One of Google's new dedicated pieces of videoconferencing hardware that interoperates directly with ... [+]
GoogleAs the demands and realities of hybrid work start to become more apparent, companies are beginning to face new issues. In particular, there’s growing recognition of the many challenges that organizations are going to face as they begin to integrate more combinations of in-house and remote workers. In short, things were much easier when virtually everyone was remote, but they’re about to get a lot harder.
A big part of the problem has to do with the existing installed base of videoconferencing equipment that companies have within their meeting and conference rooms. The vast majority of the equipment is dedicated and will only work with a single collaboration software package—in many cases, it’s for the quickly disappearing Skype platform.
Recognizing this challenge, Cisco and Google have come together in a major new partnership to offer interoperability for their respective conference room hardware and collaboration software tools. Specifically, as of Q4, you’ll be able to seamlessly join Cisco’s Webex meetings directly from Google Meet hardware (including some intriguing new options that were just introduced today). Conversely, you be able to join Google Meet meetings from Cisco’s line of Webex hardware.
On the one hand, it’s easy to argue that this type of collaboration for the sake of collaboration was absolutely essential, because using multiple videoconferencing tools has become the accepted norm. As the two companies pointed out in a pre-briefing on the announcement, even organizations that have picked one or the other as their corporate standard will almost certainly run into situations where customers and/or partners will be using a different platform. Having room-based hardware that only supports a single platform, therefore, is quickly becoming an untenable option.
The new interoperability announcement between CIsco and Google means that Cisco hardware devices ... [+]
CiscoStill, it is impressive to see Google and Cisco overcome not only the technical hurdles necessary to make their systems interoperate, but the competitive challenges that these types of co-opetition arrangements inevitably raise. Of course, what we really need is hardware that can also integrate with Zoom and Microsoft Teams, but this is a very important first step towards cross-platform interoperability that I’m sure (or, at least, strongly hope!) will be replicated many times over in the coming months.
What’s particularly noteworthy about this announcement is that the companies moved well beyond simple sharing of audio and video streams. Cisco and Google worked to incorporate many critical hardware-based capabilities, including things like automatically muting of extraneous audio, blurring backgrounds, leveraging automatic camera zooming tools to the current speaker, and much more. Even more interestingly, on the software side, they thought through details like overlaying Webex-style controls during Google Meet meetings if you join from a Cisco device and vice versa if you join from a Google hardware device into a Webex meeting. They’ve also made the ability to join meetings with a single touch work seamlessly across either platform. While these details may seem somewhat subtle, they reflect how the companies want to leverage the comfort that their existing users have with their method of operation, while still offering the ability to connect to other platforms. In my mind, that’s a very nice touch.
On top of that, the companies were also able to integrate some of the native capabilities of one platform into another. For example, the voice-based assistants that each platform offers natively, such as Webex Voice Assistant and Hey Google, can be used while connecting to meetings on the other platform. To be sure, there’s more work to be done, especially in areas like leveraging add-on whiteboarding and other collaboration software tools that extend the capabilities of these platforms. Still, it’s clear that the two companies are dedicated to addressing issues over time.
Another interesting implication of this collaboration has to do with the overall philosophy and approach that will be needed to ensure interoperability in the future. For a while, many in the industry have discussed the need to coordinate or federate communications across platforms at the server or cloud level. With this announcement, however, the focus is shifting towards an endpoint-based solution that can interoperate with existing server and cloud-based tools. How this ultimately works out remains to be seen, but it certainly does appear to be a significant step in a new direction.
As mentioned earlier, alongside this announcement, Google also debuted some new Google Meet hardware devices. The Google Series One Desk 27 is Google’s standalone hardware solution, incorporating a 27” high-resolution QVGA (2,560 x 1,440) touch-capable display, along with a 2,560 x 1,920 resolution webcam with a 100° field of view, built-in soundbar and adjustable stand. Priced at $1,999, the Desk 27 also features multiple USB-C ports, allowing it to also be utilized as a second monitor for a laptop or other PC. The company’s new integrated display room solution is the $6,999 Series One Board 65, which incorporates a 4K resolution 65” touch-capable display, a 4K, 12 MegaPixel camera, a stereo sound bar and similar USB-C connectivity. Both devices come with styli for easier whiteboarding support with the integrated JamBoard software, and include autoframing of the video, voice-based operation with Hey Google, and automatic noise removal, among other capabilities. All told, it’s an impressive set of offerings that puts Google on par with some of the best videoconferencing hardware from Cisco and Microsoft.
