Networking, Hardware & Security Courses & Certifications Online

Networking and Hardware are the backbone of a company's IT infrastructure. At a business level, computer networks are synonymous with efficiency and productivity, as they are the fastest and easiest way to share content or data between colleagues or in different departments. 

Network and communications administration is a complementary career to computer engineering, however it can also be taken before becoming an engineer and serves to value you as a qualified workforce.

Definition -  Computer Networking

A computer network is a set of equipment or devices that are interconnected with each other through cables, signals and waves in order to share information (files, images, tables, documents, etc.), resources (printers, recorders, players, speakers, etc.) and actions (Internet access, common server, email, chat, etc.).

To learn more, read our post - what is networking and hardware?

What skills do I need to excel in Networking and Hardware?

Technical Skills

1. Hardware Development, Analysis, and Testing
2. Desktop Management Interface
3. Network Configuration
4. WAN/LAN
5. Technical Support and Troubleshooting
6. Cloud Management
7. Backup Management, Reporting, and Recovery
8. Disaster Recovery

Soft Skills

1. Communication skills
2. Accuracy and Attention to detail
3. Problem-solving
4. Decision making
5. Critical thinking
6. Flexibility
7. Organizational skills

Software Tools for Networking and Hardware Professionals

Here are some of the popular networking and hardware tools:

1. Wireshark
2. iPerf
3. Nagios
4. Nmap
5. Ansible
6. Real-Time NetFlow Analyzer

Who can learn Networking and Hardware?

1. Anyone who wants to understand computer networking fundamentals.
2. Beginner-level students who are new to the IT Networking field.
3. Those who want to improve their knowledge about computer networking.
4. Anyone preparing for computer networking certification exams (such as CCNA).

Eligibility Criteria for Networking and Hardware Programs

A candidate with a degree in B.E. or B.Tech. in computer sciences or MCA can opt for the hardware and networking courses. Short-term courses offered by various private computer-training centers also make a person eligible for the networking courses. The hardware courses by private institutes range from 3-12 months. In addition, the interested candidates can pursue the hardware training programs. There is no hard and fast rule about the basic educational qualification; however, an intermediate level degree is preferred.

The best way to start a career as a network engineer would be to do some self-study and earn a vendor certification like a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP).

Top Networking and Hardware Course Providers 

1. Popular Online Networking and Hardware Courses on Coursera
2. Best Online Networking and Hardware Courses on edX
3. Popular Online Networking and Hardware Courses on Udemy
4. Top Online Networking and Hardware Courses on Pluralsight

Top Networking Certifications 

1. Cisco CCNA 200-301 
2. Cisco CCNP Enterprise-ENARSI 
3. Cisco SD-WAN Solutions (300-415 ENSDWI)
4. CCNP Security 
5. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEHv11)
6. CompTIA Network+
7. Cisco DevNet Associate 
8. Cisco CCIE Security

Top Online Networking and Hardware Courses 

1. The Complete Networking Fundamentals Course. Your CCNA start
2. Network Analysis by NPTEL
3. Introduction to Networking
4. The Bits and Bytes of Computer Networking
5. Hands-On Labs in Google Cloud for Networking Engineers
6. Introduction to Computer Networks for Non-Techies
7. IoT Networking and Fog Layer Devices
8. Networking in Google Cloud: Hybrid Connectivity and Network Management
9. IT Support: Networking Essentials
10. Networks Illustrated: Principles without Calculus

Being a specialist in networks and telecommunications, companies will need you, since every day organizations acquire new technologies with a view to growing in their digital transformation. Always make sure that these courses are aligned with International Certifications such as CISCO, FORTINET, CompTIA, PMP and ITIL.

Top Industries hiring Hardware & Networking Professionals 

Almost all sort of companies, including IT, software, clinical research, e-commerce, KPOs, BPOs or others, keep on posting demand for hardware professionals and network administrators. Computer networks are also very useful in public institutions and in training centers such as universities, colleges or libraries. Growth opportunities in the fields of networking and hardware in India are broad for young professionals and the salaries offered are also competitive. Popular industries hiring networking professionals are -

1. IT-Hardware & Networking
2. IT-Software/Software Services
3. Telecom/ISP
4. Pharma/Biotech/Clinical Research

Job Profiles – Networking 

Some other popular network engineering and hardware job profiles are - 

1. Network Specialist
2. Network Technician
3. Network Administrator
4. Network Engineer
5. Network Solutions Architect
6. Network Security Specialist
7. Cloud Networking Architect
8. Networking Research and Development Specialist 
9. Mobility Solutions Architect
10. VoIP Engineer
11. Telecom Project Manager
12. Data Center Networking Specialist
13. Data Communication Specialist
14. Telematic Networks Designer
15. CCNA Technical Analyst
16. Telematic Networks Implementer
17. Telematic Networks Technician
18. Software and Hardware Technician
19. Telematics Project Assistant
20. Wireless Networking QA Engineer 

As a networking professional, you would get an opportunity to work on advanced technologies. Some of the networking trends you should look forward to – 

1. More automated networking processes with one-click network deployments for the WAN, campus and data centers
2. Work with artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies 
3. Developing computer networks that can auto-identify the security problems  
4. Utilizing edge computing for handling data

Preparing for a networking interview? Here are the top 100+ Networking Interview Questions and Answers to boost your interview preparation. 

Books to learn Networking and Hardware

1. Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach | Author: James Kurose and Keith Ross
2. Computer Networks | Author: Andrew S. Tanenbaum
3. NETWORKING for Beginners: Easy Guide to Learn Basic/Advanced Computer Network, Hardware, Wireless, and Cabling. LTE, Internet and Cyber Security | Author: Dylan Mach
4. Complete A+ Guide to IT Hardware and Software Lab Manual: A CompTIA A+ Core 1 & CompTIA A+ Core 2 Lab Manual) | Author: Cheryl Schmidt, Cheryl A. Schmidt

Conclusion

The networking courses and books mentioned in this post are great resources for networking professionals. Whether you are a fresher or experienced networking professional looking to gain new networking knowledge, brush up your skills, or prepare for a networking certification exam, these resources will help you sharpen your skills and achieve your goal.

Go from beginner to advanced in networking and hardware technologies. Pick top rated free and paid courses from popular platforms like Coursera, Udemy, NPTEL, Edx, Pluralsight, and top IITs or industry accalimed certifications like CISCO. Compare and read reviews to find the best course.