Bottom Line: Protocol Analysis Is Good for Professional Development
It's inarguable that a working knowledge of protocol analysis extends the depth and reach of any IT professional's networking knowledge. It also provides a powerful and useful toolbox for troubleshooting network issues or difficulties, with the ability to gather evidence (protocol traces) to document errors, bugs, and a whole host of problems that can bedevil and occasionally even stymie network communications. Anybody who works with networks can benefit from some basic knowledge of this subject. Anyone who wants to be recognized as a bona fide networking expert must go beyond the basics of protocol analysis to take a deep dive into this topic. That's where the certifications covered in this article can be relevant, and they can add value and cachet to any serious networking professional's career development and job options. Be sure to check them out!
Ed Tittel is a long-time networking professional who's best known for creating the Exam Cram series of IT certification preparation books. He also blogs on enterprise Windows desktop and IT career development topics for TechTarget, and for PearsonITCertification.com. His upcoming revision to his college TCP/IP textbook (written with Laura Chappell) is also built around the Wireshark protocol analyzer.