Leveraging multiple videoconferencing tools on PCs has become second nature for virtually everyone that has worked remotely, but as more employees start to return to the office, the need to make the room-based tools equally simple to interoperate across platforms is quickly going to become critical. As a result, it’s great to see Cisco and Google come together to take this important first step in improving hybrid work collaboration. While there are more companies that need to be involved and more work that needs to be done, this looks to be a great first effort.
Disclosure: TECHnalysis Research is a tech industry market research and consulting firm and, like all companies in that field, works with many technology vendors as clients, some of whom may be listed in this article.
It was about this time last year that some CEOs stood up, pounded their tables, and announced, “Everyone back to the office after Labor Day.”
And it’s clear what happened. In the interaction between many millions of workers in a hard-to-hire atmosphere; public opinion that held if people could work at home during the pandemic, they probably could at least part of the time now; and executives demanded compliance; hybrid work was largely the winner.
Even Wall Street, loudest in its demands for in-office, has had to deal with major resistance. A Deloitte and Workplace Intelligence survey this month of 700 full-time financial services executives with job titles of manager or equivalent and above but not CXO found that 66% would quit if required to work in the office all week. That’s a lot of talent to replace if a company had to.
The reality of what people are willing to do to keep a level of convenience and work-life balance helps explain the approach tech giant Cisco has been taking since at least April 2023, according to a company article at the time by Kevin Delaney, a former New York Times editor.
“Today, the very concept of work — how we do it, where, and with whom — is being upended,” he wrote. “And many employees will run the other way from bland, impersonal cubicles and rigid, 9-to-5 in-office workweeks. But the office experience remains highly relevant. It just needs to be reimagined for the hybrid-work revolution.”
“If we’ve learned anything during the pandemic,” said Mark Miller, Cisco’s Director of hybrid work strategy in Cisco Collaboration Sales in the article, “it’s that focused work, individual work can be done remotely. And the reality is, when people come back to the office, they come back to collaborate or socialize. They come back to be around others. And largely, that’s what’s been driving our real estate strategy here at Cisco.”
That is a different approach from the amenities landlords are offering to lure employees back to the office in a move to keep corporations leasing space, as GlobeSt.com reported in the March/April 2023 edition of the Real Estate Forum.
“People are going to come into the office for engaging more with each other, rather than going out and getting work done in their cubicle,” Jeetu Patel, Cisco’s executive vice president and general manager of security and collaboration, recently told Fortune. “We have to reimagine, fundamentally, what the workspace of the future is going to look like.”
Individual teams decide on policy of working in-house or not. There’s also a strong emphasis on being in the office for specific types of activities, like meeting customers.
Cisco has already moved its Atlanta and New York City locations to have fewer offices, video in almost every room, and no designated desks for employees. There are open area collaborative spaces that small groups can use for meetings. Boardrooms are triangular so people in person can see those dialing in remotely. The company will likely expand this to most “tier one” cities.
This is easier for Cisco than many other companies because it is a major manufacturer of telecommunications and video conferencing equipment. However, the principles are the same for other companies and industries.
More organisations are adopting hybrid work across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region but the experience for many workers is less than ideal, according to a senior Cisco executive.
Speaking to Computer Weekly on a accurate visit to Singapore, Jeetu Patel, executive vice-president and general manager of security and collaboration at Cisco, said with most meetings having at least one remote participant, spaces will need to be configured not only for people in a physical meeting room, but also for those who are not in the room.
“Today, if you have four people in a conference room and three people who are not in the room, the experience for the three people is not that great because what happens is someone invariably gets up and starts drawing on a whiteboard.
“They wouldn’t know what’s going on and won’t be able to read the facial expressions and non-verbal cues of those in the room. That’s such an important part of communication,” he said.
Patel said Cisco has been working on solving that problem for the past 18 months to make sure hybrid work arrangements will deliver everyone in a meeting, whether they are participating virtually or in person, a seat at the table.
This can be done through its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that work behind the scenes to remove background noise and zoom in on everyone in the room, in addition to digital whiteboards that meeting participants can use to jot down or edit content during a meeting.
“We want to make sure our AI capabilities can take the experience to the next level. We started with predictive AI, and now, with generative AI, it gets even better. If you missed a meeting, we could tell you what you missed based on the permissions you had on the meetings you could have attended but chose not to,” Patel said.
While organisations in APAC have been progressive in adopting hybrid work arrangements, Patel cautioned them against making the mistake of mandating that employees work in the office all the time.
