Top 12 NOC Technician Skills to Put on Your Resume

A Network Operations Center (NOC) Technician plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operation of a company's networks and IT infrastructure. As such, highlighting a robust set of skills on your resume can significantly enhance your chances of securing a position in this critical field, showcasing your ability to maintain, troubleshoot, and optimize network systems efficiently.

NOC Technician Skills

1. Cisco IOS
2. Juniper Junos
3. Network Monitoring (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios)
4. MPLS
5. BGP
6. OSPF
7. VPN Technologies
8. Wireshark
9. IPv4/IPv6
10. SNMP
11. Firewall Management (e.g., Palo Alto, Fortinet)
12. VoIP Systems

1. Cisco IOS

Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is the software used on the majority of Cisco Systems routers and current Cisco network switches, providing the network infrastructure's command-line interface (CLI) for configuration, management, and troubleshooting.

Why It's Important

Cisco IOS (Internetwork Operating System) is crucial for NOC Technicians as it provides the software infrastructure for managing network hardware, enabling the configuration, operation, and troubleshooting of routers and switches to ensure network reliability and performance.

How to Improve Cisco IOS Skills

Improving Cisco IOS for an NOC Technician involves optimizing system performance, enhancing security, and ensuring the network's reliability. Here are concise steps with resources:

1. Update IOS Regularly: Keeping the IOS version up-to-date ensures security patches and performance improvements are applied. Cisco's Software Download Portal offers the latest versions.

2. Configure Logging and Monitoring: Properly set up logging and monitoring to preemptively identify and address issues. Syslog Configuration Guide details how to configure logging.

3. Implement Security Best Practices: Secure access to devices, enforce strong authentication, and encrypt traffic. Cisco IOS Security Configuration Guide provides comprehensive security settings.

4. Optimize Network Performance: Use Quality of Service (QoS) to prioritize critical network traffic and ensure bandwidth efficiency. QoS Configuration Guide explains how to configure QoS settings.

5. Enable Network Automation: Automate repetitive tasks to improve efficiency and reduce human errors. Familiarize yourself with Cisco DevNet for resources on network automation.

6. Practice Configuration Management: Use configuration management tools to track changes and manage configurations efficiently. Cisco Configuration Professional is a GUI-based device management tool.

7. Educate Yourself Continually: Stay updated with the latest trends, tools, and technologies through Cisco's Learning Network and training courses.

By following these steps and utilizing the provided resources, an NOC Technician can significantly improve the performance, security, and reliability of Cisco IOS in their network operations.

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 the software foundation for routing, switching, and security devices, allowing for network configuration, management, and operational tasks.

Why It's Important

Juniper Junos is important for an NOC Technician because it provides a unified, stable, and feature-rich operating system for managing Juniper's networking equipment, facilitating efficient network operations, troubleshooting, and security management across various devices.

How to Improve Juniper Junos Skills

Improving Juniper Junos for an NOC Technician involves optimizing system performance, enhancing security, and streamlining management processes. Here's a concise guide:

1. Update and Upgrade: Regularly update Junos OS to the latest version to improve performance, security, and access new features. Juniper Software Downloads

2. Configuration Management: Use automation tools like Ansible, PyEZ, or Junos Space for efficient configuration and management. This reduces manual errors and saves time. Juniper Automation

3. Security Enhancement: Implement security best practices such as securing access to devices, using SSH, and configuring firewall filters to protect against unauthorized access. Juniper Security Best Practices

4. Network Monitoring and Troubleshooting: Utilize Junos telemetry and SNMP to monitor network performance and troubleshoot issues proactively. Junos Telemetry Interface

5. Performance Tuning: Optimize network performance by tuning routing protocols and interfaces settings based on network requirements. Performance Tuning Guidelines for Junos OS

6. Documentation and Knowledge Sharing: Regularly consult Juniper's documentation and forums for updates, best practices, and solutions to common issues. Share knowledge and experiences within the NOC team. Juniper Networks Technical Documentation

7. Training and Certification: Enhance skills and knowledge by pursuing Juniper Networks Certification Program (JNCP) courses relevant to your role. Juniper Networks Certification Program

By focusing on these areas, an NOC Technician can significantly improve the reliability, security, and efficiency of Juniper Junos environments.

