Top 12 Network Support Engineer Skills to Put on Your Resume

In today’s fast-paced digital world, a Network Support Engineer plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation of an organization’s network infrastructure. Highlighting the top skills on your resume can set you apart from the competition, demonstrating your ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize networks effectively to potential employers.

Network Support Engineer Skills

1. Cisco IOS
2. Juniper Junos
3. BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)
4. OSPF (Open Shortest Path First)
5. MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching)
6. IPv6
7. Wireshark
8. SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
9. QoS (Quality of Service)
10. VPN (Virtual Private Network)
11. Firewall Configuration
12. Cloud Networking

1. Cisco IOS

Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is a proprietary operating system that runs on most Cisco routers and switches, providing network infrastructure control, management, and functionality, including routing, switching, and security features.

Why It's Important

Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is crucial for a Network Support Engineer as it provides the core functionality for configuring and managing Cisco network devices, enabling secure and efficient network operations, connectivity, and performance monitoring.

How to Improve Cisco IOS Skills

Improving Cisco IOS performance and security can be vital for any Network Support Engineer. Here are concise steps and resources for optimization:

1. Update IOS: Ensure your Cisco IOS is up-to-date to benefit from the latest features and security patches. Cisco Software Central

2. Configure Logging and Monitoring: Properly set up logging and network monitoring to proactively detect and respond to issues. Configuring Logging

3. Secure Access: Implement strong access control policies. Use SSH instead of Telnet and restrict access to the device. Securing User Services

4. Regular Backups: Automate configuration backups to recover quickly from failures. Configuration Management

5. Network Optimization: Use Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize critical traffic and ensure bandwidth efficiency. QoS Configuration Guide

6. Security Hardening: Apply security best practices, such as disabling unnecessary services, implementing access-lists, and using VPNs for secure remote access. Security Configuration Guide

7. Review and Audit: Regularly review configurations and perform security audits to identify potential vulnerabilities. IOS Security Audit Feature

8. Education: Stay informed about the latest Cisco IOS features and best practices by accessing Cisco's learning resources and communities. Cisco Learning Network

By following these steps and utilizing the provided resources, a Network Support Engineer can enhance the performance, security, and reliability of Cisco IOS devices.

How to Display Cisco IOS Skills on Your Resume

2. Juniper Junos

Juniper Junos, or Junos OS, is the network operating system used on Juniper Networks' networking equipment. It provides routing, switching, and security features and is designed for network reliability, performance, and security management.

Why It's Important

Juniper Junos is important for a Network Support Engineer because it provides a unified, feature-rich operating system for Juniper devices, enabling consistent configuration, management, and troubleshooting across the network infrastructure, thereby enhancing network reliability and efficiency.

How to Improve Juniper Junos Skills

Improving your Juniper Junos skills as a Network Support Engineer involves a combination of hands-on practice, theoretical study, and staying updated with the latest developments. Here’s a concise guide:

1. Official Juniper Training: Start with Juniper Networks' official training courses. These are designed to cover everything from basics to advanced topics. Juniper Education Services offers a range of courses suitable for different skill levels.

2. Junos Genius: Engage with the Junos Genius platform, a comprehensive learning platform by Juniper that provides certification preparation materials, learning bytes, and practice exams to help reinforce your knowledge.

3. Practical Hands-On: Practice is key. Set up a lab environment using GNS3 with Juniper vMX or vSRX appliances for a realistic network simulation. Experiment with configurations, troubleshooting, and understand the nuances of Junos OS.

4. Read Juniper Blogs and Whitepapers: Stay abreast of the latest best practices, tips, and product updates. The Juniper Blogs and Technical Documentation are excellent resources.

5. Networking Forums and Groups: Participate in forums like the Juniper Networks Community or Reddit’s r/Juniper. Sharing experiences and solutions with peers can provide insights and novel approaches to common problems.

6. Automation and Scripting: As networks grow, automation becomes crucial. Familiarize yourself with Junos automation using PyEZ, Ansible, or Salt. Start with the Juniper Automation Scripting guide.