“It’s much better to create a magnet than a mandate,” he said. “Give people a reason to come back to the office because when they collaborate in the office, there’s going to be this X factor that they don’t get when they are 100% remote.”
Patel said adopting hybrid work would also help organisations recruit the best talent from anywhere in the world, enabling more people to participate equally in a global economy.
“The opportunity is very unevenly distributed right now, but human potential is pretty evenly distributed, so it would be nice if anyone in a village in Bangladesh can have the same economic opportunity as someone in Silicon Valley.
“Most of the time, the mindset is that you are distance-bound, so if you don’t happen to be in the same geography, then you don’t have access to opportunity. That’s a very archaic way of thinking and we need to think about this in a much more progressive manner,” he said.
But societal changes are needed to maximise the potential of a hybrid workforce. For one thing, business leaders will have to learn how to build relationships with people without meeting them in person.
“A 30-minute video conference is usually very structured. There’s an agenda and an end. If no one’s talking after 23 minutes, someone will invariably say we can deliver you back seven minutes. That always happens.
“But when you have dinner with someone – if there’s a lull, you don’t just say you’re going to leave. You’ll ask about that person’s family or whatever it might be. Those questions deliver you context and texture about the person, which creates familiarity and the ability to engage in debate without taking things personally. And conflict is such a necessary condition of business that if you don’t have that familiarity, it doesn’t work.”
Enabling hybrid work also brings with it a set of security considerations. Patel said while there is an implicit level of trust between people about who they are when they are engaged in a face-to-face conversation, that trust needs to be present in a hybrid work environment as well.
“How do you prevent deep fakes from coming into a meeting? How do you make sure your private data does not get stolen? How do you create security conditions so that people can use the systems without worrying about being hacked?
“Those are the baseline security capabilities that you need in any hybrid work solution. I would take it a step further and say that in the future, the absence of security will completely deter anyone from using a system,” he said.
CRN is live in San Diego for Cisco Live 2019. Bookmark this page for the latest news, videos and exclusive videos from the show floor.
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Corporate voice and telephony services have transformed from traditional public-switched telephone networks (PSTNs) and private branch exchanges (PBXs) to voice over IP (VoIP) and IP PBXs, often combined with digital fax, videoconferencing, instant messaging and mobile communications. That means VoIP and telephony certifications now focus on digital communications, along with a good mix of IP networking protocols and methods to support such traffic and to maintain service quality.
In this article, we feature five solid VoIP and telephony certifications from Avaya, Certification Partners, Cisco, Digium (Asterisk) and Microsoft. Unified communications cover a lot of voice and telephony ground, and it adds video and other solutions to the lineup as well.
Salary is a significant consideration when deciding whether to pursue a VoIP and telephony certification. SimplyHired lists $106,149 as the average salary for a VoIP engineer, although Glassdoor‘s average for a VoIP engineer is noticeably lower at $83,772. Still, a salary just under $85,000 is a worthwhile goal in the industry, with a good growth path into more senior positions readily attainable.
To help determine our top five VoIP and telephony certifications, we performed an informal job board survey. That data indicates the number of job posts in which our featured certifications were mentioned on one specific day. The data should deliver you an idea of the relative popularity of each certification. [Interested in Business Phone Systems? Check out our top picks.]
Job Board Search Results (in alphabetical order, by certification)
| Certification | SimplyHired | Indeed | LinkedIn Jobs | Linkup | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACIS (Avaya) | 142 | 172 | 57 | 94 | 468 |
| CCNP: Collaboration (Cisco) | 489 | 567 | 348 | 309 | 1,713 |
| CTP (Certification Partners) | 64 | 25 | 101 | 167 | 357 |
| dCAP (Asterisk) | 14 | 14 | 18 | 3 | 49 |
| MCSE: Productivity (Microsoft) | 252 | 294 | 136 | 137 | 819 |
ACIS: Avaya Certified Implementation Specialist
Avaya is one of the leading solution providers of business communications and collaboration systems. As a spinoff of Lucent Technologies, itself an offspring of Bell Labs, Avaya’s roots are firmly planted in telephony. Certification solution tracks are currently offered in two concentrations: sales and sdesign, and services.
The Avaya Certified Implementation Specialist (ACIS) certification falls into the Services track and recognizes an individual’s ability to install, deploy, test and troubleshoot Avaya products at a beginning to intermediate skill level. Several credentials are available for the ACIS certification:
- Avaya IP Office Contact Center
- Avaya CallPilot
- Avaya Communication Server 1000 for Avaya Aura
- Avaya Aura Contact Center
- Avaya Aura Contact Center CCT and Multimedia
- Avaya Aura Call Center Elite – New
Candidates interested in the Sales and Design solution track should check out the Avaya Certified Design Specialist (ACDS), Avaya Professional Design Specialist (APDS) and the Avaya Professional Sales Specialist (APSS) certifications.