How to Display Juniper Junos Skills on Your Resume

3. Network Monitoring (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios)

Network monitoring, as used in tools like SolarWinds and Nagios, involves continuously observing a computer network for issues such as slow or failing components, outages, and unauthorized access, ensuring that it operates efficiently and securely. It is vital for NOC Technicians to quickly detect and resolve these problems to maintain optimal network performance and reliability.

Why It's Important

Network monitoring is essential for an NOC Technician as it enables proactive detection and resolution of network issues, ensures optimal performance and uptime, and helps in maintaining security and compliance, thus minimizing downtime and enhancing user experience.

How to Improve Network Monitoring (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios) Skills

Improving network monitoring involves enhancing visibility, response time, and accuracy in detecting and resolving issues. For an NOC Technician, consider these concise strategies:

1. Optimize Configuration:

   • Tailor your monitoring tools (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios) to your specific network needs. This includes fine-tuning alert thresholds and ensuring that all critical components are monitored.

2. Utilize Advanced Features:

   • Leverage advanced features such as predictive analytics and AI for proactive monitoring. Explore SolarWinds AI capabilities and Nagios XI for more sophisticated monitoring options.

3. Regular Updates and Maintenance:

   • Keep your monitoring tools up to date to benefit from the latest features and security patches. Schedule regular maintenance checks to ensure all components are functioning correctly.

4. Comprehensive Training:

   • Invest in training for NOC Technicians to fully leverage the capabilities of your monitoring tools. Vendor-specific training resources are available at SolarWinds Academy and Nagios Learning Opportunities.

5. Integration and Automation:

   • Integrate monitoring tools with other IT management systems (e.g., ticketing systems) for streamlined operations. Utilize automation for repetitive tasks to increase efficiency. Explore SolarWinds Orion® Platform for integration options.

6. Performance Baselines:

   • Establish performance baselines to quickly identify anomalies and potential issues. Both SolarWinds and Nagios offer tools to assist in creating and monitoring these baselines.

7. Feedback Loop:

   • Implement a feedback loop for continuous improvement. Regularly review incident reports and monitoring logs to adjust configurations and improve response strategies.

By focusing on these areas, NOC Technicians can significantly enhance the effectiveness of their network monitoring efforts, ensuring a more reliable and efficient network infrastructure.

How to Display Network Monitoring (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios) 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 up traffic flow for various types of data packets in an enterprise or service provider network.

Why It's Important

MPLS is important because it enables efficient, scalable, and flexible network traffic management, allowing for prioritization of data flows, enhancing performance and reliability - critical for ensuring optimal network operations within an NOC environment.

How to Improve MPLS Skills

To improve MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching) performance and efficiency, focus on these key areas:

1. Optimize Routing: Ensure that the IGP (Interior Gateway Protocol) base—OSPF, IS-IS, or EIGRP—is properly optimized for fast convergence and scalability. Cisco MPLS Optimization.

2. Traffic Engineering: Use MPLS Traffic Engineering (TE) to manage bandwidth allocation more effectively, avoiding congestion and utilizing available paths efficiently. Juniper MPLS Traffic Engineering.

3. Quality of Service (QoS): Implement QoS policies to prioritize traffic, ensuring that critical applications receive the bandwidth they require, even during peak times. MPLS QoS Overview.

4. Network Security: Enhance security protocols to protect data integrity and prevent unauthorized access. This includes regular updates and patches. MPLS Network Security.

5. Monitor and Analyze: Continuously monitor network performance and utilize MPLS-specific tools for analysis and troubleshooting. Quick response to anomalies helps maintain optimal network performance. MPLS Monitoring Best Practices.

6. Capacity Planning: Regularly review network demands and perform capacity planning to ensure that the MPLS network can accommodate future growth without degradation in performance.

