Certified Cisco DevNet Expert: Training and Certification Path

The Cisco DevNet Expert Certification is a prestigious qualification aimed at validating expert-level knowledge and skills in software development, automation, and DevOps within Cisco environments. This certification path is specifically designed for professionals looking to excel in network automation and application development using Cisco platforms and APIs. Achieving this certification signifies a deep understanding of programming, infrastructure automation, and the integration of applications with network and IT systems.

Importance of DevNet in Modern Networking

As networks become increasingly software-defined, the demand for professionals who can bridge the gap between software development and network engineering has grown significantly. Cisco DevNet Expert Certification empowers candidates to develop, secure, and automate scalable network solutions. The certification highlights a professional’s ability to streamline network operations and improve business outcomes through code-driven infrastructure management.

Certification Path and Training Scope

The path to becoming a Cisco Certified DevNet Expert includes rigorous training and examination. A core component of this path is the Developing Applications Using Cisco Core Platforms and APIs (DEVCOR) course, which prepares candidates for the 350-901 DEVCOR exam. This training includes the full development lifecycle, from software design to deployment, with a strong emphasis on hands-on labs and practical implementation scenarios.

Objectives of the Certification

The primary objectives of this certification and training are:

• Enable professionals to design and develop applications using Cisco APIs
• Integrate software and network systems efficiently
• Automate infrastructure and operations with modern DevOps practices
• Apply software development methodologies for high-quality delivery
• Demonstrate proficiency in advanced networking, security, and cloud technologies

Prerequisites for the Training

Programming Knowledge and Python Proficiency

Before beginning the Cisco DevNet Expert training, candidates are expected to have a solid understanding of programming fundamentals. Proficiency in Python is essential, as much of the training and hands-on labs use Python for automation scripts, API consumption, and application development.

Understanding of Networking Concepts

Participants should be well-versed in networking concepts such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, and internet-related technologies. A clear understanding of how data travels across a network and the principles of network communication is crucial to grasp how software interacts with infrastructure.

Experience with APIs

A foundational understanding of APIs is necessary. This includes the ability to consume, test, and integrate APIs into applications. Familiarity with RESTful APIs, JSON, and tools like Postman enhances the learning experience and allows for smoother progression through the course material.

Software Development and Design Principles

Candidates should be familiar with key software development methodologies such as Agile and DevOps. Understanding principles like modular design, code reusability, and version control is beneficial. These concepts are integral to building maintainable and scalable network applications.

Hands-On Programming Experience

Practical experience with writing code, debugging, and developing scripts is essential. The training emphasizes solving real-world problems through coding, so prior exposure to hands-on development environments will greatly aid in understanding the material.

Course Content Overview

Training Structure and Delivery

The DEVCOR training is structured to provide both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience. It is delivered through a mix of lectures, self-study modules, and interactive labs. The curriculum is divided into specific areas focusing on design, implementation, security, automation, and deployment of network applications.

Key Topics Covered

The training covers a broad range of topics critical for professional-level network automation and development roles:

• Designing scalable and maintainable software
• Building secure applications for web and mobile platforms
• Implementing ChatOps solutions for collaborative DevOps
• Automating software releases and application deployment
• Leveraging distributed systems and orchestration frameworks
• Using data modeling languages like YANG
• Managing relational and nonrelational databases

DEVCOR 350-901 Exam Preparation

The training serves as a preparation for the 350-901 DEVCOR exam. This exam evaluates the candidate’s ability to develop and maintain applications built on Cisco platforms. Successfully passing the exam earns the Cisco Certified DevNet Specialist – Core certification and fulfills the core requirement for both the DevNet Professional and DevNet Expert tracks.

Real-World Application of Skills

Throughout the training, participants work on lab exercises and case studies that reflect real-world challenges. These scenarios provide insight into how Cisco APIs and tools can be used to create efficient, automated solutions for complex network environments.

Detailed Course Outline

Designing for Maintainability

This self-study module introduces best practices for creating maintainable code. Topics include modular programming, clear documentation, use of design patterns, and code testing strategies. The goal is to build applications that are easy to understand, update, and scale over time.