7. Certification: Consider obtaining Juniper certifications such as JNCIA-Junos, JNCIS-ENT, or JNCIP-SP. These certifications validate your knowledge and often expose you to new concepts. Juniper Certification Program provides all the necessary details.

By combining these resources and approaches, you can significantly improve your Junos skills, making you more effective in your role as a Network Support Engineer.

How to Display Juniper Junos Skills on Your Resume

3. BGP (Border Gateway Protocol)

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is the core routing protocol used to exchange routing information across the internet, enabling different networks (autonomous systems) to communicate and determine the best paths for data transmission.

Why It's Important

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is crucial for a Network Support Engineer because it enables the routing of data between autonomous systems (AS) on the internet, ensuring global connectivity and efficient, dynamic path selection for data transmission. This is fundamental for maintaining network reliability and optimizing performance across the internet.

How to Improve BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) Skills

Improving BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) in your network involves enhancing security, stability, and efficiency. Here's a concise guide:

1. Implement Route Filtering: Ensure you only accept routes from your neighbors that you expect to receive, minimizing the risk of route hijacking or propagation of incorrect routes.

   • BGP Route Filtering

2. Use BGP Route Reflectors: This reduces the number of connections and updates, improving scalability by allowing you to avoid full mesh configurations.

   • BGP Route Reflectors

3. Deploy BGP Prefix Limit: Protect your network from route table explosion by setting maximum prefix limits for your BGP peers.

   • BGP Maximum Prefix Limits

4. Enable BGP Graceful Restart: This ensures minimal disruption in traffic during BGP restarts by maintaining forwarding table entries.

   • BGP Graceful Restart

5. Implement BGP Security Features: Use mechanisms like RPKI (Resource Public Key Infrastructure) to validate route origins, and deploy BGPsec for path validation to protect against route hijacking.

   • RPKI
   • BGPsec

6. Utilize BGP Communities: They allow you to apply policies (like traffic engineering or route preference) across a wide range of prefixes to simplify management.

   • BGP Communities

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve the performance, security, and manageability of BGP in your network.

How to Display BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) Skills on Your Resume

4. OSPF (Open Shortest Path First)

OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is a link-state routing protocol used in IP networks to find the shortest path for data packets to travel between nodes. It dynamically updates routing tables in routers, ensuring efficient and reliable data routing. Ideal for large, scalable network infrastructures.

Why It's Important

OSPF is crucial for a Network Support Engineer as it enables efficient and dynamic routing within large and complex networks, ensuring optimal data paths and network reliability.

How to Improve OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) Skills

To enhance OSPF performance in a network, a Network Support Engineer can adopt the following strategies:

1. Optimize OSPF Areas: Divide the network into multiple areas to reduce the size of the routing table and link-state database. Cisco OSPF Design Guide

2. Use OSPF Timers Judiciously: Adjust OSPF hello and dead timers for faster convergence, but be cautious of the impact on network overhead. OSPF Timers Tuning

3. Implement OSPF Stub Areas: Configure stub areas to prevent external routes from being flooded into the area, thus reducing the size of the routing table. Configuring OSPF Stub Areas

4. Prioritize OSPF Traffic: Use Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize OSPF traffic over less critical traffic, ensuring OSPF packets are not dropped during congestion. QoS for OSPF

5. Authenticate OSPF Peers: Secure OSPF by configuring authentication for OSPF peers to prevent unauthorized access or routing updates. OSPF Authentication Configuration

6. Leverage OSPF Fast Convergence Features: Utilize OSPF features such as SPF throttling, LSA pacing, and BFD (Bidirectional Forwarding Detection) to achieve faster convergence times. Fast Convergence Techniques

7. Monitor and Maintain: Regularly monitor OSPF performance using SNMP or other network monitoring tools and perform routine maintenance to prevent issues. Monitoring OSPF with SNMP

8. Update OSPF Network Design: Continuously review and update the OSPF network design to adapt to network growth and changes, ensuring scalability and efficiency. OSPF Design Guide

Implementing these strategies will contribute to a more robust, efficient, and secure OSPF deployment.

