Juniper Networks takes direct aim at Cisco's one million certified engineers

In my opinion, Juniper Networks is striking at the heart of Cisco's competitive edge, its one million certified engineers!

How you may ask?

Free Juniper JUNOS training for Cisco certified engineers until December 2009!

Obviously, Juniper J-Partner Resellers benefit from the program as it reduces the time and expense of getting SEs certified.

For this story, a well-known Cisco CCIE gave "kudos" to Juniper on its FREE, but cutting edge Juniper Fast Track Certification Program:

"Its design for training is based on the move by Juniper to enter the Enterprise channel. From its inception Juniper had been an ISP provider first. Companies like WorldCom were early investors in Juniper. With its current Enterprise market strategy, Juniper training is key for VAR’s and Enterprise customers to expand sales in this space. The key element to get the IT department to accept Juniper is to follow the Cisco model of developing their VAR relationship with a strong Training Program. The Cisco training program has been the industry leader for many years.

"But without competition Cisco has driven the cost of training up without benefiting the VAR with higher margins.

"Now Juniper, a well respected brand in the VAR community is helping to ramp VAR’s up faster with inexpensive, extensive training.

"I say, good for Juniper. The market needs to see successful competitors like HP and Juniper in the SMB and Enterprise channels. I am tired of asking, and asking, and asking Cisco to support industry protocols, (IPv6 at Ironport), become more reasonable with pricing per switch port, develop NX-OS features faster, expand the OS functionality of the ASA product line, (limited VPN, limited OSPF, no BGP, etc.) I could go on. With Juniper’s training program Cisco will adapt to the new market conditions or manage its way to..."

Juniper training details:

	Anyone with a Cisco certification is eligible to enroll.
	Once registered Cisco engineers have no-charge 24x7 access to courseware that prepares them for 4 JUNOS-based Enterprise certifications in routing and switching. Note: Cisco engineers should use the standard registration code ERC2232535 for FREE access until December 2009.
	Once a Cisco engineer passes an online pretest, Juniper will email them a 50% off coupon for their certification exam at a Prometric center.
	So, for $50-75 USD, Cisco engineers can earn a JUNOS based certification (or 4 for $200 USD or so).

Here’s the description of the 4 Juniper certs in the program:

1. JNCIA-ER Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate - Enterprise Routing

This is the base level certification on enterprise routing platforms.

2. JNCIS-ER Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist - Enterprise Routing

This is the next level of certification on enterprise routing platforms and the JNCIA-ER is recommended as a prerequisite.

3. JNCIS-ES Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist

This is the base level certification on enhanced security services and the JNCIA-ER is recommended as a prerequisite.

4. JNCIA-EX Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate

This is the base level certification on enterprise switching platforms.

Will Juniper drive a stake through Cisco's heart with this program?

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• Careers
• Cisco
• Data Center
• LANs / WANs
• A well-known Cisco CCIE
• Anyone with a Cisco certification is eligible to enroll
• Cisco engineer passes an online pretest
• Cisco engineers can earn a JUNOS based certification
• Cutting edge Juniper Fast Track Certification Program
• Description of the 4 Juniper certs in the program
• Free Juniper JUNOS training for Cisco certified engineers until December 2009
• JNCIA-ER Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate - Enterprise Routing
• JNCIA-EX Juniper Networks Certified Internet Associate
• JNCIS-ER Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist - Enterprise Routing
• JNCIS-ES Juniper Networks Certified Internet Specialist
• Juniper J-Partner Resellers benefit from the program
• Juniper Networks is striking at the heart of Cisco
• Juniper training details
• Juniper will email them a 50% off coupon for their certification exam at a Prometric center
• JUNOS-based Enterprise certifications in routing and switching
• Registered Cisco engineers have no-charge 24x7 access to courseware
• Will Juniper drive a stake through Cisco's heart