Designing for Serviceability

In this module, learners explore techniques to make applications easy to troubleshoot and monitor. Topics include logging strategies, error handling, and the use of monitoring tools. Serviceability is key to reducing downtime and ensuring reliable performance in production environments.

Implementing ChatOps Applications

This lecture-based module covers the concept of ChatOps, where team communication tools are integrated with automation scripts and bots. Students learn to build interactive applications that respond to chat commands, providing an efficient way to manage infrastructure and deploy updates collaboratively.

Advanced REST API Integration

This module dives deep into integrating with REST APIs. Topics include authentication methods, advanced HTTP operations, rate limiting, and data pagination. Students gain hands-on experience working with complex APIs and building robust integrations.

Securing Application Data

Security is a vital aspect of software development. This self-study section focuses on protecting application data using encryption, secure transmission protocols, and proper credential storage. It also discusses common vulnerabilities and how to mitigate them.

Securing Web and Mobile Applications

Participants explore security techniques specific to web and mobile apps. This includes securing front-end communications, implementing secure authentication mechanisms, and preventing common attacks like XSS and CSRF. The module is essential for building trustworthy user-facing applications.

Automating Application Release

Automation in software delivery improves speed and reliability. This lecture explores continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, including tools and practices for automated testing, deployment, and rollback strategies. Learners understand how to streamline application updates.

Deploying Applications

Deployment strategies are key to ensuring application availability and scalability. This module teaches techniques such as blue-green deployments, canary testing, and container-based deployment using platforms like Docker and Kubernetes. Students gain experience in pushing applications to production environments.

Exploring Distributed Systems

Understanding distributed systems is crucial for building scalable applications. This lecture introduces distributed computing principles, microservices architecture, and communication protocols. The module helps learners design applications that can run reliably across multiple nodes and regions.

Orchestrating Network and Infrastructure

This lecture focuses on automation frameworks and orchestration tools like Ansible and Terraform. Participants learn to automate configuration management, infrastructure provisioning, and workflow orchestration across complex network environments.

Modeling Data with YANG

YANG is a data modeling language used in network configuration protocols like NETCONF. This module covers how to define network device configurations using YANG, and how to interact with devices using model-driven APIs. Learners build models that standardize and simplify network automation.

Using Relational and Nonrelational Databases

The final self-study module introduces the use of different types of databases. Learners compare relational databases (SQL-based) and nonrelational options (such as NoSQL), and study how to design schemas, query data, and ensure performance and reliability in data-driven applications.

Target Audience and Career Roles

This certification is ideal for experienced network engineers looking to advance into automation-focused roles. These professionals design and implement automated solutions for network management, leveraging APIs and scripting.

Senior Software Developer

Software developers aiming to specialize in network-centric applications can benefit greatly from this training. It expands their skill set into areas of networking and infrastructure integration, enhancing their ability to deliver end-to-end solutions.

Senior System Integration Programmer

Integration specialists who work with diverse systems will find the training useful for learning how to interface with Cisco platforms and APIs. The course teaches skills for creating seamless integrations between software and hardware systems.

Senior Infrastructure Architect

Infrastructure architects responsible for designing scalable and automated infrastructure environments can leverage this training to build modern, software-defined networks. The certification supports their strategic planning and implementation goals.

Senior Network Designer

Network designers aiming to incorporate programmability and automation into their designs will find the curriculum relevant. It prepares them to design networks that are ready for modern application demands and agile operations.

Test Development Engineer

Engineers focused on developing test automation frameworks and validating infrastructure performance will benefit from the scripting, API testing, and DevOps practices taught in this course. These skills are crucial for maintaining high-quality network deployments.

Advanced Network Application Design and Development

Software Development Lifecycle in Network Applications

Designing and developing network applications requires an in-depth understanding of the software development lifecycle (SDLC). In the context of Cisco DevNet, SDLC involves planning, designing, coding, testing, deployment, and maintenance, specifically tailored for infrastructure-centric and API-driven environments. The process begins by defining requirements that align with network needs, followed by architectural decisions involving system integration, user interactions, and API consumption.

Each phase contributes to building a robust and reliable application. For example, during the planning stage, developers assess infrastructure capabilities and constraints. In the design phase, network dependencies and user flows are outlined to ensure compatibility and performance. The coding stage emphasizes modularity, code reuse, and adherence to Cisco standards, while testing ensures integration success and error handling.

