9 Courses for Network Professionals in 2025

Network professionals continually hone their skills to keep informed about technological developments even as they oversee legacy technologies and systems. Education providers keep pace with these knowledge needs, offering a variety of courses geared to professionals who want to sharpen their existing skills as well as classes that introduce more junior staff members to the fundamentals of network management.

Here are nine networking courses for new and veteran networking professionals.

Network fundamentals and beginning courses

1. Introduction to Networking

Offered by NVIDIA through Coursera

This two-module course comprises four videos and takes approximately one hour to complete. It is followed by a 40-minute quiz-exam. The course covers networking fundamentals, including the following:

Price: Check with Coursera.

Best suited for: Junior networking staff who are just starting their careers in networking. Others in IT and user organizations who desire a working knowledge of networks, such as para-networking staff in edge facilities.

2. Network and Systems Administrator Technical Training

Offered by Udemy

This course provides an overview of network and system administration functions, split between 49 separate on-demand video modules and seven articles. There is no final examination, but participants who complete the course receive a certificate of completion.

Course modules cover the following:

Price: As low as $14.99 per student for new learners.

Best suited for: Junior networking, systems, cloud, IT and security staffers advancing along an administrative career path and those who require a complete introduction to Microsoft-based network administrator responsibilities.

3. CompTIA Network+ Prep (N10-009) eLearning Course

Offered by Certstaffix

This is an eight-module, self-paced course delivered in a series of videos that are available over a six-month period. Course modules cover the topics included in the CompTIA Network+ (N10-009) exam, such as the following:

The course also includes four bonus modules in soft skills: time management, digital skills, creativity and general.

Price: $475 per person.

Best suited for: Junior networking, systems, IT and security, and cloud technical and administrative personnel who want to develop their skills to advance their careers.

4. Introduction to Networking and Cloud Computing

Offered by Microsoft through Coursera

This five-module course is designed for those who want to deepen their knowledge of cloud networking. Individual modules take three to six hours to complete and cover the following topics:

Price: Check with Coursera.

Best suited for: Network staff members with junior to intermediate skills who want to broaden their understanding of how networks work in cloud environments, and who work in Microsoft Azure shops.

Intermediate and advanced networking courses

5. Introduction to Network Automation

Offered by Cisco Learning & Certifications through Coursera

Developed for networking professionals at an intermediate skill level, this Cisco network automation course acquaints students with the fundamentals of automation and how it’s used in networks. The course takes two hours to complete and consists of the three following modules:

This course is an entry point into Cisco’s Network Automation Engineering Specialization curriculum, which is a five-part series taken over three months that results in certification.

Price: Check with Coursera.

Best suited for: Intermediate-level network professionals who want to deepen their network automation skills within Cisco environments.

6. Identity and Access Governance

Offered by Udemy

Designed for network security professionals, this course breaks down the differences between identity access governance and identity access management (IAM). It covers the architectures that accommodate both methodologies and provides students with best practices they can use to manage user access and permissions. The course consists of 43 topic lectures accessed through five hours of on-demand video. A course certificate is issued upon successful completion.

Price: Ranges between $74.99-$84.99 and is often discounted.

Best suited for: IAM and cybersecurity consultants and engineers, information security professionals, CISOs and IT professionals.

7. Cybersecurity

Offered by edX

This four-course, eight-month curriculum teaches participants how to set up and secure basic computer systems and networks. It familiarizes students with information security risk management frameworks and methodologies. Additionally, students are taught how to implement network security systems, detect intrusions and conduct a court-admissible digital forensics investigation. The course also covers the following:

Participants receive a certificate after completing the course.

Price: $1,436.40 per student.

Best suited for: Advanced networking staff members who want to deepen their skills in cybersecurity management and techniques.

8. SEC530: Defensible Security Architecture and Engineering: Implementing Zero Trust for the Hybrid Enterprise

Offered by SANS Institute

This is a hands-on class with lab exercises that focus on how to deploy zero-trust networks in hybrid environments. The vendor-neutral curriculum teaches students how to retool network components — such as switches and next-gen firewalls — to ensure they’re resistant to cyberattacks. Course instructors have extensive cyber defense experience. Participants who successfully complete the course receive the Global Information Assurance Certification Defensible Security Architect designation.

Price: $8,780 per student.

Best suited for: Advanced network personnel who work in hybrid computing environments and use zero-trust networks as part of their network security strategy.

9. Internet of Things

Offered by Curtin University through edX

This six-module course focuses on IoT security issues, with topics ranging from programming to combatting attacks geared to IoT sensors and devices. The three-month capstone project calls for participants to design their own IoT security frameworks. Students must pass all five modules to participate in the final project. The course runs for 12 weeks, with a commitment of four to 10 hours per week. Graduates receive a certificate.

Price: $1,544 per student.

Best suited for: Network professionals who work or plan to work in an IoT environment.