How to Display OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) Skills on Your Resume

5. MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching)

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is a high-performance network protocol that directs data from one node to another based on short path labels rather than long network addresses, avoiding complex lookups in a routing table and speeding up traffic flow for efficient data transmission. It supports various service models and is widely used for implementing virtual private networks (VPNs), improving network resiliency, and traffic engineering.

Why It's Important

MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) is important for a Network Support Engineer because it enhances network efficiency and performance by enabling fast, flexible traffic management and prioritization across wide-area networks (WANs), thus ensuring improved network reliability and service quality for diverse data, voice, and video applications.

How to Improve MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) Skills

Improving MPLS performance and efficiency in a network involves several strategies aimed at optimizing its operation and management. Here are concise recommendations for Network Support Engineers:

1. Capacity Planning and Management: Regularly assess network demands and adjust MPLS link capacities accordingly to prevent congestion and ensure efficient usage of resources. Cisco's MPLS Capacity Planning guide provides insights into this process.

2. Quality of Service (QoS) Tuning: Implement QoS policies to prioritize critical applications and ensure they receive the bandwidth and low latency they require. This helps in improving overall network performance. Juniper Networks' QoS for MPLS offers a thorough understanding.

3. Network Redundancy and Failover Strategies: Design the MPLS network with redundancy to ensure high availability and resilience. Implementing proper failover mechanisms can minimize downtime. The MPLS Network Resiliency article provides strategies for enhancing network resilience.

4. Traffic Engineering (TE): Utilize MPLS TE to optimize network resource usage and improve performance by controlling the path traffic takes through the network. This can significantly enhance the efficiency of data flows. RFC 2702, "Requirements for Traffic Engineering Over MPLS," outlines the framework for implementing TE.

5. Regular Network Audits and Performance Monitoring: Conduct regular audits and monitor network performance to identify and rectify issues promptly. Tools such as SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor can aid in MPLS network monitoring and troubleshooting.

6. Layer 3 VPNs Optimization: For networks utilizing MPLS for VPNs, optimizing Layer 3 VPN configuration can lead to better performance and security. MPLS Layer 3 VPNs Configuration Guide by Cisco provides a comprehensive setup guide.

7. Keep Software and Firmware Updated: Ensure that all network devices are running the latest software and firmware versions to benefit from the latest performance enhancements and security patches.

By focusing on these areas, Network Support Engineers can significantly improve the performance and reliability of an MPLS network.

How to Display MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) Skills on Your Resume

6. IPv6

IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is the most recent version of the Internet Protocol (IP), designed to address the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses by using a 128-bit address space, enabling vastly more unique IP addresses and improved internet routing efficiency for network support.

Why It's Important

IPv6 is essential for Network Support Engineers because it provides a vastly larger address space to accommodate the exponential growth of internet devices, supports improved routing and network autoconfiguration capabilities, and enhances security features, ensuring sustainable and secure network growth and connectivity.

How to Improve IPv6 Skills

Improving IPv6 implementation and performance as a Network Support Engineer involves several key steps. Focus on:

1. IPv6 Address Planning: Design a scalable and logical address plan. Utilizing hierarchical addressing and subnetting strategies can optimize routing efficiency and simplify management. IPv6 Address Planning Guidelines.

2. Security: Implement IPv6-specific security policies and tools. Ensure firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and other security appliances are IPv6-ready and configured appropriately. IPv6 Security Best Practices.

3. IPv6 and IPv4 Coexistence: Use dual-stack, tunneling, or translation mechanisms to ensure smooth transition and interoperability between IPv4 and IPv6. Understand the advantages and limitations of each method. Strategies for IPv4 to IPv6 Transition.

4. Training and Knowledge Sharing: Keep up-to-date with the latest IPv6 developments, tools, and best practices through continuous learning and training. Share knowledge and collaborate with peers for innovative solutions. IPv6 Training Resources.