Microservices and Modular Design Principles

Modular application architecture is essential for scalability and maintainability. Microservices architecture supports this by dividing applications into loosely coupled services that can be independently developed, deployed, and managed. Each service typically performs a specific business function and communicates with other services via APIs or messaging protocols.

Cisco DevNet encourages designing services that align with the modular principles, such as:

• Single-responsibility modules for scalability
• Independent testing and deployment pipelines
• Stateless communication for load balancing
• Containerized environments using Docker or Kubernetes

These principles lead to flexible, fault-tolerant systems that can adapt to changing requirements and improve response times under variable load conditions.

Utilizing APIs for System Integration

Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are the backbone of DevNet solutions. APIs allow applications to interact with Cisco platforms, enabling automation, telemetry, and configuration. Developers must master API usage for efficient data retrieval, configuration management, and operational execution.

Key API use cases in Cisco DevNet include:

• Automating device provisioning using REST APIs
• Pulling telemetry data from Cisco DNA Center
• Integrating Webex APIs for collaboration tools
• Customizing security policies via Cisco SecureX APIs

Effective API utilization involves selecting the right method (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE), formatting payloads using JSON, and handling authentication through mechanisms such as OAuth 2.0 and token-based access. Error codes and response validation are equally crucial in designing reliable integrations.

Practical Use of Cisco SDKs and Tools

Cisco offers a suite of SDKs and development tools that simplify integration and automation tasks. These include:

• Cisco pyATS for test automation
• Cisco Meraki Dashboard API SDK for cloud-managed networks
• DevNet Sandbox for lab simulations and API testing
• Cisco DNA Center Platform SDK for infrastructure orchestration

These tools provide prebuilt libraries, code examples, and interactive testing environments, enabling developers to rapidly prototype and validate solutions. Hands-on practice with these tools is integrated throughout the training, allowing learners to gain confidence in real-world implementations.

CI/CD for Network Applications

Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) practices enable developers to automate the software delivery lifecycle. For network applications, CI/CD ensures consistent deployment of configurations and applications across environments.

Key CI/CD practices include:

• Version control using Git
• Automated testing with frameworks like pytest and Jenkins
• Build automation with Docker and Ansible
• Deployment orchestration using pipelines in GitLab or GitHub Actions

Implementing CI/CD pipelines improves the quality of code, reduces manual errors, and accelerates release cycles. Participants are guided through real-world exercises that demonstrate building CI/CD pipelines for deploying Python-based automation scripts across lab environments.

Infrastructure as Code and Automation Frameworks

Concept of Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Infrastructure as Code is a methodology for managing and provisioning infrastructure using machine-readable definition files rather than manual processes. IaC allows teams to create consistent and repeatable environments through code, enhancing scalability and reducing configuration drift.

Cisco DevNet training integrates IaC principles through tools such as:

• Ansible for configuration automation
• Terraform for provisioning infrastructure across multi-cloud
• Puppet and Chef for maintaining configuration consistency

By coding the infrastructure setup, teams can store configurations in version control, collaborate efficiently, and deploy across multiple environments with minimal risk.

Implementing Network Automation with Ansible

Ansible is a key automation tool used extensively in the DevNet curriculum. It uses simple YAML-based playbooks to automate device configuration, network provisioning, and state validation.

Participants learn to:

• Write Ansible playbooks for Cisco IOS devices
• Use roles and inventories to manage large device fleets
• Perform network compliance checks
• Integrate Ansible with REST APIs for advanced automation

Ansible Tower, the GUI counterpart, is also introduced for managing automation workflows through a centralized dashboard. This reinforces the DevOps methodology by enabling continuous network updates and integrations.

Using Terraform for Provisioning

Terraform is another crucial tool in the DevNet toolbox. It allows declarative provisioning of infrastructure across cloud platforms and on-premise systems. The course covers how to use Terraform for deploying infrastructure components such as routers, switches, firewalls, and virtual machines.

