Introduction
Are you ready to take your networking career to the next level? If so, this blog is for you. If you are a network engineer already, learning automation is not optional; it’s the key to staying relevant and competitive in the job market. Not only will you enhance your skill set, but you will also open up new career opportunities.
But why is network automation so crucial for all network engineers? Traditional network management practices are not enough to manage modern complex networks. Automation brings new ways to manage such kinds of networks by streamlining processes to reduce human error, faster deployments, and ensure consistent network performance.
In this blog, we will discuss what network automation is, why it is crucial for modern IT, how you can make a career in network automation, fundamental network automation engineer skills, network automation tools, benefits, and challenges that you might face while learning network automation. We recommend DevNet Associate Training to start your Network Automation learning journey.
We all have heard about automation many times, but what exactly is network automation? Let us discuss it in detail.
What is Network Automation?
Network automation is the process of using software tools and technologies to perform tasks that people usually do manually. Below, we have discussed some of the common tasks that network automation can handle.
- Configuration Management: Configuring network devices to utilize optimal configurations. As we all are aware of the fact that configuring one device at a time would take ages. Whereas, automation can make this change in a number of devices at once.
- Monitoring: Network monitoring is the process of supervising the functioning and wellness of a network. Automate tools can notify the administrator when something is not working properly, for instance, if a certain device disconnects or if there are high traffic rates.
- Troubleshooting: More effective and faster resolution of problems in the network. Rather than having people try to test each device manually, going with automation means that troubleshooting can be done, and it will know if there is something wrong.
- Updates and Patching: Ensuring proper software upgrades on the various devices on the network to prevent hacking. With automation, it is now possible to update as well as install patches whenever needed without the influence of anyone.
- Scaling Operations: As the network becomes more complex, the process of incorporating new devices and resources may be very challenging. This way, automation comes in handy to make it easier to add new devices.
Why is Network Automation Important in Modern IT?
As networks become more complex, the need for faster, more efficient networks becomes paramount. Now, it is not possible to rely solely on manual methods of network management. Here’s why network automation is crucial:
- Efficiency and Speed: Some of the benefits of automation include rapid deployment, configuration, and solving issues associated with network devices so as to facilitate quick network creation, management, and expansion. This is important in the business environment where speed and time are critical success factors.
- Reduced Human Error: Every time there are manual settings and adjustments on the network devices, there is always a risk or potential of making wrong decisions, resulting in a waste of time, money, and exposure to security threats. These risks are reduced through automation since it increases the standard procedures while minimizing the possibilities of human intervention.
- Cost Savings: Organization operations can be made more efficient through the application of automation, which can decrease the cost of manual workforce and lower the risks of network failures. Network automation helps in the efficient use of current resources and ensures that the network’s infrastructure is well aligned with the costs required for its implementation.
- Scalability: While expanding a business, new networks are added, and thus, there is a high demand for automation. Network automation helps in scaling because engineers can easily manage bigger and more complex networks.
- Enhanced Security: Standard security policies in the network may be easily implemented by the use of automation. Automation enables an organization to address new security threats and updates to the security configuration in the shortest time possible and thus protect the network.
Who is a Network Automation Engineer?
A Network Automation Engineer is a professional responsible for implementing and managing automated solutions within an organization’s network infrastructure. This role combines traditional networking skills with programming and automation expertise.
Network Automation Engineers work closely with network architects, system administrators, and DevOps teams to ensure that network services are delivered efficiently and reliably. They are critical in designing, developing, and maintaining automation frameworks that streamline network operations.
In this role, you will be expected to have a strong understanding of networking concepts, as well as proficiency in programming languages and automation tools.
Key Responsibilities of a Network Automation Engineer
The basic function of a Network Automation Engineer is to develop scripts to automate network operations and activities. Some of the key responsibilities of a network automation engineer are:
- Design and Implement Automation Solutions: As part of your responsibility, you will be expected to develop automation scripts and furthermore build tools that can be used in order to automate other tasks within the network. Some of them are configuration, monitoring, and diagnostics. Also, you must understand the network architecture and find the places in a network where automation is much needed.
- Network Device Automation: Understand how to automate network devices such as routers, switches, and firewalls through the use of automation tools and programming languages. This includes device onboarding, firmware updates as well as configuration changes to other related processes.