5. Performance Monitoring and Optimization: Regularly monitor IPv6 network performance using appropriate tools. Identify bottlenecks and optimize configurations for better performance and reliability. IPv6 Performance Monitoring Tools.

6. Vendor Support and Compatibility: Ensure hardware and software vendors fully support IPv6. Verify compatibility and performance of network devices and applications in IPv6 environments. Evaluating Vendor IPv6 Support.

7. IPv6 Feature Implementation: Leverage IPv6-specific features like auto-configuration, simplified header format, and built-in security protocols (IPsec) to enhance network efficiency and security. IPv6 Features and Benefits.

By focusing on these areas, you can effectively improve IPv6 implementation and performance within your network infrastructure.

How to Display IPv6 Skills on Your Resume

7. Wireshark

Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer tool used by Network Support Engineers for capturing and analyzing network traffic in real-time, aiding in troubleshooting, network performance analysis, and security monitoring.

Why It's Important

Wireshark is crucial for Network Support Engineers because it provides deep visibility into network traffic, allowing for effective troubleshooting, analysis, and monitoring of network performance and security issues.

How to Improve Wireshark Skills

Improving your Wireshark skills as a Network Support Engineer involves enhancing your ability to capture, analyze, and interpret network traffic to diagnose and resolve network issues more effectively. Here’s a concise guide to advancing your Wireshark expertise:

1. Master the Basics: Ensure you have a solid understanding of network protocols and Wireshark's basic functionalities. Start with the Official Wireshark User Guide.

2. Use Filters Efficiently: Learn to use both capture and display filters to isolate relevant data, reducing the noise in packet captures. Explore the comprehensive list of filters in the Wireshark Display Filters.

3. Understand Protocols: Deepen your knowledge of specific protocols relevant to your network. The IETF's RFC Pages provide detailed protocol specifications.

4. Scripting and Automation: Familiarize yourself with Wireshark’s automation features and scripting for repetitive tasks. Start with TShark, Wireshark’s command-line counterpart.

5. Customize Wireshark: Tailor Wireshark to your needs by creating or downloading custom profiles and color schemes. Visit the Wireshark Wiki for resources on customization.

6. Stay Updated: Network technologies and Wireshark itself are constantly evolving. Keep up with the latest features and best practices through the Wireshark Blog.

7. Practice and Use Case Studies: Apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios. The Wireshark Q&A site is a great place to see practical issues and solutions.

8. Networking Community Engagement: Join forums and groups such as the Wireshark Users’ Group to share knowledge and stay informed about the latest developments.

9. Training and Certification: Consider formal training and certification to validate your expertise. The Wireshark Certified Network Analyst (WCNA) Program is specifically designed for network professionals.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly enhance your proficiency in using Wireshark for network analysis and support, making you a more effective and efficient Network Support Engineer.

How to Display Wireshark Skills on Your Resume

8. SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is a network management protocol used to monitor, configure, and manage network devices such as routers, switches, and servers. It enables network support engineers to collect device performance data, detect network faults, and remotely configure network devices.

Why It's Important

SNMP is crucial for a Network Support Engineer because it enables efficient monitoring and management of network devices, helps in diagnosing network issues, and ensures optimal network performance by allowing remote configuration changes and collecting vital statistics from network equipment.

How to Improve SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) Skills

Improving SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) for a Network Support Engineer involves a combination of enhancing security, optimizing performance, and ensuring scalability. Here are concise strategies:

1. Upgrade to SNMPv3: Ensure you're using SNMPv3 for its enhanced security features, including authentication and encryption, to protect against unauthorized access.

2. Optimize Polling Strategies: Implement efficient polling strategies to reduce network load. Use adaptive polling to adjust frequencies based on device criticality and network conditions.

3. Consolidate and Prioritize Traps: Streamline trap management by consolidating and prioritizing SNMP traps. Focus on critical alerts to improve response times and reduce noise.

4. Implement Access Controls: Use SNMP views and access control lists (ACLs) to restrict access to network devices. This guide on SNMP security from Cisco provides detailed instructions.