Topics include:

• Writing Terraform configuration files using HCL (HashiCorp Configuration Language)
• Initializing and applying Terraform plans
• Managing state files and workspaces
• Integrating Terraform with CI/CD pipelines for infrastructure automation

Participants develop hands-on proficiency in deploying scalable, reusable infrastructure using Terraform templates.

Model-Driven Programmability

Cisco’s approach to model-driven programmability focuses on managing devices using structured models such as YANG. With NETCONF and RESTCONF protocols, configuration and monitoring become programmable and automatable.

Key learning objectives include:

• Defining and interpreting YANG data models
• Using NETCONF operations to configure devices
• Consuming RESTCONF APIs for reading/writing configurations
• Creating custom YANG modules for proprietary use cases

These capabilities allow developers to implement highly automated systems where device configurations are treated as part of the software delivery pipeline.

Configuration Management in Large-Scale Environments

Large enterprise networks demand consistency and standardization in configurations. Configuration management tools ensure that devices conform to defined policies, even as changes are rolled out across thousands of endpoints.

This section covers:

• Designing configuration templates and golden images
• Implementing configuration drift detection
• Using compliance checks and remediation workflows
• Maintaining audit trails and change history

Participants simulate large-scale deployments, using tools like Ansible and Python scripts to ensure that networks remain stable, secure, and compliant with enterprise policies.

Secure Software Development for Network Applications

Security is integral to every phase of the development lifecycle. Secure coding practices help prevent vulnerabilities like buffer overflows, injection attacks, and improper authentication mechanisms.

The curriculum introduces techniques such as:

• Input validation and sanitization
• Secure session and credential management
• Least privilege design and secure defaults
• Logging sensitive activities with audit trails

Secure coding principles are reinforced through code reviews and vulnerability testing within lab environments.

Implementing Authentication and Authorization

Applications developed for Cisco environments must support secure authentication and role-based access control (RBAC). This includes the implementation of:

• Token-based authentication (OAuth 2.0)
• API key management and access scopes
• Role assignments and privilege elevation

Practical labs include building apps that consume secured APIs and integrate authentication workflows using Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Webex Identity.

Data Protection and Privacy Compliance

Modern applications must comply with data protection regulations. This module covers the essentials of data encryption, storage security, and privacy compliance.

Topics include:

• Encryption standards (TLS, AES, RSA)
• Secure storage of secrets and credentials
• Data anonymization and masking
• Ensuring GDPR and industry-specific compliance

Participants apply these concepts by encrypting network logs, securing API traffic, and building compliant audit frameworks.

Secure API Design and Testing

Designing secure APIs is crucial for preventing breaches. This includes:

• Using HTTPS and secure tokens
• Implementing rate limiting and throttling
• Avoiding excessive data exposure
• Input and output validation

Security testing tools such as OWASP ZAP and Postman are introduced to assess vulnerabilities and validate protection mechanisms. Participants run scans and interpret findings to remediate common security flaws.

Data Management and Integration in Network Applications

Data is a foundational element in the design and operation of modern network applications. From configuration data and telemetry metrics to user inputs and application states, every aspect of network automation depends on reliable data collection, processing, and storage. Network applications often operate in real-time environments, where the accuracy, timeliness, and structure of data significantly influence performance and decision-making.

Working with Relational Databases

Relational databases remain a standard for storing structured data in network applications. They provide powerful querying capabilities and ensure data integrity through schema enforcement and ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) compliance.

Key concepts covered include:

• Designing normalized database schemas
• Writing SQL queries for data retrieval and manipulation
• Using indexes to optimize performance
• Implementing foreign key constraints and relationships

Cisco DevNet training incorporates practical labs where learners design and query relational databases to support applications such as configuration management platforms and inventory systems.

Introduction to Nonrelational Databases

Nonrelational databases, or NoSQL databases, offer flexibility in handling semi-structured and unstructured data. These systems are well-suited for scalable, high-availability applications such as logging platforms and telemetry systems.

Topics include:

• Document-oriented databases like MongoDB
• Key-value stores and column-based databases
• Data modeling for unstructured environments
• Querying with JSON-based syntax

Participants gain experience in selecting and configuring NoSQL databases based on application needs, such as storing log files, performance metrics, and user sessions.

