We've all watched as companies like Uber, Airbnb, Square and even Amazon have fundamentally changed the way we interact, consume and buy. Traditional business models have been completely flipped on their heads and the lines between business sectors have become blurred.

Whether you are an IT network professional or managing an intelligent, IoT-based infrastructure, these changes require new skill sets to stay competitive. Fortunately, these changes also bring a huge opportunity.

Networking is currently one of the fastest growing occupations in the U.S. In fact, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of network administrators will increase through 2024, with demand for those working in computer systems design and related services projected to grow as much 31 percent. That upward trend is seen at the global level as well, as businesses continue to digitize, leverage IoT technology, and scale through cloud and mobile networks.

The CCNA Routing and Switching certification has long served as the benchmark for associate level network engineers across core routing and switching as well as other technology segments of enterprise networks. But as technologies evolve, our certifications must also evolve to meet the changing demands. It's no longer enough to just know about routing and switching.

That's why the CCNA Routing and Switching certification is being updated to address the changing skill sets required for core network engineers. These upgrades address the fundamentals of programmable networks, including the related controller types and tools that are available to support software-driven network architectures. That's in addition to an understanding of how virtualized and cloud services will interact and impact enterprise networks.

The revised program also includes Quality of Service (QoS) principles and applicability, along with additional focus on IPv6 and basic network security.

The move comes as part of our overall shift toward programmable networks throughout the Cisco certification portfolio. In November 2015, we introduced a new framework at the expert (CCIE) level to address these emerging technologies. These updates to the CCNA R&S represent the continued evolution of our training and certification programs.

The revised CCNA certification provides you with industry-recognized skills for today and the future and will give you the knowledge and tools needed to evolve the network.

Technology will pass you by, and quickly, if you don't have the needed skills. Start the journey to update yours at our CCNA Routing & Switching page.