To provide a perspective on the significance of SD-WAN and the skills gap that it addresses, I reference a few industry studies. First, the well known research firm Gartner, reports that “by 2020, 75 percent of organizations will experience visible business disruptions due to [infrastructure and operations] skills gaps, ....” There is an existing need to up-skill and hire top talent trained and certified in SD-WAN.
A survey conducted in partnership between Masergy and IDG Research analyzed responses from decision makers across a variety of industries. Key findings from the survey include:
- The skills gap remains a top barrier to SD-WAN adoption, whereas concerns regarding interoperability with existing WANs are less prevalent than they were two years ago.
- Optimizing the network to support cutting-edge technologies is the top WAN objective among survey participants.
- Security is the top WAN challenge and the leading factor guiding companies in the SD-WAN selection process.
- Network management simplification continues to be the top expected benefit of SD-WAN adoption, and the top three expected business benefits of SD-WAN are increased efficiency, improved security, and cost savings.
- 90% of respondents’ in the survey are involved in active research, piloting and actively using or upgrading SD-WAN.
In a survey conducted by Global Knowledge of over 12,200 survey responses of IT professionals in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific region, the skills gap continues to rise and on average these professionals earned $5,000 more this year compared to 2018.
A real-world example: Orange rises to the skills challenge to make the digital world a source of professional opportunities
So, as you are likely aware, MEF is a global leader in the development of industry standards. MEF introduced a transformational global services framework for defining, delivering, and certifying agile, assured, and orchestrated services across a global ecosystem of automated networks worldwide. The industry transition to MEF-defined connectivity and virtualized services – and ultimately to application-aware, self-organizing networks - has game-changing implications for customer agility, productivity, competitiveness and revenue generation.
As this transition occurs, the professionals engaged in the sales, support, engineering, infrastructure etc. requiring a refresh of the existing knowledge, adding new skills to meet the needs of the industry. Leveraging significant industry relationships with top service providers, technology manufactures, industry forums, and top executives worldwide MEF defined the MEF Professional Certification Framework which is flexible, collaborative, outlines new and comprehensive skill sets required to manage complex network and telecom solutions, and lead and support the network transformation.
Professionals that want to be a part of this industry transformation need only focus on this three-step approach:
Step 1, In response to industry interest in filling the existing skills gap specific to SD-WAN, MEF provides the MEF-SDCP SD-WAN Certification:
- Details for the MEF-SDCP SD-WAN certification are available here.
- Self-study resources are located here.
- Course training is provided by MEF Accredited Training Providers (MEF-ATP). They provide on-site, virtual and remote courses for MEF-SDCP: Lumious, SD-WAN Academy, Perpetual Solutions. The general list of MEF-ATPs is here.
- Exams locations are coordinated by MEF ATPs. Those who can not travel to a facility are given the option to take exams remotely. Selection options are available in the exam registration.
Step 2, for a MEF Certified Professional having achieved and maintained at least two active certifications for any combination of MEF-SDCP, MEF-CECP and MEF-SNCP, this professional is automatically designated a MEF Network Expert. Those achieving this level are awarded a certificate having a unique ID number and the individuals profile and MEF Network Expert registry highlight this new designation.
Step 3, a significant step above the MEF Network Expert is the MEF Subject Matter Expert (MEF-SME) program. MEF Network Experts having achieved a combined minimum exam score of 90% and have the desire and energy to participate in the MEF-SME program are invited to specific opportunities including, but not limited to: exam certification developments, blueprints, course accreditations, testimonials, presentation opportunities etc., and by scored participation in exam developments can earn designations of Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.
As the MEF Certified Professional and Subject Matter Expert programs evolve, additional levels of accomplishment are added and will provide new and unique benefits.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)