In-Demand Skills for the Modern Network Engineer

As a network engineer, you're constantly asked how to stay ahead of the curve in your industry. What skills will remain relevant for the job you have now and the one you want in three years? The pace of technological change has accelerated so rapidly that even experts are wondering about the skills they'll need tomorrow.

At Learn with Cisco, we're committed to providing access to a wide range of technical skills, from beginner-friendly programs to advanced courses for seasoned professionals. We've taken a multi-pronged approach to understanding which skills will remain most in-demand:

• We founded the AI-Enabled ICT Worker Consortium to conduct original research on the effects of AI on 47 specific job roles.
• Our white paper investigates which technology-related skills are uniquely human and which will benefit from AI.
• We analyze massive quantities of job postings using AI to identify in-demand and emerging skills.
• We update and augment our courses, blueprints, and learning paths with this information to ensure you're always equipped with the latest skills.

  Top Three Skills for IT Professionals

  The World Economic Forum ranks the top three skills that will be most in-demand over the next five years:

  • Cybersecurity and networking will become even more crucial as malicious actors increasingly use AI to launch cyberattacks.
  • Expert-level security skills, including threat intelligence analysis and red teaming, are essential for network engineers.
  • Critical thinking is also becoming increasingly important as AI helps with "what" and "how," but experts need to understand the "why."

    The Increasing Demand for Technology Skills

    Globally, there's a severe talent shortage in cybersecurity. We're facing a need for approximately 3.5 million additional cybersecurity professionals, with about 500,000 of those in the U.S.

    • There's less demand for network security engineers due to automation, but more demand for positions like cyber threat intelligence analysts.
    • Networking will become increasingly important as a security pro needs a strong foundation in networking to protect against threats.
    • Expert-level IT professionals need skills such as embedding security into network design and operations, implementing security controls from the ground up, and understanding AI on the network.

      Skills for Expert-Level Network Engineers

      As AI becomes more integrated into our networks and lives, expert-level network engineers will require a range of skills:

      • Skills specific to AI, including foundational and IT operations skills.
      • Security skills, such as threat intelligence analysis and red teaming.
      • Automation skills, like scripting with Python, using tools like Ansible, and working with APIs.
      • The ability to programmatically manage and protect complex networks with a NetDevOps framework.

        AI's Impact on Network Engineers

        AI is changing the way network engineers design, build, and manage their infrastructure. More than half of expert-level network engineers say they're seeing the effects of AI on their infrastructure:

        • Designing high-performance network infrastructures for AI workloads.
        • Becoming proficient in skills like networking architecture and traffic management.

        Soft Skills for Network Engineers

        AI is also forcing us to look more closely at soft skills, such as:

        • Communications and analysis skills that will help network engineers work closely with business teams.
        • Strategizing with business teams to deliver on business needs.

        The Importance of Continuous Learning

        The pace of technological change has accelerated, making it essential for technical skills to stay relevant quickly. The half-life of skills is now around five years for IT professionals, and even shorter for specialized technical skills – just three years.

        At Learn with Cisco, we understand the importance of continuous learning. We're focused on providing access to the latest skills and learning materials to help you future-proof your career.

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