Note: Some Avaya credentials are available only to Avaya partners and associates, while others are open to all takers. See the Avaya Professional Credential Program Overview for details. Individuals not affiliated with a specific organization can create a “non-relationship” account on the Avaya Learning site to purchase a certification exam.
For most topics, Avaya recommends candidates have two years of experience in relevant technologies plus one more year implementing the core product. Each ACIS certification remains valid for two years.
ACIS facts and figures
| Certification Name | Avaya Certified Implementation Specialist (ACIS) |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites & Required Courses | Training recommended. Candidates should check the certification page for individual solution track for details. Training costs vary by solution track, but candidates can expect to pay $1,400 to $3,500 per course. Some tracks recommend multiple courses.
Two years of experience in relevant technologies plus one year of experience in implementing the Avaya products recommended. |
| Number of Exams | One or more exams per credential.
See the test and training requirements for each credential. Visit the Credential Program web page, click the ACIS box twice in the Services Credentials category and then click on each ACIS credential listed on the right side of the page. |
| Cost per Exam | Most exams are $125. Exams administered by Pearson VUE or online through the Avaya Learning Center. |
| URL | https://www.avaya-learning.com/lms/#/credentials/credential-program (Services Credentials category) |
| Self-Study Materials | Avaya Learning Partners offer training for each exam; costs range from $1,400 to $3,500 per course. |
CCNP Collaboration: Cisco Certified Network Professional Collaboration
Cisco remains one of the world’s dominant IP telephony players. Its Collaboration certifications are available at associate, professional and expert levels, where our top-five pick is the mid-level Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP).
The Collaboration certification portfolio is geared toward network professionals and network engineers who work with voice and video, particularly Cisco Collaboration solutions. Targeted skills include configuring and implementing Cisco Collaboration solutions, planning and designing video network collaborations, and maintaining implemented solutions.
Candidates are required to pass four exams to earn the CCNP Collaboration credential. Training is optional but recommended. Candidates can expect to pay about $3,800 for live classroom or virtual courses.
Recertification is required every three years for CCNPs. To maintain this credential, holders must pass any current 642-XXX or 300-XXX professional-level exam, any CCIE written exam, any CCDE written or practical exam, or the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview and board review.
CCNP collaboration facts and figures
| Certification Name | Cisco Certified Network Professional Collaboration (CCNP Collaboration) |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites & Required Courses | A valid CCNA Collaboration certification or any Cisco CCIE or CCDE certification. Training recommended but not required. |
| Number of Exams | Four exams:
300-070: Implementing Cisco IP Telephony & Video, Part 1 (CIPTV1) 300-075: Implementing Cisco IP Telephony & Video, Part 2 (CIPTV2) 300-080: Troubleshooting Cisco IP Telephony & Video (CTCOLLAB) 300-085: Implementing Cisco Collaboration Application v1.0 (CAPPS) Each exam: 75 minutes in length, 50-75 questions |
| Cost per Exam | $300 per exam, $1,200 total. Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
| URL | http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/professional/ccnp-collaboration.html |
| Self-Study Materials | Cisco maintains links to the course syllabus, study groups, test prep materials, practice exams and more on the Cisco Learning Network Collaboration (CCNP) web page. test pages also contain links to instructor-led training and e-learning opportunities. Numerous collaboration publications are available through Cisco Press. |
CTP: Certification Partners Convergence Technologies Professional
The vendor-neutral CTP certification was developed by Certification Partners and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). It’s also endorsed by industry leaders such as Cisco, Avaya, Mitel, Toshiba and Vertical. Many of these leaders either accept the CTP as a stepping stone or prerequisite to their credential programs or recommend the CTP for training and preparation. Certification Partners maintains a complete list of endorsements from telecommunication leaders.
The CTP requires the successful completion of one test that focuses on methods, concepts and best practices in the following areas:
- Data and internet protocol (IP) networking for convergent networks
- Voice and telephony services, functions, and technologies
- Convergence technologies
Certification Partners also offers the Convergent Network Technologies (CCNT) certification, which aims at professionals who sell and support convergence services, as well as the CIW certifications in networking and security, web technologies and design and development. Candidates interested in working in the field of convergence who do not yet possess the requisite experience are advised to first obtain the CCNT credential and then gain the required experience.
