Why to Become Network Virtualization Certified?

As a networking professional, you know there’s just one reality in today’s business aspect:Change. As technology advances to improve and develop, so has the way we run and maintain the network. During most of the data center, hardware-centric infrastructure has been restored with more agile, productive, software-defined solutions. That’s a large step ahead- but the conversion won’t be finished till the network is virtualized, too.

To train users about Network Virtualization technology, and specifically its NSX product, VMware has created a whole program of courses, training, exams, and certifications. Training can be completed in many ways, from online self-paced courses to instructor-led live teaching sessions. There are also in-person training at VMware events and other locations around the country. Businesses can even request VMware trainers come to visit their place.

Certifications range from a low-level Associate’s certificate (which needs an online training course) to a VMware Certified Professional (VCP), which wants at least three online or in-person preparation courses. There are two other higher-level certifications for implementation and design experts.

In the last decade, companies and organizations have quickly been using network virtualization (NV) to take benefit of the versatility given by software-based computing and storage resources. With software-defined networking (SDN) and network functions virtualization (NFV) promoting decoupling of the control and forwarding levels, more emphasis has been put on NV as of late. For example, after VMware acquired Nicira in 2012, it developed VMware network virtualization.

Networking - the profession and the technology - has developed suddenly. And the market for virtualization is expected to grow, so networks are as agile as computing. It is now a requirement to restrict hardware-centric infrastructure and increase coordination, versatility and heightened protection with network virtualization.

If you work on the network in any capacity, earning VMware certifications will re-enforce your reliability, as well as provide an advantage for job and salary discussions. Let’s break it down – a virtualization certification can benefit you by:

• Raising on existing information
• Developing highly desired-after skills
• Putting yourself as a networking specialist
• Rising your value to the market

VMware NSX is said to deliver the following benefits for customers:

• Agility: checks the time of provisioning from weeks to seconds.
• Price: reduces both OpEx and CapEx with automation that reduces manual configuration and streamlines network hardware elements.
• Supply: operates on any hypervisor, any network hardware, and combines with any cloud management platform.

Network virtualization opens the door to a full new set of attractive opportunities. When you virtualize the network, you can create, provision, and manage networks in software, programmatically. That means your users’ services will be faster and more secure than ever. It also means your organization will save precious time and money.

You already know how to run a network. So why is getting certified in network virtualization so important? Because in this field, credibility is everything. Certification sets you aside. It shows not only that you are knowledgeable, but also that you’re committed to driving your IT organization forward.
No matter what position you work in the network- whether you’re an architect, administrator, or engineer- there is no greater time than now to get certified.

Becoming certified is a big step. It’s important to earn your credentials from a reference you can trust. As the industry leader in virtualized solutions, VMware offers a broad range of certifications to help you plan for the future.

• VMware Certified Associate 6 - Network Virtualization (VCA6-NV): You’ll learn how to determine technical requirements for network virtualization, describe network virtualization components and technologies, and recognize standard use cases and how they can be spoken.
• VMware Certified Professional 6 - Network Virtualization (VCP6-NV): You’ll learn how to install, configure, and administer virtual networking implementations, despite the underlying physical architecture.
• VMware Certified Implementation Expert - Network Virtualization (VCIX-NV) Certification: You’ll learn how to install, configure, and administer virtual networking implementations in a demanding hands-on lab environment.
• VMware Certified Design Expert - Network Virtualization (VCDX-NV): You’ll prove your world-class server and network virtualization design talents, and become one of the first globally recognized enterprise-class Virtual Networking Solution Architects in the industry.

It is time to give your network, your company, and your career a hike. Becoming certified today will provide you the opportunity to position yourself as the leader in the evolution toward a software- defined tomorrow.