7. Training and Knowledge Sharing: Keep the NOC team informed about the latest MPLS technologies and best practices through ongoing training and knowledge sharing sessions. This ensures that the team can efficiently manage and optimize the MPLS network.

Focusing on these areas will contribute significantly to improving MPLS performance in your network.

How to Display MPLS Skills on Your Resume

5. BGP

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is the protocol used for exchanging routing information between autonomous systems (ASes) on the internet, enabling efficient, scalable global data routing.

Why It's Important

BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) is crucial for managing how data packets are routed across the internet, ensuring efficient and reliable connectivity between different networks worldwide. For an NOC (Network Operations Center) Technician, it is essential for maintaining network stability, optimizing performance, and facilitating internet access for users.

How to Improve BGP Skills

Improving BGP (Border Gateway Protocol) for an NOC Technician involves several key steps focused on enhancing security, stability, and performance. Here's a very short and concise guide:

1. Implement Routing Policies: Define clear routing policies to control route advertisement and acceptance. This includes prefix filtering to ensure only valid prefixes are advertised and accepted. Cisco's BGP Best Practices Guide provides detailed insights.

2. Use Route Filtering: Employ route filtering to prevent the propagation of incorrect routes, using prefix lists, route maps, and AS_PATH filters. Juniper Networks Route Filtering offers practical configurations.

3. Secure BGP Sessions: Secure BGP sessions with MD5 authentication and consider implementing BGP session protection mechanisms such as GTSM (Generalized TTL Security Mechanism). BGP Session Protection details these techniques.

4. Enable BGP Route Dampening: Mitigate the propagation of flapping routes by enabling route dampening, which temporarily suppresses unstable routes. BGP Route Dampening provides configuration examples.

5. Implement RPKI: Use Resource Public Key Infrastructure (RPKI) to validate the authenticity of BGP announcements, reducing the risk of route hijacking. RIPE NCC's RPKI Documentation explains how to deploy RPKI.

6. Participate in Peering Forums: Engage in peering forums and communities to stay informed about best practices and regional issues affecting BGP. PeeringDB is a valuable resource for finding peering partners and forums.

7. Continuous Monitoring and Analysis: Regularly monitor BGP sessions and routes using tools like BGPmon and perform analysis to detect anomalies. BGPmon offers network monitoring and alerting services.

8. Training and Education: Stay updated with the latest BGP features, threats, and mitigation techniques through continuous learning and training. Cisco Learning Network offers courses and resources on BGP.

Focusing on these areas will significantly enhance the BGP implementation for an NOC Technician, improving network reliability, security, and performance.

How to Display BGP Skills on Your Resume

6. OSPF

OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is a dynamic routing protocol used for finding the best path between devices within an IP network, utilizing link-state information to ensure efficient and loop-free routing.

Why It's Important

OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) is crucial for NOC technicians as it enables efficient, dynamic routing within large and complex networks, ensuring optimal data paths, quick adaptation to topology changes, and minimal downtime, essential for maintaining network reliability and performance.

How to Improve OSPF Skills

To improve OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) in a network operations center (NOC) environment, you can focus on the following key areas:

1. Optimize the Design: Simplify your OSPF network design by using a hierarchical structure with multiple areas. This reduces the size of the routing table and the number of route calculations needed.
2. Tune Timers: Adjust OSPF timers (hello and dead intervals) to balance between rapid failure detection and minimizing unnecessary traffic.
3. Use Authentication: Implement OSPF authentication to enhance network security and prevent unauthorized OSPF updates.
4. Limit LSA Flooding: Stabilize your network by minimizing LSA (Link-State Advertisement) flooding. Use techniques such as OSPF areas, stub areas, and not-so-stubby areas.
5. Configure Route Summarization: Use route summarization at area borders to reduce the number of routes advertised, decreasing CPU and memory usage on routers.
6. Prioritize OSPF Traffic: Ensure OSPF traffic is prioritized, especially in low-bandwidth scenarios, to prevent delays in routing information updates.

