automation by learning about Junos automation scripting using PyEZ, SLAX, or Ansible. The Juniper Automation and DevOps Training can be a good starting point.

6. Stay Updated: Technology evolves rapidly. Stay informed on the latest Junos features and updates by regularly checking the Juniper Product & Technology Blog.

By following these steps and actively engaging in both learning and community participation, you can significantly improve your Junos skills and understanding.

How to Display Juniper Junos Skills on Your Resume

3. 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 more efficient and robust inter-AS routing.

Why It's Important

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is crucial for enabling internet data routing between autonomous systems (AS), ensuring global connectivity and optimal path selection for traffic flow, which is essential for network reliability and performance.

How to Improve BGP Skills

Improving Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) can be approached through several strategies focused on enhancing security, performance, and reliability of BGP sessions. Here are concise recommendations:

1. Implement BGP Security Enhancements: Utilize Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) for route validation to prevent route hijacking. Implement BGPsec for path validation, ensuring the legitimacy of the AS_PATH attribute.

2. Filtering and Route Policies: Apply strict prefix filtering to allow only legitimate prefixes from peers. Use AS_PATH filtering to deny routes from unauthorized Autonomous Systems (ASes).

3. Keep the BGP Table Clean: Regularly review and clean up unused prefixes and ensure that aggregation is properly applied to minimize the global BGP table size.

4. Use BGP Communities: Implement BGP communities for dynamic policy control, helping to manage routes more efficiently and allowing for rapid response to network events.

5. Deploy Route Reflectors for Scalability: In larger networks, use route reflectors to reduce the number of BGP sessions, which improves scalability and administrative simplicity.

6. Enable BGP Graceful Restart: Implement BGP Graceful Restart to maintain forwarding paths during BGP restarts, reducing the impact of BGP session resets on traffic.

7. Monitor and Troubleshoot BGP: Regularly use tools and platforms for BGP monitoring to detect anomalies and potential issues promptly.

8. Educate and Collaborate: Stay informed about best practices through resources like the Mutually Agreed Norms for Routing Security (MANRS) and collaborate with peers for a safer Internet routing environment.

Implementing these strategies requires a comprehensive understanding of both the BGP protocol and the specific network architecture in question. Continuous monitoring, policy updates, and community engagement are vital for maintaining an optimized BGP setup.

How to Display BGP Skills on Your Resume

4. MPLS

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is a scalable, protocol-agnostic data-carrying technique 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 up traffic flow for high-performance telecommunications networks.

Why It's Important

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is important because it enhances network performance and efficiency by enabling flexible, high-speed data traffic routing and prioritization, vital for managing bandwidth and ensuring quality of service (QoS) across complex enterprise and service provider networks.

How to Improve MPLS Skills

Improving MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) in your network involves enhancing performance, reliability, and cost-efficiency. Here's a concise guide:

1. Optimize Routing: Implement traffic engineering to optimize path selection, ensuring efficient use of network resources. Cisco's MPLS Traffic Engineering provides insights on configuring MPLS for optimal routing.

2. Quality of Service (QoS): Prioritize critical traffic to ensure high performance for essential services. Cisco offers a comprehensive QoS guide for MPLS networks.

3. Layer 3 VPNs: Utilize MPLS VPNs for secure and scalable connectivity between sites. The MPLS Fundamentals book by Luc De Ghein provides an in-depth look at implementing MPLS VPNs.

4. Implement MPLS TE (Traffic Engineering): This can balance traffic loads and improve bandwidth utilization. Juniper's Traffic Engineering Guide offers practical advice on setting this up.

5. Monitor and Manage: Use network monitoring tools to continually assess performance and identify areas for improvement. Tools like SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor can help in monitoring MPLS networks effectively.

6. Consider Segment Routing: This simplifies the control plane and increases network scalability. Introduction to Segment Routing by Juniper Networks provides a good starting point.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve the performance and reliability of your MPLS network. Always tailor your approach to the specific needs and architecture of your network for the best results.