Database Integration with Applications

Integrating databases into network applications requires drivers, query logic, and secure communication. This module explores database connectivity using libraries in Python, such as psycopg2 for PostgreSQL or PyMongo for MongoDB.

Key practices include:

• Establishing secure database connections
• Executing parameterized queries to prevent injection attacks
• Implementing connection pooling for performance
• Structuring data flows between APIs and databases

Learners implement end-to-end scenarios where network data is retrieved via API and stored in a database for historical analysis.

Telemetry and Data Collection

Telemetry involves collecting real-time operational data from network devices. This data helps in performance monitoring, alerting, and predictive analytics. Cisco platforms like IOS-XE, DNA Center, and Meraki provide telemetry features that are programmable via APIs.

This section covers:

• Enabling streaming telemetry on Cisco devices
• Using gRPC and JSON-RPC protocols
• Processing telemetry data using data pipelines
• Storing telemetry streams in time-series databases like InfluxDB

Hands-on labs walk participants through setting up telemetry collectors, visualizing data using tools like Grafana, and generating actionable insights.

Distributed Systems and Scalability

Concepts of Distributed Computing

Distributed computing is the cornerstone of scalable network applications. It enables tasks to be spread across multiple nodes, reducing latency, increasing availability, and supporting high traffic volumes.

Participants learn:

• Principles of distributed systems: fault tolerance, consensus, replication
• Designing for eventual consistency and partition tolerance
• Load balancing strategies
• Handling state across distributed components

Real-world examples illustrate how Cisco services distribute traffic and maintain reliability under various load conditions.

Microservices in Distributed Environments

Microservices play a central role in distributed architecture. They allow developers to create applications composed of independent services that communicate over defined protocols.

Training modules include:

• Service discovery and registration
• API gateways for request routing
• Deploying microservices on Kubernetes
• Managing service scaling and failover

Participants deploy a microservices-based monitoring system using containers, Kubernetes, and Cisco APIs, gaining firsthand experience in scalable architecture design.

Load Balancing and Traffic Management

Load balancing ensures that no single component becomes a bottleneck. It distributes incoming requests across multiple servers or services based on pre-defined policies.

Topics explored:

• Layer 4 vs. Layer 7 load balancing
• Load balancers such as NGINX and HAProxy
• Session persistence and SSL termination
• Integrating Cisco ACI and other software-defined networking platforms

Participants configure load balancers to manage API traffic and optimize performance in a microservice environment.

Event-Driven Architecture and Messaging Queues

Event-driven design decouples services and promotes asynchronous communication. Messaging systems such as RabbitMQ and Kafka are essential for implementing this architecture.

Concepts covered:

• Event producers and consumers
• Message queues and topic-based routing
• Durable messaging and replay capability
• Error handling and dead-letter queues

Hands-on labs include integrating RabbitMQ into a telemetry processing system to ensure reliable and scalable data pipelines.

High Availability and Fault Tolerance

Designing for high availability involves eliminating single points of failure and ensuring systems can recover gracefully. This is critical for applications that control or monitor infrastructure.

Participants explore:

• Redundant architecture design patterns
• Stateful and stateless failover
• Health checks and service monitoring
• Backup and disaster recovery strategies

Simulated exercises help learners implement auto-healing Kubernetes clusters and redundancy strategies for database and API components.

Monitoring, Logging, and Troubleshooting

Monitoring involves tracking system performance and health metrics to detect anomalies and ensure service reliability. Modern tools support real-time monitoring of network application metrics and user behavior.

Topics include:

• Prometheus and Grafana for metrics collection and visualization
• Setting up alerts based on thresholds
• Monitoring API response times and error rates
• Integration with Cisco network monitoring tools

Labs walk through the implementation of dashboards and alerting rules for a deployed application.

Logging Strategies and Implementation

Effective logging enables debugging, auditing, and post-incident analysis. Logs provide contextual information on system behavior and user actions.

This module covers:

• Structured vs. unstructured logging
• Centralized logging with ELK (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana)
• Log rotation and retention policies
• Secure log transmission and access control

Participants build a logging pipeline from application to visualization, incorporating best practices for log tagging and storage.

Troubleshooting Tools and Techniques

Troubleshooting network applications requires a combination of software and network-level diagnostics. Tools and techniques vary depending on the layer where issues occur.