- Network Monitoring and Analytics: Implement automated monitoring solutions to collect network data and generate actionable insights. You will examine how the network works, what shortcomings can be noted, and how to design a response system to common problems automatically.
- Scripting and Tool Development: Develop scripts, perhaps in Python and Perl as well as create the tools whereby several steps could be executed routinely as automated processes in the network.
- Security and Compliance: You will be responsible for proactively coordinating with the team that all automation processes shall meet the security best practices and standards. Also, with automation, you have to install as well as apply security checks and updates to the network.
Now, let us discuss network automation engineer skills.
Skills Required to Become a Network Automation Engineer
When planning to become a Network Automation Engineer, one requires several technical and soft skills. Let’s break down the essential network automation engineer skills you should focus on.
Technical Skills
- Network Fundamentals: A fundamental understanding of the network basics is a must. Having good knowledge about concepts such as IP addressing, routing, and different networks such as LAN, WAN, and SDN as well as a strong understanding of network security. Here, it is beneficial to go for CCNA course if you are just starting your career.
- Programming Language Proficiency: It is also important for one to be familiar with various programming languages such as Python, PowerShell, and many others. These languages are employed in network automation scripting and tool creation. Experience in Object Oriented Programming, Data structures, and Algorithms will be an added advantage.
- Automation Tools Knowledge: The use of the tools to automate the network, including Ansible, Puppet, Chef, and SaltStack is important. With these tools, you can make processes for the automatic configuration, deployment, and management of network devices. Knowing how to apply these tools with networking devices is important.
- Network Monitoring and Management: Good knowledge of network monitoring tools like Nagios, Zabbix, or SolarWinds. You should be able to monitor the network, review network activity data, and develop automatic replies to the events in the network.
Soft Skills
- Communication: Interpersonal skills are key since the function involves interacting with multiple teams from other departments to share ideas and also understand others.
- Team Leadership: Being a Network Automation Engineer, one may be in charge of a project or undertaking an initiative. It is useful to be able to lead and encourage team members.
- Problem-solving: Problem-solving skills are important when it comes to identifying problems and proffering workable solutions for the job. There are always situations that come along with you and force you to be creative in one way or the other.
- Adaptability: The field of technology is dynamic. Flexibility in adopting new tools and technologies is critical when working in this sector.
Essential Network Automation Tools
Network Automation Engineer requires knowledge of various automation tools and technologies in order to stand out in the job market. Some essential network automation tools include:
- Ansible: It is an open-source automation tool that also describes an environment that can be used for managing the IT structure. To manage resources, Ansible uses YAML-based playbooks allowing it to simply orchestrate tasks.
- Puppet: An IT tool for managing configurations in networks and deploying infrastructure automatically. Puppet, on the other hand, uses declarative language to declare and monitor systems’ configurations and ensure that all of them are kept in order.
- Netmiko: A simplified network device management tool that consolidates the key Python libraries into one.
- NAPALM: A set of tools that allows a network operator to automate and implement services and control multi-vendor networks. NAPALM is an API that standardizes how to interact with distinct network devices.
- SaltStack: A tool that is fast to implement and easily scalable to manage a large number of applications in an organization.
- Cisco DNA Center: It is a broad and strong network management system that offers control, guarantee, and analysis of Cisco networks. It means that you get to manage all the devices and services found on the network under one roof.
How to Become a Network Automation Engineer? – Career Path
To become a Network Automation Engineer, you must have the necessary experience as well as network automation engineer skills. Below, we have discussed a step-by-step guide to help you on your automation journey.
Educational Background
First, acquire a diploma or degree i.e., a bachelor’s degree, in a related field like computer science, information technology, or networking. However, it can give you a good start to a job and is not necessarily compulsory.
Network Fundamentals
Now, if you are a beginner and want to make a career in networking, you should have a good knowledge of networking concepts. This includes network protocols, network architectures, and networking devices. Courses like CCNA can be relied on as ways to certify your networking knowledge.
Transition from Network Engineer
If you are already a network engineer and are already working in entry-level roles such as network analyst or junior network engineer, it is highly beneficial to go for the below-discussed skills.