How to Display MPLS Skills on Your Resume

5. OSPF

OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is a link-state routing protocol used in IP networks to efficiently determine the best path for data packets through a dynamic routing table, facilitating scalable and hierarchical network design.

Why It's Important

OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is crucial for network consultants because it enables efficient, scalable, and dynamic routing within large, heterogeneous networks, ensuring optimal path selection and quick adaptation to topology changes, which is essential for maintaining high availability and performance in enterprise environments.

How to Improve OSPF Skills

Improving OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) in a network involves several strategic steps aimed at optimizing performance, reliability, and scalability. As a Network Consultant, focus on the following key areas:

1. Network Design: Adopt a hierarchical network design with multiple areas to improve scalability and manageability. Keep the backbone area (Area 0) at the core of your OSPF network to ensure optimal routing and stability. Cisco OSPF Design Guide

2. OSPF Parameters Tuning: Fine-tune OSPF parameters such as Hello and Dead intervals to improve neighbor relationships and convergence times. Adjust cost metrics to influence path selection according to the bandwidth. Configuring OSPF

3. Route Summarization: Implement route summarization at area boundaries to reduce the size of the routing table, decrease memory usage, and improve convergence times. This is particularly effective in large networks. OSPF Route Summarization

4. Network Segmentation: Use OSPF areas to segment the network logically. This helps in containing network issues within a specific area, thus preventing them from affecting the entire network. OSPF Area Types

5. Stability Mechanisms: Implement OSPF stability mechanisms such as SPF throttling, LSA pacing, and BFD (Bidirectional Forwarding Detection) to enhance the stability and responsiveness of the OSPF network. Improving OSPF Scalability

6. Authentication and Security: Secure OSPF by configuring authentication (preferably MD5 or SHA) for OSPF messages to prevent unauthorized access and routing information tampering. OSPF Security

7. Regular Monitoring and Maintenance: Utilize network monitoring tools to regularly check OSPF network health, identify bottlenecks, and preemptively resolve potential issues. Monitoring OSPF

By focusing on these areas, you can notably improve the efficiency, reliability, and scalability of OSPF networks, ensuring optimal performance in diverse environments.

How to Display OSPF Skills on Your Resume

6. IPv6

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is a network layer protocol for packet-switched internetworking that provides an identification and location system for computers on networks and routes traffic across the Internet. It was designed to address the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses by using 128-bit addresses, significantly expanding the number of possible unique addresses.

Why It's Important

IPv6 is crucial for addressing IP exhaustion, enabling vast address space for the expanding internet, supporting IoT growth, and improving routing efficiency and security.

How to Improve IPv6 Skills

Improving IPv6 implementation and performance involves several key steps. As a Network Consultant focusing on enhancing IPv6, consider the following concise strategies:

1. IPv6 Address Planning: Develop a scalable and logical address planning strategy. Utilize hierarchical address allocation to improve routing efficiency and simplify management. IPv6 Address Planning.

2. Security Enhancement: Implement IPv6-specific security policies and tools, including firewall rules, intrusion detection systems, and secure configurations to mitigate IPv6 inherent vulnerabilities. IPv6 Security Best Practices.

3. Quality of Service (QoS): Ensure Quality of Service by prioritizing IPv6 traffic appropriately, especially for latency-sensitive applications, using QoS mechanisms like Traffic Class and Flow Label fields. IPv6 QoS Recommendations.

4. Dual Stack Operation: Smoothly transition from IPv4 to IPv6 through Dual Stack implementations, allowing for simultaneous handling of IPv4 and IPv6, ensuring compatibility and interoperability. Dual Stack Best Practices.

5. Training and Awareness: Educate and train IT staff about IPv6 features, benefits, and best practices. Increase awareness about IPv6 security implications and management. IPv6 Training Resources.

6. Monitoring and Management Tools: Use IPv6-compatible tools for network monitoring, management, and troubleshooting to ensure visibility and control over IPv6 traffic and performance. IPv6 Monitoring Tools.

Implementing these strategies will improve IPv6 deployment, enhance network performance, and ensure a secure and efficient IPv6 environment.