Topics include:

• Debugging Python scripts using IDEs and command-line tools
• Network diagnostics with traceroute, ping, and tcpdump
• API testing with Postman and curl
• Root cause analysis frameworks

Troubleshooting exercises challenge participants to diagnose failures in a simulated network automation environment.

Using Observability to Improve Reliability

Observability extends beyond monitoring by offering deeper insight into system internals. It combines metrics, logs, and traces to help identify and predict failures.

This section explores:

• Distributed tracing using OpenTelemetry
• Correlating logs and traces for end-to-end visibility
• Implementing observability patterns in microservices
• Improving mean time to resolution (MTTR) through real-time diagnostics

Participants implement tracing in a microservice system, observing request flows and latency at each service boundary.

Security and Compliance in Network Application Development

Importance of Security in Network Automation

Security is a fundamental requirement in any network-related application. As automation increases access and control over critical infrastructure, it becomes vital to ensure systems are protected against unauthorized access, data breaches, and malicious activities. Secure development practices reduce vulnerabilities and protect both data and services across the application lifecycle.

Secure Coding Practices

Writing secure code is the first step in preventing exploitation. Developers must follow secure coding standards and incorporate security checks throughout the development process.

Input Validation and Sanitation

Input validation and sanitation are critical for preventing injection attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in user input handling.

Secure Authentication and Authorization

Secure authentication and authorization mechanisms ensure only legitimate users gain access to resources.

Avoiding Hard-Coded Credentials

Credentials should never be embedded in source code. Secure storage methods and environment variables are preferred.

Encrypting Sensitive Data

Sensitive data must be encrypted both in transit and at rest to protect against unauthorized access and data breaches.

Principle of Least Privilege

The principle of least privilege limits access rights for users and applications to only what is necessary.

Application Security Testing

Testing for security flaws is essential during development and deployment. Security testing helps identify issues early and ensures compliance with organizational and industry standards.

Static Application Security Testing

Static analysis tools evaluate code without executing it to identify vulnerabilities such as insecure functions and bad coding practices.

Dynamic Application Security Testing

Dynamic testing evaluates applications during runtime to identify issues that arise in real-time environments.

Fuzz Testing

Fuzz testing checks input handling by sending malformed or unexpected inputs to the application.

Dependency Vulnerability Scanning

Tools scan libraries and packages used in an application for known security vulnerabilities.

API Security and Access Control

Since APIs are integral to network automation, securing them is critical. Proper authentication, rate limiting, and input validation help prevent misuse and abuse of API services.

Implementing OAuth 2.0 and Token-Based Access

Token-based authentication mechanisms like OAuth 2.0 ensure secure API access control.

Managing API Keys and Secrets

API keys and secrets must be securely managed using environment variables and secret management tools.

Rate Limiting

Rate limiting protects APIs from abuse and helps prevent denial-of-service attacks.

Validating API Payloads

Payload validation ensures that API inputs match expected formats and prevent malformed data processing.

Compliance and Regulatory Requirements

Network applications often deal with sensitive or regulated data. Developers must ensure compliance with standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS.

Data Protection Laws

Understanding data protection laws helps in designing systems that manage user data responsibly.

Audit Logging and Traceability

Audit logging enables tracking of system access and actions, aiding in compliance and forensic analysis.

Encryption and Anonymization

Encrypting and anonymizing data ensures confidentiality and privacy, especially for user-sensitive information.

Data Retention and Disposal Policies

Proper data retention policies define how long data is stored, while disposal policies ensure secure deletion.

Software Development and DevOps Methodologies

Software Development Lifecycle

The SDLC provides a structured approach to application development. It includes planning, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance.

Requirement Gathering and Scope Definition

Clear definition of project scope ensures alignment with stakeholder goals and efficient resource use.

Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid Models

Different development models offer various advantages. Agile supports iterative progress, while Waterfall follows a linear approach.

Continuous Feedback Loops

Feedback from users and stakeholders enables rapid iteration and refinement of features.

Post-Release Support and Versioning

Maintaining versions and offering post-release support ensures application stability and improvement.

