Only a handful of professionals have maintained their CCIE certification for three decades. Salman Asadullah is one of them—and after delivering 300+ customer engagements over the past eight years, including in today’s AI-driven era, he says the certification is more relevant now than ever before.
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Salman Asadullah at Cisco Live Amsterdam to discuss his remarkable certification journey. Thirty years is a long time in technology, and much has evolved over the years.
What would he tell me about the evolution of networking? Would he tell me that AI has made traditional certifications obsolete? Our conversation was a masterclass in why deep technical expertise—the kind you earn through rigorous certification programs—remains critical, even (or especially) in 2026.
From day one to becoming a CCIE: Finding the path to technical excellence
Salman’s journey began in 1995 when he joined Cisco fresh out of school.
“That was my first job,” he told me, smiling at the memory. Working in the technical organization, he quickly learned that there was one clear path: ‘If you want to achieve technical excellence at Cisco, you’ve got to get your CCIE.’
The environment was perfect for learning. Salman spent his days helping customers, configuring solutions, and troubleshooting issues—all while working toward his CCIE certification. In 1996, he achieved that goal, earning what would become the foundation for his entire career.
A different era of testing
When I asked Salman to describe the CCIE exam from 1996, I realized just how much the certification has evolved and how intense it’s always been.
“It used to be just one track—routing and switching—and it used to be a two-day exam,” he explained.
Here’s how it worked: On day one, you’d configure and set up various solutions. Then you’d go home while the proctors graded your work. If you did everything correctly, they would intentionally break your configurations. Day two? You’d come back and troubleshoot everything they had broken.
Building a career on a strong foundation
For Salman, that CCIE certification wasn’t just a badge; it was a launchpad.
“It gave us the foundation for technical excellence and technical acumen,” Salman reflected. And what a career he built on that foundation.
Over his 22-year Cisco career, Salman:
- Became a Distinguished Engineer in 2009.
- Co-authored three books on networking technologies.
- Submitted 13 patents.
- Contributed to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and multiple industry standards.
- Earned recognition as an IPv6 Forum Fellow.
- Recognized as a Broadband Forum Ambassador.
- Earned Cisco Live Hall of Fame Speaker status.
- Became a Cisco Designated VIP.
- Served as a CCIE exam proctor and developer.
“I would say I got a lot of these badges for technical excellence along the way,” he said modestly. But it’s clear that his CCIE was the starting point for all of it.
More tracks, more opportunities, and the power of continuous learning
One aspect of Cisco’s certification program that Salman particularly admires is its evolution alongside the industry.
“The program always addressed what the industry was working on or how it was evolving,” he noted.
When he started, there was only the routing and switching track. Over the years, the program expanded to include Enterprise Infrastructure, Service Provider, Enterprise Wireless, Security, Collaboration, Data Center, and Automation.
Salman believes in maintaining his CCIE certification, and his recertification strategy reveals something important: he used each recertification as an opportunity to learn something new using the Continuing Education program.
“While I was recertifying, I would always pick some new area so I could continue to learn and evolve,” he explained. “I did recertifications in pretty much all the different tracks that were coming along the way.”
This is something I find really exciting about recertification—it’s not just about maintaining your status; it’s about expanding your knowledge and staying relevant in an ever-changing industry.
Why recertification matters
This is something I want to emphasize because it’s easy to view recertification as a chore. Salman sees it as an opportunity.
Benefits of recertification using Continuing Education (CE):
- Stay current with emerging technologies
- Expand your skill set into adjacent areas
- Increase your value to employers and customers
- Keep your problem-solving sharp with new challenges
“There’s a lot of opportunities,” Salman said, “and I actually experienced it firsthand.”
The AI Era: Still critical in 2026
At Cisco Live, AI was everywhere — keynotes, breakout sessions, booth demos. So naturally, I had to ask: Are the skills from 30 years ago still relevant today? Does AI make certifications obsolete?
Salman gave me a perfect real-world example.in 2017, after 22 years at Cisco, he co-founded Netnology, a Cisco services-focused partner organization (with no product reselling), which has since grown into one of Cisco’s top services partners.
Netnology participates in several elite Cisco partner programs, including Mentored Install Network Training (MINT) and CX Professional Services. Over the past 8+ years, the company has delivered 300+ engagements for Cisco with a team of approximately 30 professionals, including 17 CCIE certifications.
In recognition of their impact and excellence, Netnology was honored as the Cisco MINT Partner of the Year in 2023.
“We still need those CCIEs,” he emphasized. “The experience they bring—understanding the planning, designing, implementing, and optimizing of any Cisco solution, is critical.”
He referenced one of his favorite quotes from the Cisco Live keynote by Jeetu Patel, President & Chief Product Officer at Cisco: “Don’t worry about losing your job to AI; worry about losing your job to another person who may use AI more efficiently.”
AI is valuable and can help you work more efficiently, but the deep knowledge and expertise that certifications and years of experience provide remain essential.
“Yes, AI is certainly helping people do certain tasks more efficiently,” he acknowledged. “But we still need those CCIEs to actually execute those engagements.”
Here’s what Salman predicts for 2026
AI is a tool that makes certified professionals more efficient. It can help with:
- Configuration generation.