Certification Partners does not require recertification to maintain the CTP.
CTP facts and figures
| Certification Name | Convergence Technologies Professional (CTP) |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites & Required Courses | CCNT recommended or a minimum of 18 to 24 months of experience in all three knowledge domain areas: Data and Internet Protocol Networking for Convergent Networks; Voice and Telephony Services, Functions and Technologies; and Convergence Technologies.
Training strongly recommended. |
| Number of Exams | One exam: TT0-201 (administered through CTC Online), 65 questions, 90 minutes, 75 percent required to pass. |
| Cost per Exam | $225 |
| URL | http://www.ctpcertified.com/certification |
| Self-Study Materials | CTP training is recommended; five-day instructor-led training, $3,395 (includes study guides and test voucher). CTP training products are available from the CTP store (student courseware $199). |
dCAP: Digium Certified Asterisk Professional
Since its humble beginnings as an open source project in 1999, Asterisk has grown exponentially and become a well-recognized and respected framework for communication and conference servers, VoIP gateways and IP PBX systems. Asterisk can be found in more than 170 countries, powering more than 2 million servers worldwide. Per Digium (which maintains Asterisk in conjunction with the Asterisk community), Asterisk runs in most of the Fortune 1000 companies.
With such widespread popularity, it’s only natural that professionals with Asterisk skills are in demand. To meet industry needs, Digium offers several training courses (Asterisk Essentials, Fast Start and Advanced), as well as the Digium Certified Asterisk Professional (dCAP) and Digium Certified Asterisk Administrator (dCAA) certifications.
The dCAP targets experienced Asterisk professionals. Candidates are expected to possess real-world experience (typically a minimum of three to 24 months), in-depth knowledge of Linux (basic administration, manipulating files and modifying configuration files) and Asterisk experience (installation, Asterisk dial plan format and syntax, use of basic CLI commands and registration of VoIP devices). Other recommended skills include basic programming and scripting languages (Perl, Bash, C and/or C++, for example) and an understanding of VoIP protocols.
Candidates must pass a two-part exam, which consists of a written test and a practical lab test (in which you configure a PBX), to earn the credential. While there are no prerequisites, the Asterisk Advanced training course is highly recommended before attempting the exam.
Although the Digium website doesn’t specify recertification requirements, dCAP certification is granted for a “specific released, stable version of Asterisk.”
dCAP Facts and Figures
| Certification Name | Digium Certified Asterisk Professional (dCAP) |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites & Required Courses | None required. Asterisk Advanced training course highly recommended, along with 3 to 24 months of real-world experience, working knowledge of setting up and maintaining an Asterisk server, and familiarity with Asterisk sample configuration files. (Training costs approximately $2,650.) |
| Number of Exams | Two exams (115-question written exam, plus a practical lab exam). |
| Cost per Exam | $510. Prices may vary by geography. |
| URL | www.digium.com/training/asterisk/certifications/dcap |
| Self-Study Materials | Training courses available. Recommended reading: Asterisk: The Definitive Guide, 4th edition, by Russell Bryant, Leif Madsen and Jim Van Meggelen. O’Reilly Media: May 2013. ISBN-13: 978-1-4493-3242-6 ($46.99 for eBook, $54.99 for print version). |
MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert): Productivity
Microsoft rolled out several new MCSE certifications in 2016, including the MCSE: Productivity. Although this certification is geared toward enterprise-grade hybrid and cloud solutions for Microsoft Office, it allows candidates to specialize in any of several Microsoft technologies, including Skype for Business.
To obtain the MCSE: Productivity credential, candidates must first obtain the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA): Office 365, MCSA: Windows Server 2012 or MCSA Windows Server 2016 certification. Then, they must pass an elective test from an approved list. Currently, there are eight different exams to choose from. In addition, Microsoft recommends at least three years of experience.
The MCSE: Productivity credential doesn’t expire. However, credential holders are encouraged to re-earn the certification each year by passing another elective exam. Doing so indicates your desire to stay current on technologies and broaden your skillset, and you’ll post another entry to your certification transcript.
MSCE Productivity facts and figures
| Certification Name | MCSE: Productivity |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites & Required Courses | MCSA: Office 365, MCSA: Windows Server 2012 or MCSA Windows Server 2016 certification.