5. Regularly Update MIBs: Keep Management Information Base (MIB) files up-to-date to ensure compatibility and efficiency in network management tasks.

6. Network Segmentation: Implement network segmentation to limit SNMP access to specific segments, enhancing security and performance. This article explains the basics of network segmentation.

7. Use SNMP Management Tools: Employ robust SNMP management tools for better visibility and control. Tools like SolarWinds and PRTG offer comprehensive SNMP monitoring and management features.

8. Continuous Education: Stay informed about the latest SNMP developments and best practices through platforms like SNMP.com and The IETF.

By implementing these strategies, a Network Support Engineer can significantly improve the efficiency, security, and scalability of SNMP within their network.

How to Display SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) Skills on Your Resume

9. QoS (Quality of Service)

Quality of Service (QoS) is a network management practice that prioritizes certain types of traffic to ensure optimal performance for critical applications and services, by managing bandwidth, reducing latency, and preventing packet loss.

Why It's Important

QoS is crucial for ensuring prioritization of critical network traffic, minimizing latency, and guaranteeing optimal performance and reliability for essential services, crucial in maintaining network efficiency and user satisfaction.

How to Improve QoS (Quality of Service) Skills

To improve QoS (Quality of Service) in a network, follow these concise steps:

1. Identify Traffic: Classify and mark network traffic based on importance. Cisco guide on Understanding QoS provides insights on traffic identification and marking.

2. Traffic Shaping and Policing: Apply traffic shaping to limit bandwidth usage of certain applications or users, and policing to drop traffic exceeding allocated bandwidth. Learn more through Juniper's Traffic Policing and Shaping documentation.

3. Implement Queuing Strategies: Use queuing strategies like LLQ (Low Latency Queuing) for prioritizing critical traffic. Cisco’s explanation on Queuing offers detailed guidance.

4. Enable Congestion Management: Implement congestion management techniques like RED (Random Early Detection) to avoid network congestion. Further reading on RED can be found in the IETF RFC 2309.

5. Apply QoS Policies: Deploy QoS policies across the network, ensuring they are consistent and meet the business requirements. Microsoft’s guide on Quality of Service Policy provides a good starting point.

6. Monitor and Adjust: Continuously monitor network performance and adjust QoS settings as necessary to meet changing network demands. SolarWinds offers tools for QoS Monitoring that could be beneficial.

By following these steps and utilizing the provided resources, you can effectively improve QoS in your network.

How to Display QoS (Quality of Service) Skills on Your Resume

10. VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A VPN (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 regional offices to access a company's network safely.

Why It's Important

A VPN is crucial for a Network Support Engineer as it securely extends a private network across public networks, enabling remote and safe access to network resources, ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and secure communication.

How to Improve VPN (Virtual Private Network) Skills

Improving a VPN's performance and security is critical for ensuring efficient and safe data transmission. As a Network Support Engineer, focus on these concise strategies:

1. Choose the Right VPN Protocol: Opt for protocols that balance speed and security, like OpenVPN or WireGuard. OpenVPN is widely regarded for its security, while WireGuard offers simplicity and speed.

2. Optimize Server Locations: Select servers closest to your geographical location to reduce latency. Use services like ExpressVPN which offer a wide range of server locations.

3. Implement Strong Encryption Standards: Ensure AES-256 encryption is used for data transmission. This standard is both secure and efficient. NordVPN is an example of a service employing AES-256.

4. Use Split Tunneling: This feature allows you to choose which traffic goes through the VPN, improving speed for non-critical services. Many providers like Surfshark offer split tunneling.

5. Regularly Update Software: Keeping your VPN client and server software up to date ensures you have the latest security patches and performance improvements.

6. Monitor Performance and Security: Use tools like Wireshark for network traffic analysis and OpenVPN Monitor for real-time VPN monitoring, to proactively manage and troubleshoot your VPN.

7. Implement Quality of Service (QoS): Prioritize VPN traffic over less critical traffic to ensure reliable performance for essential services.

