Network Automation is a specialized domain focusing on programmable, repeatable, and software-driven network operations. This overview defines the core principles, tools, and techniques essential for automating network deployment, configuration, and monitoring. Discover how leveraging APIs, scripting languages, and orchestration streamlines complex tasks, offering crucial context for evaluating relevant certifications and navigating career paths in modern IT.
Domain profile
Evaluating technical credentials focused on programmable infrastructure, API orchestration, and modern network management frameworks.
Network automation is a specialized domain within networking that centers on making network operations programmable, repeatable, and software-driven. It encompasses the principles, tools, and techniques used to automate the deployment, configuration, management, and monitoring of network infrastructure. This involves leveraging technologies like APIs, scripting languages, and orchestration tools to streamline complex network tasks, improve reliability, and enable faster adaptation to changing business requirements. This domain is crucial for modern IT environments that rely on agility and efficiency in managing their network systems.
This domain includes certifications and knowledge areas where network programmability, APIs, scripting, and automated network operations are core components of the curriculum and assessment. It covers topics such as Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for networks, configuration management tools (e.g., Ansible, Puppet), network controllers, and the use of software development principles in network management. Excluded are traditional networking certifications that focus primarily on manual configuration and troubleshooting without a significant emphasis on automation.
Common subareas
Included topics
Recommended certifications
Building technical proficiency in Network Automation requires understanding diverse software-driven workflows. These certifications help professionals evaluate relevant skills in API-driven networking and infrastructure orchestration, ensuring alignment with current industry standards.
Red Hat
Professional certificationThe Red Hat Certified Specialist in Ansible Network Automation tests the ability to manage network devices, variables, and automated workflows. This resource provides an independent look at the exam requirements, skill expectations, and professional applicability for operators and engineers performing production-like network automation.
Google Cloud
Professional certificationExplore the Professional Cloud Network Engineer certification's scope and value. This credential signals advanced expertise in designing, implementing, securing, and optimizing Google Cloud network infrastructure and hybrid solutions. Understand its relevance for specialized network and infrastructure architecture roles where deep cloud networking skill is crucial.
Common use cases
Connecting technical programmability workflows to real-world infrastructure operations and software-defined network management systems.
Credential sources
Network automation certifications from industry-leading issuing bodies like Google Cloud help practitioners validate skills in API-driven networking and infrastructure as code. Explore various credential sources to compare how different training brands structure their assessment pathways.
1 certification
Cloud certifications focused on architecture, engineering, data, security, networking, machine learning, and business-oriented cloud understanding.
1 certification
Performance-based credentials for enterprise Linux, OpenShift, Ansible automation, cloud-native applications, middleware, and AI platforms
Certification focus
Understanding the frameworks for assessing infrastructure programmability, configuration orchestration, and software-defined network management workflows.
Key skills
Mastering the Network Automation domain requires a blend of skills including Software-Defined Networking, Cloud Networking, and Firewall Administration. Evaluating these core competencies allows you to effectively align certification curricula with practical industry requirements.
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