Matilda Bailey is a seasoned networking specialist who has spent years at the forefront of cellular, wireless, and next-generation connectivity. Her expertise lies in the intersection of infrastructure and the emerging technologies that demand more from our networks every day. As Cisco launches its first major certification overhaul in seven years, Matilda provides a deep look into the evolving requirements for the 1.8 million professionals who keep the world’s data moving.
The discussion centers on the foundational shifts within the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and expert-level CCIE credentials. Key themes include the integration of AI literacy as a mandatory skill set, the move toward practical “recall with results” testing, and the introduction of a security-first mindset. Matilda explores how the role of the engineer is transforming from a traditional troubleshooter into a high-level orchestrator, balancing technical mastery with the “human skills” necessary to communicate business value.
The industry is witnessing a significant pivot away from rote memorization in favor of a “recall with results” philosophy. How do the new hands-on lab requirements in the CCNA overhaul fundamentally change the experience for a candidate compared to the old testing models?
The shift we are seeing is essentially a move from knowing the “what” to proving the “how.” For years, certification candidates could sometimes rely on high-level memorization to pass, but the new blueprint, which goes into effect on February 3, 2027, makes that nearly impossible. By moving toward practical skills assessment, Cisco is forcing candidates to configure and troubleshoot in realistic, high-pressure network scenarios. This means that instead of just answering a multiple-choice question about a protocol, you might find yourself inside a virtual environment having to resolve a specific connectivity issue on the fly. It creates a much stronger signal for employers that a candidate is truly “job-ready” from their very first day on the clock. Candidates will need to spend much more time in environments like Cisco Modeling Labs or Packet Tracer, building the muscle memory required to handle these dynamic environments where problems rarely follow a predictable, linear path.
AI literacy has been introduced as a new core pillar of the CCNA. In your view, how does this shift the daily responsibilities of a network engineer from managing discrete tasks to acting as an orchestrator of complex systems?
We are moving into an era where the network is no longer just a collection of cables and switches, but a living, breathing entity powered by automation and AI workloads. The engineer’s role is evolving into that of an orchestrator who must understand how disparate systems interact across increasingly interconnected environments. It isn’t enough to just keep the lights on; you now have to understand how AI figures into network management and operations from the ground up. This recalibration is a direct response to the demands AI places on infrastructure, requiring a security-first mindset that permeates every configuration. Employers are looking for professionals who can manage these AI-enabled environments with critical thinking, ensuring that the underlying network infrastructure is robust enough to handle the massive data flows that modern AI applications require.
For the nearly 2 million professionals who currently hold a CCNA, there is often a fear that a major overhaul might devalue their hard-earned credentials. How should existing certificate holders interpret this update, and what is the best way for them to utilize the multi-year “runway” Cisco has provided?
If you are one of the 1.8 million people currently holding a CCNA, the most important thing to realize is that your credential is not being devalued; it is being contextualized for a new era. The core networking foundation you’ve built remains essential, but the environment in which you apply those skills is shifting rapidly. Cisco has been very deliberate about providing a long runway, with the new exam not launching until February 2027, which gives professionals ample time to bridge the gap. My advice is to dive into the free foundational training and tutorials already appearing on platforms like Cisco U. This isn’t just about watching videos; it’s about shifting from “content consumption” to active application. You should be practicing your reasoning out loud, explaining the “why” behind a configuration to a peer, because that reflects the real-world communication and problem-solving that modern network operations demand.
The expert-level CCIE practical exam is introducing an AI-focused module that includes an embedded AI assistant. How do the concepts of “soft engineering” and “augmented engineering” change the “gold-standard” status of the CCIE?
The addition of the “AI Deploy, Operate, and Optimize” module is a fascinating evolution that actually strengthens the CCIE’s prestige rather than diluting it. This new one-hour module sits alongside the traditional two-hour Design and five-hour Operate components, creating an eight-hour gauntlet that reflects the modern reality of working with an AI assistant in the field. “Soft engineering” involves using general-purpose tools to feed in network logs and ask natural-language questions to find faults, while “augmented engineering” uses specialized AIOps tools built into the management platforms. Some might worry that an AI assistant makes the exam “open-book,” but the reality is that the exam focuses on engineering judgment. You still have to interpret the AI’s output, validate the results, and make the final technical decision, which is exactly what a high-level expert does in a production environment today.
It is interesting to see Cisco release tutorials on “human skills” like critical thinking and business communication alongside technical updates. Why is it becoming critical for network specialists to connect technical operations to business outcomes in today’s corporate landscape?
For too long, the network team was tucked away in a basement, seen only when things broke, but those days are over. Today, the network is the business, and engineers are being asked to communicate the value of their technical decisions to stakeholders who may not know a VLAN from a VPN. This shift to a “content-as-code” methodology in training reflects a modular approach to learning that includes these vital human skills. We’ve heard from employers across the ecosystem that they need engineers who can explain the reasoning behind a configuration and how it supports a specific business goal. By integrating critical thinking and communication into the training, Cisco is acknowledging that a “job-ready” engineer must be as proficient with people and strategy as they are with routers and code. It’s about ensuring that the technical mastery we possess is actually serving the broader objectives of the organization.
What is your forecast for the future of network engineering certifications?
I believe we are entering an era where certifications will no longer be static milestones, but living credentials that evolve as quickly as the software they govern. We will likely see a move toward even more modularity, where engineers can plug in specialized “micro-certs” in areas like AIOps or specialized security as new threats emerge. The days of taking an exam every three to five years and forgetting about it are ending; instead, we’ll see a continuous loop of learning where the “content-as-code” approach allows vendors to update exam topics in months rather than years. Ultimately, the successful engineer of the future won’t be the one who has memorized the most commands, but the one who can most effectively collaborate with AI tools to solve business problems in real-time. The human element—judgment, ethics, and strategic communication—will become the ultimate differentiator in an increasingly automated world.