8. Educate Users: Train users on secure VPN use, emphasizing the importance of using strong, unique passwords and logging out when sessions are complete.

By combining these strategies, you can significantly improve the performance and security of your VPN services, enhancing overall network efficiency and protection.

How to Display VPN (Virtual Private Network) Skills on Your Resume

11. Firewall Configuration

Firewall configuration involves setting up firewall rules and policies to control and manage network traffic, ensuring only authorized access to network resources while protecting against external threats. This process is crucial for network security and requires precise definition of which traffic is allowed or blocked based on criteria like IP addresses, ports, and protocols.

Why It's Important

Firewall configuration is crucial for a Network Support Engineer to ensure network security by controlling incoming and outgoing traffic based on predefined security rules, thereby protecting the network from unauthorized access and potential threats.

How to Improve Firewall Configuration Skills

Improving firewall configuration requires a strategic approach focused on enhancing security, performance, and manageability. Here's a concise guide:

1. Update Regularly: Ensure your firewall's firmware and software are up-to-date to protect against the latest threats. Manufacturers often release security patches and updates. (Cisco)

2. Principle of Least Privilege: Apply the principle of least privilege by only allowing traffic necessary for business operations, minimizing the attack surface. (NIST)

3. Segment Networks: Use your firewall to segment networks, limiting the spread of attacks and improving performance by controlling traffic flow. (Palo Alto Networks)

4. Secure Management Access: Ensure secure management of the firewall by using encrypted protocols (SSH, HTTPS), strong authentication methods, and limiting access to the management interface. (SANS Institute)

5. Review and Audit Rules: Regularly review and audit firewall rules to remove any unnecessary or outdated rules that might introduce security risks. (ISACA)

6. Implement Egress Filtering: Not just focusing on inbound rules, also implement egress filtering to control what leaves your network, preventing data exfiltration and limiting malware communication. (TechTarget)

7. Logging and Monitoring: Enable logging for all rules and regularly monitor logs to detect and respond to suspicious activities quickly. Use SIEM tools for effective monitoring. (LogRhythm)

8. Regular Testing: Periodically test your firewall's configuration and rules through penetration testing and vulnerability scanning to identify and remediate potential weaknesses. (OWASP)

By following these guidelines, Network Support Engineers can enhance their firewall configurations, improving their network's security posture and operational efficiency.

How to Display Firewall Configuration Skills on Your Resume

12. Cloud Networking

Cloud networking is the interconnection of cloud resources, services, and applications across the internet or a dedicated network space, enabling data and application sharing in a scalable, flexible, and secure manner. It involves the management and configuration of network resources through cloud platforms for optimized connectivity and performance.

Why It's Important

Cloud networking is crucial for a Network Support Engineer because it enables scalable, flexible, and efficient management and deployment of network resources, ensuring high availability, reliability, and security across distributed environments. This facilitates seamless support and maintenance, optimizing operational workflows and enhancing the delivery of services.

How to Improve Cloud Networking Skills

To improve Cloud Networking as a Network Support Engineer, focus on these concise strategies:

1. Enhance Security: Implement robust security measures such as encryption, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems. Cloud Security Alliance provides resources for cloud security standards.

2. Optimize Performance: Use tools like Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and optimize your WAN. Akamai is a leading CDN service provider.

3. Ensure Redundancy: Design for failover and redundancy to maintain uptime. AWS's Disaster Recovery planning resources can be helpful.

4. Monitor and Manage: Use cloud monitoring tools to track performance and manage resources efficiently. Datadog Cloud Monitoring offers comprehensive solutions.

5. Stay Updated: Continuously educate yourself on the latest cloud networking technologies and best practices. Cisco Cloud Networking offers insights and updates in cloud networking.

6. Automate: Implement automation for deployment, scaling, and management tasks using tools like Terraform for infrastructure as code.

Focusing on these areas will help improve cloud networking efficiency, security, and reliability.

How to Display Cloud Networking Skills on Your Resume