For more detailed guidance:

• OSPF Design Guide from Cisco
• Optimizing OSPF from Juniper Networks

These resources offer in-depth strategies tailored for network technicians aiming to enhance OSPF performance and stability in their networks.

How to Display OSPF Skills on Your Resume

7. VPN Technologies

VPN Technologies enable secure network connections over a public network like the internet, by encrypting data and hiding IP addresses, thus facilitating remote access and data confidentiality for users and devices. Essential for secure, remote network management and access in an NOC environment.

Why It's Important

VPN technologies are crucial for an NOC Technician as they ensure secure, encrypted connections over the internet for remote workforce access, safeguarding sensitive data and network resources from unauthorized access and cyber threats.

How to Improve VPN Technologies Skills

Improving VPN technologies, especially from an NOC Technician's perspective, involves enhancing security, increasing speed, improving reliability, and ensuring scalability. Here are concise strategies:

1. Upgrade Encryption Standards: Adopt the latest encryption protocols like WireGuard for better security and performance compared to older protocols like PPTP or L2TP.

2. Implement Split Tunneling: Allows users to decide which traffic goes through the VPN, improving speed and reducing bandwidth. Cisco offers guidelines on configuring split tunneling.

3. Use Network Monitoring Tools: Tools like Nagios or Zabbix help in real-time monitoring, identifying bottlenecks, and preemptively addressing network issues.

4. Optimize Server Performance: Regularly update VPN server software and hardware. Use CDN networks for global users to reduce latency. Cloudflare explains how CDNs work.

5. Enhance Authentication Mechanisms: Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) using solutions like Duo Security to add an extra layer of security.

6. Deploy IPv6 Support: Transition to IPv6 to deal with the limitations of IPv4 addresses and improve security and connectivity. APNIC offers deployment strategies.

7. Quality of Service (QoS) Configuration: Prioritize VPN traffic to ensure critical applications have the bandwidth they need. Juniper Networks provides a guide on QoS setup.

8. Educate Users: Provide guidance on secure VPN use, like recommending strong passwords and avoiding public Wi-Fi without VPN. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has resources for cybersecurity best practices.

By focusing on these areas, an NOC Technician can significantly contribute to the enhancement of VPN technologies, ensuring a secure, efficient, and reliable network for users.

How to Display VPN Technologies Skills on Your Resume

8. Wireshark

Wireshark is a network protocol analyzer that allows NOC technicians to monitor, capture, and analyze network traffic in real-time for troubleshooting, network performance evaluation, and security auditing.

Why It's Important

Wireshark is important for an NOC Technician because it enables detailed monitoring and analysis of real-time network traffic, helping in diagnosing issues, ensuring network security, and optimizing performance.

How to Improve Wireshark Skills

To improve your Wireshark skills as an NOC Technician, focus on the following areas:

1. Master the Basics: Ensure you're familiar with basic Wireshark operations and concepts. Start with the official Wireshark User's Guide.

2. Filtering Techniques: Learn advanced filtering to isolate relevant data efficiently. The Wireshark Wiki on Display Filters is invaluable.

3. Protocol Analysis: Deepen your knowledge of protocols you frequently encounter. The Wireshark Protocol Reference can help.

4. Automation and Scripting: Explore automating repetitive tasks with tools like TShark and scripting. Check out TShark documentation.

5. Customization: Tailor Wireshark to your needs through profiles and color codes, enhancing visibility and analysis speed. Guidance can be found in the Wireshark Wiki.

6. Practice: Regularly challenge yourself with real-world packets from repositories like the Wireshark Sample Captures page.

7. Stay Updated: Follow the Wireshark Blog for the latest features and use cases.

8. Community Engagement: Join forums and discussions, such as the Wireshark Q&A, to learn from and contribute to the community.

By focusing on these areas and utilizing the resources provided, you can significantly improve your Wireshark skills and efficiency as an NOC Technician.