How to Display IPv6 Skills on Your Resume

7. Wireshark

Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer tool that captures and displays data packets circulating through a network, aiding in troubleshooting, analysis, and protocol development for network consultants.

Why It's Important

Wireshark is crucial for a Network Consultant because it provides deep visibility into network traffic, enabling the diagnosis of network problems, the analysis of security incidents, and the understanding of network behavior for optimization and planning.

How to Improve Wireshark Skills

Improving your experience and effectiveness with Wireshark as a Network Consultant involves enhancing your proficiency in packet analysis, streamlining your workflow, and staying updated with the latest features and protocols. Here's a concise guide:

1. Master Filters: Develop your skills in using both capture and display filters to isolate relevant data quickly. The Wireshark Display Filters documentation offers a comprehensive guide.

2. Customize Wireshark: Tailor Wireshark to your needs. Create or modify profiles for different projects or network conditions. Learn how from the Wireshark Profiles page.

3. Use Expert Infos: Leverage Wireshark's Expert System for instant insights on potential issues. It categorizes issues into warnings and errors, helping you focus on critical problems first. More details are available in the Expert Infos and Diagnostics section.

4. Automate with TShark: For repetitive tasks, learn to use TShark, Wireshark’s command-line interface, which allows for scripting and automation. The TShark documentation covers its usage and options.

5. Stay Updated: Regularly update Wireshark to ensure support for the latest protocols and features. Check the Wireshark Download page for the newest version.

6. Enhance Skills with Training: Continuously improve your knowledge through courses and certifications, such as the Wireshark Certified Network Analyst (WCNA), which deepens your understanding of network analysis and Wireshark tools.

7. Join the Community: Engage with the Wireshark community through forums and mailing lists. Sharing experiences and solutions can provide new insights and techniques. The Wireshark Community page is a good starting point.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly enhance your capability in using Wireshark for advanced network analysis and troubleshooting.

How to Display Wireshark Skills on Your Resume

8. VMware NSX

VMware NSX is a network virtualization and security platform that enables the creation, deployment, and management of virtual networks and services, allowing for flexible, programmable, and secure infrastructure within data centers, compatible with a variety of underlying physical architectures.

Why It's Important

VMware NSX is important for a Network Consultant as it provides a comprehensive network virtualization platform, enabling flexible, software-defined networking (SDN) that simplifies network management, enhances security with micro-segmentation, and accelerates the deployment of applications across data centers, cloud environments, and hybrid settings.

How to Improve VMware NSX Skills

Improving VMware NSX involves enhancing network performance, security, and manageability. Here are concise strategies for a Network Consultant:

1. Update Regularly: Always ensure NSX is running the latest version to benefit from performance improvements and security patches. VMware Documentation provides guidance on updates.

2. Optimize Network Design: Follow VMware's best practices for network design to ensure optimal performance and scalability. The NSX-T Design Guide offers detailed recommendations.

3. Implement Micro-Segmentation: Enhance security by implementing micro-segmentation, reducing the attack surface within your network. VMware's Micro-Segmentation Guide provides a step-by-step approach.

4. Monitor and Analyze Network Traffic: Use NSX Intelligence for network traffic analysis, gaining insights into network flows and potential security threats. Learn more about NSX Intelligence on the official VMware page.

5. Automate Tasks: Leverage the NSX API for automation of routine tasks, improving efficiency and reducing human error. The NSX Automation Guide provides resources for getting started.

6. Enhance Security with Third-Party Integrations: Integrate NSX with third-party security solutions for advanced threat detection and response. Explore the VMware Solution Exchange for compatible security products.

7. Educate and Train Team Members: Ensure your team is up-to-date with the latest NSX features and best practices through VMware’s NSX Training and Certification programs.

By following these strategies, a Network Consultant can significantly improve the performance, security, and manageability of VMware NSX environments.

How to Display VMware NSX Skills on Your Resume

9. AWS Networking

AWS Networking is a comprehensive suite of cloud networking services provided by Amazon Web Services to create, manage, and scale network infrastructure. These services include virtual private clouds (VPCs), content delivery (Amazon CloudFront), load balancing (Elastic Load Balancing), DNS management (Amazon Route 53), and direct network connections (AWS Direct Connect), enabling secure, high-performance, and scalable networking solutions for businesses of all sizes.