Three or more years of experience recommended |
| Number of Exams | Candidates must pass one of the following exams:
Exam 70-345: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Exam 70-339: Managing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016 Exam 70-333: Deploying Enterprise Voice with Skype for Business 2015 Exam 70-334: Core Solutions of Microsoft Skype for Business 2015 Exam 70-331: Core Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Exam 70-332: Advanced Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Exam 70-341: Core Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Exam 70-342: Advanced Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 |
| Cost per Exam | $165 per exam. Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
| URL | https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcse-productivity-certification.aspx |
| Self-Study Materials | Microsoft Learning provides links to training, practice exams by third-party vendors (including MeasureUp), case studies, test study groups and more. Links to community support forums and other resources are listed on each test web page. Microsoft also offers various training options through its Microsoft Official Courses On-Demand (MOC On-Demand) program. |
Beyond the top five: More VoIP and telephony certifications
The SIP School, a part of Vocale Ltd. in the U.K., offers a range of affordable, vendor-neutral VoIP and SIP certifications, including the SIP School VVoIP Professional (SSVVP). The SSVVP was on our top five list for the last few years but was replaced by the MCSE: Productivity in 2018, owing mainly to interest from employers.
The ZyXEL Certified Network Professional – VoIP (ZCNP VoIP) is another good certification, which is vendor-specific and therefore geared toward networking professionals who support ZyXEL products.
3CX offers a certification program for professionals who deploy, manage and support 3CX IP PBX systems. The 3CX credentials are offered in three tiers: basic, intermediate and advanced.
Lots of community colleges and universities offer network VoIP and telephony courses or certificate programs as well, such as Florida Community College, College of DuPage and Riverland Community College.
As of August 17, 2023, Cisco Systems Inc (NASDAQ:CSCO) stock price is $54.99, showing a daily gain of 3.83% and a 3-month gain of 16.38%. With an Earnings Per Share (EPS) of 2.78, the question arises: is the stock fairly valued? This article aims to answer this question through a comprehensive valuation analysis of Cisco Systems. We encourage you to read on for a deeper understanding of the company's value.
Company Snapshot
Cisco Systems is the world's largest provider of networking equipment and one of the largest software companies. It boasts leading market shares in selling networking hardware and software, as well as cybersecurity software like firewalls. Additionally, Cisco Systems offers collaboration products, such as its Webex suite, and observability tools. The company primarily outsources its manufacturing to third parties and has a large sales and marketing staff25,000 strong across 90 countries. Overall, Cisco employs 80,000 employees and sells its products globally. With a market cap of $224.10 billion and a stock price of $54.99, it matches closely with the GF Value of $54.79, indicating that the stock is fairly valued.
Understanding GF Value
The GF Value is a proprietary measure of a stock's intrinsic value, calculated based on three factors: historical trading multiples, a GuruFocus adjustment factor based on past performance and growth, and future business performance estimates. The GF Value Line represents the fair value at which the stock should ideally be traded. If the stock price is significantly above the GF Value Line, it is overvalued and its future return is likely to be poor. Conversely, if it is significantly below the GF Value Line, its future return will likely be higher. Currently, Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) appears to be fairly valued based on the GF Value calculation.
Financial Strength
Investing in companies with low financial strength could result in permanent capital loss. Therefore, it's important to review a company's financial strength before deciding to buy shares. Cisco Systems has a cash-to-debt ratio of 2.77, which ranks better than 63.19% of companies in the Hardware industry. Based on this, GuruFocus ranks Cisco Systems's financial strength as 8 out of 10, suggesting a strong balance sheet.
Profitability and Growth
Investing in profitable companies, especially those with consistent profitability over the long term, is typically less risky. Cisco Systems has been profitable 10 over the past 10 years. Over the past twelve months, the company had a revenue of $54.90 billion and Earnings Per Share (EPS) of $2.78. Its operating margin is 26.48%, which ranks better than 96.82% of companies in the Hardware industry. Overall, the profitability of Cisco Systems is ranked 9 out of 10, indicating strong profitability.
Growth is a crucial factor in the valuation of a company. Cisco Systems's 3-year average revenue growth rate is worse than 57.65% of companies in the Hardware industry. Its 3-year average EBITDA growth rate is 1%, which ranks worse than 67.56% of companies in the Hardware industry.
ROIC vs WACC
Comparing a company's return on invested capital (ROIC) to the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is another way of determining its profitability. For the past 12 months, Cisco Systems's ROIC is 14.73, and its cost of capital is 10.46, suggesting that the company is creating value for shareholders.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the stock of Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:CSCO) appears to be fairly valued. The company's financial condition is strong and its profitability is strong. Its growth ranks worse than 67.56% of companies in the Hardware industry. To learn more about Cisco Systems stock, you can check out its 30-Year Financials here.