Agile and DevOps in Network Engineering

Agile and DevOps practices enhance collaboration and accelerate development in network engineering.

Scrum and Kanban Frameworks

Scrum and Kanban help manage development tasks through structured workflows and visual boards.

Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment

CI/CD automates testing and delivery, reducing errors and accelerating updates.

Infrastructure as Code

IaC allows for repeatable and consistent infrastructure setup using code.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

DevOps emphasizes collaboration among developers, operations, and security teams.

Version Control and Collaboration

Version control systems track changes and support collaboration on code projects.

Git Basics

Basic Git commands help manage source code changes, branches, and commits.

Pull Requests and Code Reviews

Code reviews improve quality by identifying errors and ensuring adherence to standards.

Managing Repositories

Repositories are organized and managed using platforms like GitHub and GitLab.

Merge Conflicts and Reversions

Managing merge conflicts ensures smooth collaboration, while reversions allow undoing problematic changes.

Containerization and Virtualization

Containers and virtual machines offer isolated, reproducible environments for application deployment.

Docker Basics

Understanding Docker concepts like containers, images, and volumes supports modern DevOps practices.

Docker Compose

Docker Compose simplifies multi-container applications by managing configurations in a single file.

Containers vs. Virtual Machines

Containers are lightweight and portable, while VMs offer strong isolation with heavier overhead.

Integrating Containers with CI/CD

Containers streamline testing and deployment within CI/CD pipelines.

Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery

CI/CD pipelines automate the entire software delivery process, enhancing reliability and speed.

CI/CD Workflow Tools

Tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, and GitHub Actions support automated workflows.

Automated Testing

Unit and integration tests validate code quality and functionality during development.

Deployment Strategies

Rolling updates, blue-green, and canary deployments minimize downtime and risk.

Monitoring CI/CD Pipelines

Monitoring tools provide visibility into pipeline performance and deployment success.

Advanced Network Programmability

Introduction to Model-Driven Telemetry and Configuration

Model-driven approaches use standardized models to automate network configuration and monitoring.

YANG Data Modeling

YANG is used to create schemas for network configurations that can be programmatically applied.

Model-Driven Protocols

NETCONF and RESTCONF are used to communicate with devices using structured data models.

Cisco Model-Driven Tools

Cisco provides tools and libraries that support model-driven automation efforts.

CLI vs. Model-Driven Automation

Model-driven methods offer consistency and scalability compared to traditional CLI.

Using Cisco APIs for Automation

Cisco APIs allow developers to programmatically manage and monitor networks.

REST APIs and Authentication

Understanding REST principles and secure authentication is vital for effective API usage.

Device Discovery and Monitoring

APIs help discover and monitor network devices in real time.

Dashboard Integration

Custom dashboards can visualize data collected through APIs for better insights.

API Rate Limits and Pagination

Managing API consumption through rate limits and pagination ensures reliability and efficiency.

Event Management and Action Triggers

Automated event handling reduces manual workload and enhances responsiveness.

SNMP and Syslog Events

These standard protocols generate alerts based on network activity.

Event Correlation and Alerts

Correlating events helps detect patterns and trigger appropriate responses.

Automated Responses

Scripts and workflows can be triggered automatically to resolve detected issues.

ITSM Tool Integration

Events can trigger workflows in ITSM platforms for ticketing and resolution.

End-to-End Use Case Scenarios

Integrated projects validate the learner’s ability to apply training concepts to real problems.

Automating Device Onboarding

Scripts and templates automate secure configuration of new network devices.

Telemetry and Alert Dashboards

Monitoring dashboards provide visibility into network health and performance.

Compliance in CI/CD

Security and compliance checks can be integrated into the software delivery pipeline.

Microservices for Network Functions

Microservices architecture supports flexible and scalable orchestration of network tasks.

Final Thoughts

The Cisco DevNet Expert training equips professionals with a comprehensive skill set for developing and automating network applications. By mastering secure coding, DevOps practices, API integration, and model-driven telemetry, candidates are prepared for real-world challenges in modern IT environments. This certification validates expert-level competency and opens new career opportunities in network automation and application development. With hands-on labs, real-world scenarios, and in-depth knowledge, this training is essential for anyone aiming to lead the evolution of programmable networks.