Why It's Important

AWS Networking is crucial for a Network Consultant because it enables scalable, secure, and highly available network infrastructure in the cloud, essential for designing robust solutions that meet diverse client needs.

How to Improve AWS Networking Skills

Improving AWS Networking involves optimizing performance, security, and cost-efficiency. Below are concise strategies tailored for a Network Consultant:

1. Leverage AWS Direct Connect: Establish a dedicated network connection from your premises to AWS, reducing costs, increasing bandwidth, and offering a more consistent network experience. AWS Direct Connect

2. Implement AWS Transit Gateway: Simplify your network architecture by connecting your VPCs and on-premises networks to a single gateway. This enhances scalability and management efficiency. AWS Transit Gateway

3. Utilize Amazon CloudFront: Distribute content globally with low latency and high data transfer speeds, ensuring a faster user experience. Amazon CloudFront

4. Optimize VPC Configuration: Structure your VPC with subnets, route tables, and internet gateways efficiently. Use VPC peering for direct networking between VPCs to minimize latency. Amazon VPC

5. Employ AWS Route 53: Improve DNS management and traffic flow with AWS Route 53. It offers high availability and scalability for your domain’s DNS management. AWS Route 53

6. Activate AWS Shield & WAF: Enhance network security by using AWS Shield for DDoS protection and AWS WAF (Web Application Firewall) to protect your web applications from common web exploits. AWS Shield & AWS WAF

7. Monitor with AWS CloudWatch & VPC Flow Logs: Continuously monitor and log network and application-level data to swiftly identify and rectify issues. AWS CloudWatch & VPC Flow Logs

8. Optimize Costs with AWS Savings Plans: Reduce costs by committing to a consistent amount of usage (e.g., bandwidth) in exchange for lower prices. AWS Savings Plans

9. Implement Traffic Mirroring: Monitor and secure your network by capturing and analyzing traffic patterns using Traffic Mirroring on your EC2 instances. Traffic Mirroring

10. Educate and Certify: Stay updated with the newest AWS technologies and best practices by pursuing AWS certifications and training. AWS Training and Certification

By strategically implementing these recommendations, a Network Consultant can significantly improve the performance, security, and cost-efficiency of AWS Networking.

How to Display AWS Networking Skills on Your Resume

10. Azure Networking

Azure Networking is a comprehensive suite of cloud-based networking services provided by Microsoft Azure, offering capabilities such as virtual networking, load balancing, VPN connectivity, and security features to facilitate secure, scalable, and highly available network infrastructure deployment and management in the cloud.

Why It's Important

Azure Networking is vital for ensuring secure, scalable, and reliable connectivity between cloud resources, on-premises environments, and the internet, enabling optimized performance, enhanced security, and seamless integration for diverse IT ecosystems.

How to Improve Azure Networking Skills

Improving Azure Networking involves optimizing your setup to enhance performance, security, and cost-efficiency. Here are concise strategies tailored for a Network Consultant:

1. Leverage Azure Virtual WAN: Centralize and automate network and security configurations across your Azure ecosystem for optimized routing and connectivity. Azure Virtual WAN Documentation

2. Implement Azure ExpressRoute: For critical applications, use ExpressRoute to establish private connections between Azure datacenters and your infrastructure, bypassing the internet for greater reliability and speed. Azure ExpressRoute Details

3. Optimize Network Security Groups (NSGs): Fine-tune NSGs to control inbound and outbound traffic to and from Azure resources, minimizing exposure to threats. NSG Documentation

4. Deploy Azure Firewall: Protect your Azure Virtual Network resources with a high-availability, stateful firewall as a service with built-in high availability and unrestricted cloud scalability. Azure Firewall Documentation

5. Utilize Azure Traffic Manager: Improve app availability and responsiveness by distributing traffic across global Azure regions, optimizing for performance, or failover based on your rules. Azure Traffic Manager Overview

6. Adopt Azure Front Door: Enhance web application security and performance through a single secure, scalable, and global entry point. Azure Front Door Service

7. Monitor with Azure Network Watcher: Gain visibility into your network performance and health for troubleshooting and monitoring. Azure Network Watcher Documentation

8. Apply Azure Policy and Blueprints: Enforce organizational standards and assess compliance at scale with policies and blueprints tailored for your network resources. Azure Policy Documentation, Azure Blueprints Documentation

Each strategy should be considered within the context of your specific Azure deployment to identify the most beneficial approaches.