To find out the high-quality companies that may deliver above-average returns, please check out GuruFocus High Quality Low Capex Screener.
This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
The need for today’s organizations to share information, along with proliferation of high-speed broadband, has driven the global unified communications (UC) market for the past decade, if not longer. UC streamlines communications so that geologically-dispersed employees can interact digitally as if they’re in the same office, even if they’re located thousands of miles apart.
Centralized administration also makes UC popular with IT managers because it reduces the time and effort needed to support and secure corporate communications of all kinds. Because of a need for specialized skills to make large-scale UC implementations run their best, top UC vendors offer certifications to buttress and boost workforce capability and quality.
Simply Hired lists $91,623 as the average salary for a UC engineer’s role, with highest salaries reported at $139,737. Glassdoor lists UC salaries as high as $166,000 for senior and UC engineer positions. UC engineer salaries declined slightly from previous years with the average down from $94,354 to $91,623 (a dip of just under three percent). While this dip could just represent normal market fluctuations, it is a trend worth watching because we also observed a slight salary decrease last year.
We dug into various job boards to see how many UC jobs are available, specifically targeting jobs that called out one or more of our top five certifications: Avaya ACSS, CCIE Collaboration, CCNP Collaboration, IBM Sametime and MCSE: Productivity.
ACSS: Avaya Certified Solution Specialist
For IT professionals supporting Avaya products, the ACSS is a must-have credential. The company updated its certification programs in late 2015 and currently offers two separate professional certification tracks:
Sales and Design – this track offers three credentials:
- Avaya Professional Sales Specialist (APSS)
- Avaya Certified Design Specialist (ACDS)
- Avaya Professional Design Specialist (APDS)
Services – this track is aligned with Avaya engagement solutions and products, so you’ll see two flavors for some of the certifications depending on which solution track (product or engagement solution) is targeted. Avaya currently offers the following Services credentials:
- Avaya Support Professional Specialist (ASPS)
- Avaya Implementation Professional Specialist (AIPS)
- ACSS: Avaya Certified Solution Specialist (ACSS) (engagement solution) and Avaya Certified Support Specialist (ACSS) (product)
- ACIS: Avaya Certified Integration Specialist (ACIS) (engagement solutions) and Avaya Certified Implementation Specialist (ACIS) (product)
The advanced-level ACSS cert targets more experienced Avaya practitioners both in support specialist and product specialist roles, covering 19 individual credentials. Candidates should possess technical skills sufficient to configure, install and administer Avaya products. Also, they should be well-versed in Avaya product maintenance, and in testing product implementations and troubleshooting issues. Successful candidates typically possess at least two years’ direct experience supporting Avaya products and four years working with the chosen Avaya technology. Each certification is valid for two years.
Requirements to obtain the ACSS certification depend on which credential one chooses to pursue. For information on prerequisite skills, curriculum maps, required training and the number of exams for individual credentials, visit Avaya’s credential program webpage. (Click the Services Credentials tab, then click on the ACSS button to view the full Catalog. Additional program information appears in the Avaya Professional Credential Program Overview.)
ACSS Facts and Figures
| Certification Name | Avaya Certified Solution Specialist (ACSS) |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites & Required Courses | Minimum of 4 years’ experience in the relevant technology plus 2 years’ experience supporting the Avaya product. Training is required and available in multiple formats (classroom, virtual classroom and on-demand); depending on solution track. Expect to pay between $3,500 and $4,500 per classroom course, or $1,400 per 16-hour course, and $2,100 per 24-hour course in the virtual classroom or on-demand. |
| Number of Exams | One test per credential |
| Cost of Exam | $125
Exams administered by Pearson VUE |
| URL | https://www.avaya-learning.com/lms/#/credentials/credential-program |
| Self-Study Materials | None |
CCCIE Collaboration: Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert Collaboration
Cisco offers its CCIE Collaboration certification, which identifies expert skills in unified communications, video and telecom. Only the cream of the crop earns the CCIE, and CCIE Collaboration is no exception.
The expert-level CCIE Collaboration credential recognizes seasoned collaboration and UC architects, as well as voice and video network managers, who design, deploy and troubleshoot enterprise collaboration solutions that are moderately to highly complex. Although the certification requires no prerequisites or specific training, Cisco designed the CCIE Collaboration for individuals with true expertise and lots of relevant experience (three to five years, minimum) with UC solution integration, configuration and troubleshooting.