How to Display Wireshark Skills on Your Resume

9. IPv4/IPv6

IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) is a protocol for use on packet-switched networks. It uses 32-bit addresses, allowing for a total of approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses. IPv6 (Internet Protocol version 6) is its successor, designed to tackle IPv4 address exhaustion. It uses 128-bit addresses, significantly increasing the number of available addresses and improving routing and network autoconfiguration capabilities.

Why It's Important

IPv4/IPv6 are crucial for a NOC Technician because they provide the addressing scheme that enables devices on the internet and local networks to communicate, ensuring connectivity, routing efficiency, and supporting the scale of global internet expansion.

How to Improve IPv4/IPv6 Skills

Improving IPv4/IPv6 networking for an NOC Technician involves several strategies focusing on optimization, security, and transition mechanisms. Here’s a concise guide:

1. Optimize Routing: Implement efficient routing protocols (e.g., OSPF for IPv4 and OSPFv3 for IPv6) to improve network speed and reliability. OSPF

2. Enhance Security: Apply ACLs (Access Control Lists) for IPv4 and IPv6 to filter traffic and prevent unauthorized access. Utilize IPsec for encrypted communication. ACLs, IPsec

3. Enable Dual-Stack: Use both IPv4 and IPv6 concurrently to ensure compatibility and smooth transition. This involves configuring network devices and services to support both protocols. Dual-Stack

4. Deploy Transition Mechanisms: Use NAT64/DNS64 for translating IPv6 addresses into IPv4 addresses and vice versa, facilitating communication between IPv4 and IPv6 networks. NAT64/DNS64

5. Monitor and Manage IP Addressing: Utilize IPAM (IP Address Management) tools for efficient allocation, tracking, and management of IP addresses to prevent conflicts and conserve IPv4 addresses. IPAM

6. Educate and Train Staff: Continuous education on IPv6 features, security implications, and best practices is crucial for NOC Technicians. IPv6 Training

7. Implement QoS: Quality of Service (QoS) should be configured to prioritize critical traffic, ensuring reliability and performance for essential services. QoS

By focusing on these areas, an NOC Technician can significantly improve IPv4/IPv6 networking in their organization.

How to Display IPv4/IPv6 Skills on Your Resume

10. SNMP

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is a standard protocol used for monitoring and managing network devices (routers, switches, servers, etc.) remotely in a network operations center (NOC).

Why It's Important

SNMP is crucial for an NOC Technician as it enables efficient monitoring and management of network devices, helping in identifying, diagnosing, and resolving network issues swiftly to ensure optimal network performance and reliability.

How to Improve SNMP Skills

Improving SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) for an NOC (Network Operations Center) Technician involves enhancing security, efficiency, and accuracy in network management tasks. Here are concise steps to achieve this:

1. Upgrade to SNMPv3: Ensure all devices support SNMPv3 for enhanced security features like authentication and encryption. SNMPv3 Guide

2. Optimize Polling Intervals: Adjust polling intervals to balance between timely updates and minimizing network load. Optimizing Network Polling

3. Use Network Management Software: Implement robust network management software for centralized SNMP monitoring and management. Best SNMP Monitoring Tools

4. Regularly Update MIBs: Keep Management Information Base (MIB) files updated to ensure compatibility and accurate device monitoring. Understanding MIBs

5. Implement SNMP Security Best Practices: Follow best practices for SNMP security, such as changing community strings, using ACLs, and disabling SNMP on unused devices. SNMP Security Best Practices

6. Continuous Learning and Training: Stay updated with the latest SNMP improvements and network management strategies through continuous learning. NOC Technician Training

By following these steps, an NOC Technician can significantly improve SNMP usage, leading to a more secure and efficient network management environment.

How to Display SNMP Skills on Your Resume

11. Firewall Management (e.g., Palo Alto, Fortinet)

Firewall Management involves configuring, maintaining, and monitoring firewall devices (such as Palo Alto, Fortinet) to enforce security policies and protect network resources from unauthorized access and threats, ensuring the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of network services.