How to Display Azure Networking Skills on Your Resume

11. Python (for automation)

Python is a versatile programming language used for automating repetitive tasks, including network configuration and management, simplifying the process of deploying and managing network infrastructures for Network Consultants.

Why It's Important

Python is important for automation, especially for a Network Consultant, because it simplifies complex network management tasks, enhances efficiency, and reduces the likelihood of human error, thereby saving time and improving network reliability and security.

How to Improve Python (for automation) Skills

To improve your Python skills for automation, particularly as a Network Consultant, focus on the following concise steps:

1. Master Core Python: Ensure you have a strong foundation in core Python concepts. The official Python documentation is a great resource.

2. Learn Network Automation Libraries: Dive into libraries like Netmiko, NAPALM, and Paramiko for network device automation.

3. Understand APIs: Many network devices and SDN controllers offer APIs. Learn to use Requests for HTTP requests to interact with REST APIs.

4. Practice with Real Scenarios: Apply your skills to automate real network tasks. Projects and challenges on platforms like GitHub can provide practical experience.

5. Stay Updated and Network: Participate in communities like Stack Overflow and Reddit’s r/networking to stay updated on best practices and new technologies.

6. Learn from Courses and Books: Invest time in specialized courses and books. Automate the Boring Stuff with Python is excellent for beginners, and Cisco DevNet provides resources specifically for network professionals.

Remember, practical application and continuous learning are key to improving your Python skills for network automation.

How to Display Python (for automation) Skills on Your Resume

12. SD-WAN

SD-WAN, or Software-Defined Wide Area Network, is a virtual WAN architecture that allows enterprises to leverage any combination of transport services, including MPLS, LTE, and broadband internet services, to securely connect users to applications. It uses a centralized control function to intelligently direct traffic across the WAN, increasing efficiency and performance while reducing costs.

Why It's Important

SD-WAN is important because it enhances network flexibility, reduces operational costs, and improves bandwidth efficiency, enabling a Network Consultant to optimize and secure WAN traffic management across multiple locations efficiently.

How to Improve SD-WAN Skills

Improving SD-WAN involves enhancing its performance, security, and management. Here are concise strategies tailored for a Network Consultant:

1. Optimize Application Performance: Utilize application-aware routing to prioritize critical applications and ensure they use the best possible path. Cisco's guide offers insights into configuring application-aware policies.

2. Enhance Security: Strengthen SD-WAN's security by integrating a zero-trust network access (ZTNA) model and deploying next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) within the SD-WAN architecture. Check out Fortinet’s approach for integrating advanced security features.

3. Improve Visibility and Control: Implement advanced analytics and real-time monitoring tools for better network insight and management. Solutions like VMware's SD-WAN offer comprehensive visibility features.

4. Ensure Redundancy and Reliability: Design the network with multiple connections to ensure failover and maintain continuous connectivity. Silver Peak’s SD-WAN solution (now part of Hewlett Packard Enterprise) highlights redundancy features.

5. Automate for Efficiency: Leverage automation for rapid deployment of SD-WAN services, policy management, and error reduction. Learn more about automation in SD-WAN through Juniper Networks’ insights.

6. Opt for Scalable Solutions: Choose an SD-WAN solution that can easily scale up or down based on your network's needs to accommodate future growth without significant overhauls. Cisco SD-WAN is known for its scalability.

7. Regularly Update and Patch: Ensure your SD-WAN devices and software are regularly updated to protect against vulnerabilities. This fundamental security practice is emphasized across all technology platforms.

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

How to Display SD-WAN Skills on Your Resume