- Troubleshooting suggestions.
- Documentation.
- Pattern recognition in complex networks.
But AI cannot replace the deep understanding that comes from certification:
- Knowing why a configuration works, not just that it works.
- Understanding the business implications of technical decisions.
- Troubleshooting novel problems AI hasn’t seen before.
- Designing solutions that meet specific customer needs.
“The knowledge of Cisco solutions—planning, designing, implementing, and optimizing—has to be there,” Salman emphasized. “And this whole certification program provides you with that level of expertise.”
Following the path from CCNA to CCIE
One of the biggest changes Salman has witnessed is the certification program’s greater accessibility.
“Back in the day, it was only the CCIE track,” he explained. “Only people working in Cisco’s tech organization or some large service providers were really able to get it.”
Today’s structured path makes it achievable for anyone.
Level 1: CCNA (Associate)
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- Time investment: 3-6 months of focused study
- What you’ll learn: Networking fundamentals, IP connectivity, security basics
- Career impact: Entry-level networking positions, 20-30% salary increase over non-certified peers
Level 2: CCNP (Professional)
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- Time investment: 6-12 months beyond CCNA
- What you’ll learn: Choose from one of seven CCNP tracks (Enterprise, Service Provider, Data Center, Security, Collaboration, Automation, or Cybersecurity) and move beyond basic configuration to master advanced architectural design, network automation, and strategic troubleshooting within your chosen specialization.
- Career impact: Senior engineer roles, project leadership opportunities
Level 3: CCIE (Expert)
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- Time investment: 12-24 months of dedicated preparation
- What you’ll learn: The CCIE is the pinnacle of networking certification, representing the top tier of technical expertise in the industry. It shifts the focus from professional-level implementation to expert-level architectural mastery. A CCIE-certified professional is equipped to design, troubleshoot, and lead the most complex, high-stakes infrastructure projects, serving as a critical advisor for technical strategy and ensuring the highest levels of network reliability and performance
- Career impact: Distinguished engineer paths, consulting opportunities, significant earning potential
Growing the next generation
At Netnology, they run a program specifically for early-in-career engineers, guided by a development track that ensures they master the entire network lifecycle—from Day 0 plan and design to Day 1 deployment and Day 2 operations and optimization:
- Year 1: Complete CCNA, shadow senior engineers on customer projects to learn the fundamentals of Day 1 deployment and Day 2 operations.
- Year 2: Earn CCNP, begin leading smaller implementation projects, taking ownership of Day 1 deployment tasks.
- Year 3+: Work toward CCIE in a specific track, taking on complex customer challenges that involve Day 0 architectural design and high-level Day 2 optimization.
“Most of them have already gotten their CCNAs and CCNPs,” Salman told me, “And they’re now working toward a specific track for their CCIEs.”
This investment ensures the engineers are not just technicians, but lifecycle experts who can see a project through from the initial design phase to long-term performance optimization.
The power of community
Beyond certifications, Salman is also a Cisco Designated VIP, and he spoke passionately about giving back to the community.
“It was always about knowledge transfer and mentoring people,” he said. Through the Cisco community, he helps others solve problems and overcome challenges. “I found that the community is one of the ways to do that,” he explained. “People are putting questions and their problems out there, and you’re voluntarily helping them. Being one of the Cisco experts, you’re helping them get their problems resolved.”
When I asked about the value, his response was immediate. “I believe in it big time,” he told me. “It’s a huge, very nice community, and I see a lot of value in it.”
Six key takeaways
His journey reinforces six key lessons:
- Certifications provide a foundation, not just credentials
The CCIE isn’t a line on your resume; it’s a way of thinking about problems, a depth of knowledge that carries through your entire career. - Recertification = growth opportunity
Don’t just maintain your certification; use it to expand into new areas. Each recertification cycle is a chance to learn something new. - AI enhances—not replaces—expertise
In 2026, certified professionals who leverage AI tools are the most valuable. But the certification knowledge remains essential. - The path is more accessible than ever
With CCNA, CCNP, and CCIE tracks, there’s a clear progression for anyone willing to put in the work. - Community amplifies your impact
Technical excellence matters, but so does giving back. The Cisco community offers a platform to mentor, learn, and grow. - The investment pays long-term dividends
Salman’s 30-year journey proves it: the time you invest in certification compounds over your entire career.
Advice for the next generation
As we wrapped up our conversation, I asked Salman what he’d tell someone early in their career, someone thinking about networking or transitioning into tech.
He paused, then smiled. “Start with the CCNA. Get that foundation. Then keep building.”
After 30 years, Salman Asadullah is still an active CCIE, and he plans to keep it that way.
He sees firsthand that the depth of knowledge certifications provide remains critical. Netnology doesn’t just prefer seasoned CCIEs; it needs them to deliver the level of service its customers expect.
In an industry obsessed with what’s new, Salman’s story reminds us that foundational excellence never goes out of style. AI will come and go in various forms. Technologies will evolve. But the ability to deeply understand, plan, design, implement, and optimize complex systems is timeless.
Ready to start or continue your certification journey? Visit the Cisco Learning Network to explore your path forward.
