HONG KONG -- 20 January 2000 -- Cisco Systems Asia has opened an advanced networking laboratory in Hong Kong to help its channel partners achieve the highly regarded CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert) status. The expected improvement in high level networking expertise will help Cisco and its partners deliver focused and high-value solutions that meet the needs of an increasingly diverse and demanding customer base.
Located within Cisco's new office complex in the Great Eagle Centre, the CCIE Practice Laboratory features a host of equipment rooms designed to help candidates practice for the stringent CCIE examination. Candidates can then sit for the certification exam in designated exam centres. In Asia Pacific, official CCIE examination labs are located in Sydney, Beijing, Tokyo and Bangalore.
The opening of the new lab in Hong Kong follows the realignment of Cisco's channel organisation to help partners provide customers of different sizes and industries with the highest level of technical excellence.
"Last October we articulated our goal to develop a focused and technically competent channel organisation," said Frankie Sum, managing director of Cisco Systems Hong Kong. "To encourage our channel partners' commitment and help upgrade their level of certification in Cisco services, we also introduced a 'scholarship' programme that would significantly offset the costs of putting their staff through the CCIE training programme.
"This new CCIE Practice Laboratory, together with the scholarship programme demonstrates Cisco's commitment to engaging its channel partners in actively developing technical expertise required in the marketplace," said Sum.
Internationally recognised, the CCIE programme sets the professional benchmark for internetworking expertise, and candidates can achieve certification in one or all of four areas: Routing & Switching, WAN Switching, ISP-Dial and SNA/IP Integration. CCIEs are recognised throughout the internetworking industry as highly qualified professionals whose expertise has been tested and validated.
A candidate for the CCIE certification must have a solid background in internetworking under real world conditions. To earn a CCIE certification, they must first pass a two-hour, written qualification exam, and then a two-day, hands-on lab exam.
"The lab portion of the certification process pits the candidate against difficult network build, break and restore scenarios. It is very demanding and requires a lot of specialised equipment to conduct properly. The CCIE Practice Laboratory will provide a perfect environment for preparing candidates for the CCIE lab exams," said Sum.
"Today's networking environments are very complex and technology is advancing. Customers need to be certain that the people working on mission-critical projects are qualified to do the job. This laboratory will enable our channel partners to assure customers that they are getting the very best in the industry - certified by the industry leader, Cisco Systems."
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