Certificates demonstrate your commitment to your education and profession. Certifications also verify that you are capable of performing job-related activities. CompTIA Network+ and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) are two of the most popular IT networking certifications available.
When it comes to IT certifications, CompTIA Network+ and Cisco Certified Network Associate are two of the most popular ones. They both cover a lot of material and can help you in your career, but there are some key differences between them.
This isn’t, however, an apples-to-apples comparison. It’s not simply a question of personal taste. In fact, many IT professionals who specialize in infrastructure may have both credentials. The question is, which one should you pursue first? In this article, we will look at both certifications and compare their benefits so you can decide which one is right for you.
CompTIA Network+ vs. CCNA
When it comes to Network Administration, CompTIA Network+ and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) are two of the most popular certifications. They both cover a lot of material and can help you in your career, but there are some key differences. We’ll be taking a more in-depth look at each below.
The CCNA Certification
The Cisco Certified Network Associate is a Cisco networking hardware company’s entry-level Information Technology certification. The CCNA is intended to assess your grasp of fundamental networking concepts that are frequently required in IT network administration jobs.
The Cisco Certified Network Associate certification is a vendor-neutral IT certification that certifies professionals in the field of network administration. The exam is divided into two parts: one on network fundamentals; and another on skills such as LAN switching, IP routing technologies, WAN protocols, and configuration norms that are necessary in a big corporation using Cisco equipment.
Cisco routers and switches may be used by small, medium, and large businesses, depending on the needs of the organization. The Cisco Certified Network Associate credential is for IT professionals who wish to advance their careers as network technicians or engineers by acquiring skills that may be applied to a wide range of network devices.
The Cisco 200-301 exam consists of 120 minutes of testing and is available in either English or Japanese. The following sections make up the examination:
- Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity (25%): It will examine your skills in setting up, validating, and debugging basic routing using a variety of routing protocols, including static IP/VPN/DMZ. BGP, vRouter, dynamic routing algorithms (RIPv1 and RIPv2), OSPF V3, EIGRP configuration and validation, and multi-area OSPF configuration and validation are all covered.
- Network access (20%): Students will be tested on their ability to set up and troubleshoot VLANs, Interswitch connections, Layer 2 discovery protocols, and EtherChannel; Spanning Tree Protocol operations; Wireless LAN access; Cisco wireless architectures, AP modes, physical WLAN components, AP and WLC management access connections, and wireless LAN access will all be addressed.
- Network fundamentals (20%): This part covers topology designs, physical interfaces and cabling types, Routers, switches, and access points, wireless fundamentals, virtualization concepts, network IP4/IPv6 setup, and IP parameters.
- Security fundamentals (15%): This section deals with identity administration and access control, data center security policy implementation, physical access controls, password rules, access control lists, Layer 2 security mechanisms, and wireless transmission standards.
- IP services (10%): Candidates must be familiar with the installation and verification of NAT and NTP; the utility of DHCP, DNS, SNMP, and Syslog; per-hop behavior; using SSH; TFTP/FTP description.
- Automation and programmability (10%): Candidates must compare conventional networks with controller-based systems, automation principles, and JSON data interpretation.
The CompTIA Network+ Certification
The CompTIA Network+ exam is an IT certification test that assures a person has the networking skills required to pursue a career in IT infrastructure. The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), which is vendor-neutral, is a certifying body for the computing industry.
The exam is 90 minutes long, has a maximum of 90 questions, and includes multiple-choice, drag-and-drop, and performance-based questions. To pass performance-based questions you must tackle challenges in simulated scenarios. The certification is valid for three years. Although there are no prerequisites for the exam, CompTIA does advise some past networking knowledge.
The CompTIA Network+ certification exam includes the following topics:
- Networking concepts: Explain the significance of important networking principles and how to apply them.
- Infrastructure: Locate the correct cabling, equipment, and storage solutions and describe them.
- Network operations: Use recommended practices to manage the network, set rules, and maintain business continuity.
- Network security: Prepare a list of physical security concerns and common cyberattacks, as well as network security for both wired and wireless networks.
- Network troubleshooting and tools: Identify and describe the different types of network failure, how to diagnose a problem and what tools to use to keep connectivity and performance up.
The CompTIA Network+ certification validates that a person has the expertise and abilities to fix, set up, and manage wireless and wired networks in large organizations. CompTIA Network+ differs from other vendor-specific certifications because it prepares people to work with any network regardless of platform.
CompTIA or Cisco?
Below is a short, comparative rundown to help you better understand the key differences between CompTIA Network+ and Cisco CCNA.
CompTIA Network+
- It allows IT experts to provide support for any type of equipment: Candidates are ready to work with any type of product or technology, regardless of the manufacturer. People’s networking competence, in this case, is quite broad.
- Professionals are prepared for specific job roles: System Engineers, Network Admins, Help Desk Technicians, Network Support Specialists, and Network Field Engineers are all taught about networking fundamentals, as well as competencies required for specific job profiles.
- Skill endorsement: Network+ is respected by employers as a competent confirmation of abilities. It’s designed to equip IT employees with the skills to work on any product.
Cisco Certified Network Associate
- Emphasizes Cisco’s required skills: Candidates should be prepared to work primarily with Cisco products and technologies, restricting their networking skills.
- Assist vendors with their solutions: It covers fundamental networking abilities that are not related to particular job roles and are associated with Cisco products.
- Cisco’s market share: Because Cisco has such a large presence in the networking industry, many employers prefer to see CCNA on a resume.
Conclusion
So, which one should you get, CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA? If you’re interested in working with any type of equipment and providing support for it, CompTIA Network+ is a good choice. If you’re focused on Cisco products and technologies and would like to work primarily with them, then Cisco CCNA is a better option. No matter which certification you choose, CompTIA or Cisco, you’ll be well on your way to an exciting and rewarding career in IT!
You will be able to achieve this even faster and easier by working together with MyComputerCareer. We specialize in providing exam preparation for both CompTIA Network+ and Cisco CCNA certifications, which will give you the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in your chosen field. Contact us today to learn more about our Cisco CCNA and CompTIA Network+ training programs!