What are some effective ways to stay up-to-date with networking technologies?

2 Join online communities and forums

Another way to stay up-to-date with networking technologies is to join online communities and forums where you can interact with other network engineers, ask questions, share experiences, and get feedback. Online communities and forums can also help you discover new resources, tips, and opportunities for learning and networking. Some of the popular online communities and forums for network engineers are Reddit's r/networking, Cisco Community, Spiceworks, and Stack Overflow.

4 Attend webinars and events

Webinars and events are another way to stay up-to-date with networking technologies, as they can provide you with the opportunity to learn from experts, network with peers, and get exposure to new ideas and solutions. Webinars and events can be either online or offline, and can range from free to paid, depending on the organizer and the content. Some of the examples of webinars and events for network engineers are Cisco Live, NANOG, Interop, and Network Field Day.

5 Experiment with labs and projects

Finally, one of the most effective and fun ways to stay up-to-date with networking technologies is to experiment with labs and projects. Labs and projects can help you apply your learning to real-world scenarios, test your skills and knowledge, and challenge yourself to solve problems and create solutions. Labs and projects can also help you explore new technologies, tools, and techniques that you may not encounter in your regular work. You can use online lab platforms, such as Cisco DevNet, GNS3, or Packet Tracer, or create your own lab environment with physical or virtual devices.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?