- PyNet Labs’ Specialized Course: PyNet Labs introduces a specialized course for beginners who want to make a career in network automation. It includes a combo of 3 skills, i.e., Python for Network Engineers, DevNet Associate (200-901) Training, and Ansible Basics.
- Learn Programming Languages: Familiarize yourself with scripting languages such as Python, which is currently commonly used in network automation. You may take online courses, boot camps, or tutorials to start your automation journey. Streamline tasks by beginning to write scripts to automate what you can and try to tackle more complex projects as you go along.
- Explore Network Automation Tools: It will help to get the overall idea of the network automation tools like Ansible, Chef, and Puppet. Find out how to apply these tools on other network devices for automatic configuration and management. Most of these tools are available as trial versions or, even better, community versions so that you can practice.
- Certifications and Specializations: Select the courses that can show your competence in network automation. Cisco provides DevNet Associate for beginners and Professional certifications including CCNP DevNet and CCIE DevNet related to. Other vendors include Red Hat and Juniper Networks also offer automation certification.
Gain Practical Experience
Get practical experience with the things you learn. The next step is to seek chances to automate the flow of the network activities inherent in the current position or to contribute to projects related to open-source network automation. Another option is to take freelance to get wide experience in the job market.
Note: If you have already started your network automation journey, it is highly beneficial to go for higher courses such as CCNP DevNet and CCIE DevNet/DevNet Expert.
Benefits of Learning Network Automation
Learning network automation has many benefits for your career. Some of these are:
- High Demand and Career Growth: Network automation is one of the areas that are experiencing tremendous growth today and this has called for a need for individuals who possess adequate skill in the field. It means you will have excellent career opportunities to work with brand-new technologies.
- Increased Efficiency and Productivity: First, automation helps optimize the amount of effort used in tackling and fixing issues in a network. You will increase your productivity and be able to achieve so much in a shorter time, thereby being an asset to the organization.
- Improved Network Reliability: With the reduction of operational errors in routine tasks, it means that you will be helping to create stable and reliable network settings. In return, you will get better network usability and, hence, more customer satisfaction.
- Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: Network automation puts you into a creative dilemma where you are expected to come up with out-of-the-box solutions. This will enhance your problem-solving skills and provide you with more flexibility as an engineer.
- Career Flexibility: Networking automation skills are portable across most fields and areas of specialization. You can work in IT, telecommunications, cloud computing, or even cyber security, and that means your job will always have a future.
Challenges faced by Individuals while learning Network Automation
While the benefits are significant, becoming a network automation engineer also comes with its set of challenges:
- Learning Curve: To become an expert in network automation, one must first go through a difficult process involved in learning programming and automation. It is also important to learn that it doesn’t happen overnight; it requires practice and focus to master a skill.
- Keeping Up with Technology: Network automation is a new and growing field, with new tools and technologies appearing frequently. It may be challenging to keep up with these new technologies and learn them frequently.
- Security Concerns: When automating any process within the network, security has to be a priority. In this case, you will need to know how security works and also put that into practice in your automation.
- Initial Implementation Complexity: Automating existing network processes can be complex, especially in large, established networks. You’ll need to carefully plan and execute automation strategies to avoid disruptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Is network automation a good career?
Yes, network automation is a good career choice. The reason behind this is that modern complex networks are difficult to manage and require a lot of time. But with automation, it will be easier to manage such networks. Hence, professionals with network automation skills are and will be in high demand.
Q2. What is the salary of network automation tester?
The salary of a network automation engineer is somewhere around 5 LPA to 25 LPA.
Q3. What does a network Automation Engineer do?
A network automation engineer is responsible for a variety of tasks. This includes:
- Design and Implement Automation Solutions
- Network Device Automation
- Network Monitoring and Analytics
- Scripting and Tool Development
Q4. What does network automation do?
With network automation, it is possible to configure, test, deploy, and operate physical as well as virtual devices within a network.
Conclusion
Becoming a Network Automation Engineer is a promising career choice in today’s technology-driven world. As networks become more complex and the demand for efficiency increases, the need for skilled professionals in network automation will continue to grow. By developing the necessary network automation engineer skills which include both technical and soft skills, familiarizing yourself with essential tools, and following a clear career path, you can position yourself for success in this exciting field.
