Industry
Certifications
A complete certification guide across 13 technology domains — mapped to career paths, job roles, and recommended study sequences.
13
Tech Domains
30+
Certifications
50+
Target Job Roles
10
Roadmaps
For most NOA students
Simple Recommended Sequence
Beginner
CCNA
Professional Networking
CCNP Enterprise
Security Add-on
FortiGate / Palo Alto / Cisco FTD
Advanced Security
CCNP Security / CCIE Security
Cloud Add-on
Azure AZ-104 or AWS Solutions Architect
Cloud Networking
Azure AZ-700 or AWS Advanced Networking
Senior Level
CCIE Enterprise / Security / Service Provider
All Certifications by Domain
Each certification includes purpose, coverage areas, target roles, and NOA recommended path where applicable.
CompTIA A+
"Freshers, desktop support, helpdesk, IT support beginners"
Builds basic IT support knowledge — hardware, OS, troubleshooting.
Covers
Target Roles
CompTIA Network+
"Beginners before CCNA, non-Cisco networking foundation"
Validates basic network configuration, troubleshooting, and infrastructure knowledge.
Covers
Target Roles
CompTIA Security+
"Cybersecurity beginners and SOC entry-level candidates"
Global certification for core security functions and practical security skills.
Covers
Target Roles
CCNA 200-301
"Freshers, L1 network engineers, NOC engineers, IT support engineers moving into networking"
Validates network fundamentals, access, IP connectivity, services, security, and automation.
Covers
Target Roles
NOA Recommended Path
Start here for almost every network career path.
CCNP Enterprise (ENCOR + ENARSI)
"L2 network engineers, senior enterprise engineers"
Professional-level enterprise networking. Exams: ENCOR 350-401 + ENARSI 300-410.
Covers
Target Roles
NOA Recommended Path
CCNA → CCNP Enterprise → Mock Labs → L2/L3 Job Preparation
CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure
"L3 engineers, senior engineers, consultants, architects"
Expert-level enterprise networking, design, and troubleshooting.
Covers
Target Roles
NOA Recommended Path
CCNP Enterprise → CCIE Core Technology → CCIE Lab Preparation
CCNP Security
"Network security engineers, firewall engineers, VPN engineers, ISE engineers"
Professional-level Cisco security. Exams: SCOR, SVPN, SISE, SNCF.
Covers
Target Roles
CCIE Security
"Senior security engineers, security consultants, firewall SMEs"
Expert-level network security design, identity, and threat defense.
Covers
Target Roles
CCNP Service Provider
"ISP engineers, telecom engineers, backbone network engineers"
Professional-level service provider networking. Exams: SPCOR, SPRI, SPVI.
Covers
Target Roles
CCIE Service Provider
"Senior ISP engineers, telecom consultants, backbone architects"
Expert-level ISP and carrier-grade networking design and troubleshooting.
Covers
Target Roles
Cisco Automation / DevNet Track
"Network engineers adding automation skills; CCNP/CCIE engineers moving to modern ops"
DevNet certifications are migrating into CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE Automation from Feb 2026.
Covers
Target Roles
Fortinet FCP / FortiGate Professional
"FortiGate firewall engineers"
Validates Fortinet firewall deployment, management, and troubleshooting skills.
Covers
Target Roles
NOA Recommended Path
CCNA → FortiGate → VPN → FortiAnalyzer/FortiManager → Job Labs
Fortinet Advanced / Expert Track
"Senior Fortinet engineers and consultants"
Advanced Fortinet security architecture and multi-site design.
Covers
Target Roles
Palo Alto Network Security Analyst
"Firewall administrators and security analysts"
Validates skills for experienced network security analysts — policy creation, centralized management, troubleshooting.
Covers
Target Roles
Palo Alto Advanced / Engineer-Level
"Experienced firewall engineers"
Advanced Palo Alto firewall operations, design, and threat prevention.
Covers
Target Roles
CCSA – Check Point Security Administrator
"Entry/intermediate Check Point firewall administrators"
Builds core skills in managing Check Point security solutions.
Covers
Target Roles
CCSE – Check Point Security Expert
"Experienced Check Point engineers"
Validates ability to design, optimize, and secure enterprise networks against advanced threats.
Covers
Target Roles
F5 BIG-IP / LTM Certification
"Load balancer engineers, application delivery engineers, network/security engineers"
Develops skills in F5 products; F5-CTS BIG-IP LTM specialist designs, implements, and troubleshoots advanced application delivery.
Covers
Target Roles
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
"Cloud beginners and non-cloud candidates"
AWS says this validates foundational understanding of AWS Cloud — a starting point for people with no prior IT/cloud experience.
Covers
Target Roles
AWS Solutions Architect – Associate
"Cloud engineers, infrastructure engineers, network/security engineers moving into AWS"
Associate-level AWS certification — 130-minute exam, 65 questions.
Covers
Target Roles
AWS Advanced Networking – Specialty
"Network engineers moving into cloud networking"
Validates expertise in complex networking tasks — deep AWS networking and security knowledge required.
Covers
Target Roles
Azure Administrator – AZ-104
"Cloud administrators and IT infrastructure engineers"
Microsoft says this demonstrates skills to configure, manage, secure, and administer key Azure functions.
Covers
Target Roles
Azure Network Engineer – AZ-700
"Network engineers moving into Azure cloud networking"
Microsoft says candidates should have expertise in planning, implementing, and managing Azure networking solutions.
Covers
Target Roles
Cisco Data Center / Nexus / ACI
"Engineers targeting data center roles"
Builds data center switching and fabric knowledge. Paths: CCNP Data Center → Cisco ACI specialization → CCIE Data Center.
Covers
Target Roles
CyberOps / SOC-Oriented Bundle
"SOC and cybersecurity monitoring roles"
Builds security operations and incident response skills. CySA+ focuses on incident detection, prevention, response, SIEM, EDR, and XDR.
Covers
Target Roles
Cert roadmaps
Recommended Certification Roadmaps
Career Path
Certification Sequence
Fresher / Beginner IT
L1/L2 Network Engineer
Network Security Engineer
Firewall Specialist
CCNP / CCIE Enterprise
CCNP / CCIE Security
Service Provider
Cloud Networking
Data Center
Automation
Not sure which cert to start with?
Book a 1-hour session with Sikandar Shaik, Triple CCIE #35012. Walk away knowing exactly which certifications to take, in which order, for your specific career goal.