A few years ago, I was working as a consultant with a mid-sized logistics company that had a small but scrappy IT team—just five people holding down the fort. They were juggling everything from network outages to security updates, all while trying to support a growing number of users and locations. Sound familiar?
The problem wasn’t lack of talent—they had some great people. The issue was bandwidth, both in terms of time and technical expertise. They were stuck in reactive mode, always putting out fires, and never quite able to get ahead. That’s when they decided to commit to something big: leveling up their skills through the CCNP Certification Path.
What happened over the next year was nothing short of transformative.
Why the CCNP Certification Path?
You might be wondering: why not just hire more staff or outsource?
Trust me, they tried. But hiring experienced network engineers isn’t cheap, and outsourcing critical infrastructure didn’t align with the company’s goals. Instead, the IT manager (shoutout to Dave!) decided to invest in the team they already had.
After some research—and a few conversations with training providers like Sprintzeal, who offered flexible learning paths—they landed on the CCNP Certification Path as the most strategic choice. It was practical, deeply technical, and aligned with Cisco technologies they already had in place.
Step 1: Choosing the Right CCNP Track
The team wasn’t starting from scratch. Most of them already had their CCNA, so moving into the CCNP Enterprise track made the most sense. It covered routing, switching, and core networking skills they used daily.
Here’s how they broke it down:
- Two team members focused on CCNP Security to shore up their firewall and VPN knowledge.
- The rest chose CCNP Enterprise, zeroing in on core infrastructure and SD-WAN.
- Each person was given dedicated study time weekly, plus access to virtual labs and practice exams.
They weren’t just chasing certs. They were building a foundation to scale the network, improve uptime, and automate routine tasks that were eating up valuable hours.
Step 2: Applying What They Learned in Real Time
One of the smartest moves Dave made was encouraging the team to apply what they were learning immediately.
For example, as they studied advanced routing protocols, they restructured the company’s internal routing to reduce latency across branches. When the security track covered Next-Gen Firewalls, they revamped access policies and caught a misconfigured rule that had been exposing internal services. (Yikes.)
The CCNP training didn’t live in a vacuum. It was plugged directly into daily operations—making every win feel practical and worthwhile.
Step 3: Building Confidence and Autonomy
A few months in, something unexpected happened: the team started asking fewer questions… and solving more problems on their own.
- They scripted automated backups using knowledge from the CCNP labs.
- They implemented monitoring tools and alert systems based on their training.
- They even designed a scalable VPN architecture that made onboarding remote staff a breeze.
They weren’t just following instructions anymore—they were thinking like network architects.
And the best part? You could see the confidence. The sysadmin who once shied away from anything “network-related” was now leading discussions on QoS and traffic shaping.
Step 4: Business Impact and Scaling Up
By the end of the year, the company had grown by 40%, opened two new regional offices, and onboarded over 200 new devices—with zero additional IT hires.
Here’s what changed:
- Network downtime dropped by 60% due to better infrastructure planning.
- Security incidents decreased after better segmentation and firewall configs.
- The IT team became a strategic partner, not just a service desk.
And yes, every single team member passed their CCNP exams—some on the first try, others after retaking a tough core exam or two. But every one of them came out stronger.
Real Lessons from Real People
What made this success story possible wasn’t just the CCNP content (though it’s solid). It was the mindset shift. The team stopped thinking of certifications as boxes to check and started treating them like a tool for growth and operational excellence.
It also helped to have support—from leadership, from a flexible training provider like Sprintzeal, and from each other.
So if you’re reading this wondering whether the CCNP Certification Path is worth it for you or your team, here’s my take:
If you want to build deeper, more applicable networking skills
If you’re ready to take on more responsibility and grow your impact
If you’re in a small IT team feeling stretched too thin
…then it’s absolutely worth it.
Wrapping Up: Your Next Step
Every IT journey is different, but the path to growth almost always involves learning and leveling up. The CCNP Certification Path won’t magically solve all your problems—but it can give you the tools and confidence to build better systems, lead smarter projects, and scale your impact.
If you’re ready to get started, take a look at training options from providers like Sprintzeal or Cisco’s official learning network. Find a track that matches your goals, and start mapping your journey.
