Training company Global Knowledge is welcoming the major overhaul of the CCNA Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification programme as good news for firms and students.

Cisco has replaced the former four-day introductory course for the CCNA qualification with a new five-day Interconnecting Cisco Network Devices 1 (ICND1) course and associated exam to qualify as a Cisco Certified Entry-level Network Technician (CCENT).

The new ICND1 course and qualification is more “hands-on” with a greater emphasis on trouble-shooting and new uses of technology, according to Michael Pohl, European business development director for Cisco at Global Knowledge.

"Having a good working knowledge of all the technologies that are now converging on the network is essential as networks today are much more than switches, routers and protocols - increasingly they are carrying voice and video traffic and security is becoming an integral part of network functionality. Many networks also have wireless connections as well. To manage the network effectively, you need to have an understanding of all these different aspects and this is exactly what the ICND1 course will deliver,” said Pohl.

"The new CCENT certification is very welcome", he added. "There is a strong performance-focused element to the assessment of delegates for the new CCENT qualification and this will reassure employers that their staff have attained the practical skills and competency required to install, verify and support simple network configurations."