Why It's Important

Firewall Management is crucial for an NOC Technician because it ensures network security by controlling incoming and outgoing traffic based on predefined security rules, prevents unauthorized access, and protects against cyber threats, thus maintaining the integrity and performance of the network infrastructure.

How to Improve Firewall Management (e.g., Palo Alto, Fortinet) Skills

Improving firewall management, such as for Palo Alto or Fortinet, involves a combination of best practices, automation, and ongoing education. Here's a concise guide tailored for an NOC Technician:

1. Stay Updated: Regularly update your firewall software and hardware to patch vulnerabilities. Palo Alto Updates and Fortinet Firmware.

2. Leverage Automation: Use automation tools for configuration management, policy updates, and compliance checks. Explore Palo Alto's Automation and Orchestration and Fortinet's Security Fabric Automation.

3. Regular Audits and Reviews: Conduct regular policy audits and reviews to remove outdated rules and optimize performance. Guidance can be found through Palo Alto Best Practices and Fortinet Handbook.

4. Segmentation and Micro-segmentation: Implement network segmentation and, if possible, micro-segmentation to limit the spread of threats. Network Segmentation Guide.

5. Enhance Visibility and Monitoring: Utilize tools for enhanced visibility and real-time monitoring of your network traffic and threats. Check out Palo Alto's Panorama and Fortinet's FortiAnalyzer.

6. Incident Response Plan: Ensure you have a robust incident response plan in place. NIST Guide for Incident Response is a useful resource.

7. Continuous Learning: Stay informed about the latest security trends and threats. Palo Alto Networks Learning Center and Fortinet's Training Institute offer courses and certifications.

8. Collaborate and Share Knowledge: Engage in forums and communities for Palo Alto (LIVEcommunity) and Fortinet (Fortinet Community) to share knowledge and best practices.

By focusing on these areas, an NOC Technician can significantly improve the management and effectiveness of firewall solutions like Palo Alto and Fortinet, enhancing overall network security.

How to Display Firewall Management (e.g., Palo Alto, Fortinet) Skills on Your Resume

12. VoIP Systems

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) systems enable voice communication and multimedia sessions over Internet Protocol (IP) networks, transforming analog voice signals into digital data packets for transmission. For an NOC (Network Operations Center) Technician, it involves monitoring, managing, and ensuring the reliability and quality of VoIP services within a network infrastructure.

Why It's Important

VoIP systems are crucial for an NOC Technician as they enable efficient, cost-effective communication across the network, ensure high-quality voice transmission, and facilitate the monitoring and maintenance of network performance, enhancing overall operational efficiency and service reliability.

How to Improve VoIP Systems Skills

Improving VoIP systems involves several strategies aimed at enhancing quality, reliability, and security. As an NOC Technician, consider the following steps:

1. Network Assessment: Regularly assess your network to ensure it can handle VoIP traffic effectively. Tools like PingPlotter can help monitor network performance.

2. QoS Configuration: Implement Quality of Service (QoS) on your network to prioritize VoIP traffic. Cisco offers a comprehensive guide on QoS.

3. Bandwidth Management: Ensure your network has sufficient bandwidth for VoIP calls, considering both upload and download speeds. Techniques and tools for bandwidth management can be found in resources like SolarWinds.

4. Latency, Jitter, and Packet Loss Reduction: Use network optimization techniques to minimize latency, jitter, and packet loss. A good starting point is VoIP-Info’s guide.

5. Security Measures: Implement strong security measures, including firewalls, encryption, and secure passwords. The SANS Institute offers valuable resources on VoIP security.

6. Regular Updates and Maintenance: Keep your VoIP systems and network equipment updated to fix vulnerabilities and improve functionality.

7. VoIP Monitoring Tools: Utilize VoIP monitoring tools to continuously monitor call quality and detect issues proactively. Nagios is an example of such a tool.

8. User Training and Support: Provide training for users on optimal VoIP usage and quickly address their issues to avoid misuse or misconfiguration.

Implementing these strategies can significantly improve the performance and reliability of VoIP systems in a network operations center (NOC) environment.

How to Display VoIP Systems Skills on Your Resume