Best Network Engineer Certifications for 2026

As the year progresses, it’s the perfect time to plan which certifications and training to pursue in the coming year. This article serves as a reference, outlining the network engineering certifications expected to be in high demand in 2026. This forecast is based on current hiring trends, cybersecurity demands, cloud adoption rates, and what enterprise companies are willing to invest in. If your goal is to secure a new job or increase your income, this information is for you.

Analyzing the Current Job Market

A brief survey of network engineer roles on professional networking sites like LinkedIn quickly reveals a pattern. Let’s look at a few examples from around Europe.

• Senior Network Engineer (Remote, Spain): This role prefers a mix of enterprise networking and network security skills.
  • Certifications: CCNP, CCIE, PCNSE, CCSA, F5, AWS, Azure Network Specialty, CISP.
• Senior Network Engineer (Spain): This position also emphasizes a blend of enterprise and security technologies.
  • Certifications: CCNP.
  • Required Technologies: Cisco ISE, Fortinet, Cisco Meraki, and wireless solutions.
• Network Deployments Engineer (Dublin, Ireland): A role focused on deployment and implementation.
  • Certifications: CCNA, CCNP.
• Lead Network Engineer (Sweden): This position points towards a need for enterprise, security, and cloud skills.
  • Certifications: CCNP, CCIE, Azure Network Engineer Associate.
  • Required Technologies: Network design, wireless (Aruba), 802.1x (implying Cisco ISE), and cloud networking experience.

Based on these representative job postings, a few key areas stand out: Cisco certifications (CCNA, CCNP), cloud certifications (Azure, AWS, GCP), and network security credentials from vendors like Palo Alto, Fortinet, and Checkpoint.

Foundational Certification: The Cisco CCNA

The CCNA remains one of the most frequently required certifications across a vast number of companies. It serves as the essential starting point. Once you have your CCNA, you can specialize in a track that aligns with a specific position’s requirements.

Cisco offers several professional-level specialization tracks:

• Enterprise
• Wireless
• Collaboration
• Data Center
• Security
• Service Provider
• CyberOps
• DevNet (soon to be rebranded as Automation)

Advanced Cisco Specializations: Data Center Focus

For those looking to advance, two particular Cisco exams are worth considering for the upcoming year:

1. DCCOR (350-601): Implementing and Operating Cisco Data Center Core Technologies
2. DCACIA (300-620): Implementing Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI)

Why focus on these two? Cisco ACI is in extremely high demand right now. Many high-value projects require skills in managing an ACI infrastructure. Developing expertise in this area can significantly improve your career prospects and open doors to new opportunities.

Expanding Your Vendor Expertise: Arista Networks

While Cisco is dominant, multi-vendor expertise is a powerful differentiator. Arista Networks is steadily gaining market share, especially in Europe. As a network engineer, being able to navigate across different platforms is a valuable asset.

Arista provides a free platform to get started, making it accessible to learn their systems. They offer several tracks, including:

• Data Center
• Campus
• WAN Routing
• Automation
• Foundation

If you already have expertise in Cisco networking, you will find the transition to using Arista Networks relatively straightforward.

The Rise of Cloud Networking: Microsoft Azure

In the cloud space, Azure is experiencing massive growth, a trend expected to continue through 2026. The AZ-700: Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions certification is highly recommended.

This course is an excellent pathway for engineers with on-premises networking experience who want to transition to the cloud. It makes it easy to map your existing knowledge of on-prem technologies to their cloud-based equivalents. The training includes valuable hands-on labs. While the free subscription provided for the labs can sometimes have bugs, the experience is invaluable for understanding the topics and the expectations for a cloud network engineer.

Essential Security Certifications

Finally, in cybersecurity, two certification paths are in high demand and will likely remain so.

1. Fortinet: The NSE 4 is a key certification. Professionals who know how to manage and operate a FortiGate device are highly sought after. You can combine it with an NSE 5 level exam to achieve the Fortinet Certified Professional (FCP) status.

2. Palo Alto: The new Network Security Professional certification validates an individual’s ability to operate and manage a Palo Alto firewall.

A few companies might also ask for the CCSA (Check Point Certified Security Administrator). However, the underlying theme is consistent: practical skill is paramount. Most companies prioritize your ability to operate, manage, and maintain their firewalls over the certification itself. If you have the hands-on skills, the certification is often a secondary concern.

Final Recommendations

This list provides a roadmap for the training and certifications to consider for 2026. If you already hold one of these certifications, that’s a great start. Aim to add another or at least learn a new, relevant skill. This commitment to continuous learning will help you stand out from other professionals during an interview process. Possessing domain expertise across different platforms, technologies, and vendors makes you the best cost-effective option for any company.