Like other CCIE certs, the certification has a written qualification test and a hands-on lab exam, both of which are rigorous and often take multiple attempts to pass. Cisco includes emerging technologies in its assessments. A great value-add available through the Cisco 360 Learning Program for CCIE Collaboration is remote access to an online environment that contains equipment to practice hands-on for the lab exam.
CCIE credential holders must recertify every two years or it will be suspended. It’s the responsibility of the credential holder to keep track of their individual recertification deadline. You can apply for a one-year extension to complete re-cert requirements, but if you miss that deadline, your certification is lost forever.
Recertification involves passing a single exam. Currently, acceptable recertification exams include any current CCIE written or lab exam, or a current CCDE written or practical exam. Credential holders may also recertify by passing the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview and board review. Alternatively, credential holders may recertify through participation in the Cisco Continuing Education Program (CEP). To recertify through the CEP, credential holders must earn 100 continuing education credits, pay a $300 administrative fee, and agree to CEP terms and conditions.
CCIE Collaboration Facts and Figures
| Certification Name | Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) Collaboration |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites & Required Courses | No course prerequisites. In-depth understanding of test subjects plus three to five years of job experience recommended. |
| Number of Exams | Two exams: Written qualification test (Exam 400-051 version 2.0: CCIE Collaboration), 90 to 110 questions, 120 minutes.
Hands-on lab test (Version 2.0), 8 hours. |
| Cost of Exam | Written exam: $450, test 400-051
Lab exam: $1,600 per attempt |
| URL | https://learningnetwork.cisco.com/community/certifications/ccie_collaboration |
| Self-Study Materials | Written exam: The CCIE written exam website maintains a list of Cisco Press resources, reference and design guides, training, self-assessment tools, and more. Additional self-study resources are available from the Cisco Learning Network Store.
CCIE Lab Exam: The Cisco Learning Network maintains a list of self-study resources for the CCIE lab exam. CCIE Practice Exam: Udemy offers a practice test with weekly-updated Questions and Answers as the final prep for the CCIE. |
CCNP Collaboration: Cisco Certified Network Professional Collaboration
The intermediate-level CCNP Collaboration recognizes network engineers who are well versed in Cisco Voice and UC devices and applications in enterprise networks.
Four exams are required to qualify for the CCNP Collaboration credential. A certified candidate designs, implements, configures, manages and troubleshoots Cisco UC applications, networks and devices. Candidates should have in-depth knowledge of all facets of unified networking, including gateways, IP phones, quality of service (QoS), voice, video and presence applications, and utilities for configuring Cisco routers and switches, in addition to one to three years’ experience with these technologies.
Training is recommended but not required. Cisco offers in-depth training courses, both in the classroom and online, for each exam. Depending on the training provider, classroom live and virtual classroom live courses cost approximately $3,795, while online self-paced courses start at about $1,100. Training courses typically last five days.
The CCNP Collaboration, like all Cisco professional-level certifications, requires recertification every three years. To recertify, you must pass one Cisco test before your cert’s expiration date. Acceptable exams include any current 642-XXX professional-level exam, any 300-XXX professional-level exam, any CCIE written exam, any CCDE written or practical exam, or passing the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview and board review.
CCNP Collaboration Facts and Figures
IBM Certified System Administrator: Sametime V9.0
The intermediate-level IBM Sametime administrator credential aims at systems administrators with existing skills and hands-on experience in IBM Sametime 9.0. Candidates must understand architectural considerations when running IBM Sametime within an IBM WebSphere environment. They must also demonstrate their knowledge of Sametime deployment and audio/video configuration within Sametime, along with management, troubleshooting, performance monitoring and optimization techniques.
The certification requires candidates to pass a 78-question multiple-choice exam, to be completed in no more than 105 minutes. IBM emphasizes the need for hands-on experience before tackling this exam, stating that “direct application of the skills learned cannot be substituted” with any of the self-study materials. The test measures a candidate’s knowledge of task performance rather than memorization of features and functions.
In addition to the Certified System Administrator credential, IBM also offers two related certifications:
- IBM Certified Associate – Sametime 9.0: This is an entry-level certification for professionals with knowledge regarding the use and administration of an IBM Sametime environment. Successful candidates should possess a basic understanding of UC concepts, databases, and IBM WebSphere and IBM Domino V9.0 environments.
- IBM Certified Advanced System Administrator – Sametime 9.0: This is an advanced professional-level credential for system administrators, application, infrastructure and solution architects. It requires an understanding of the WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment and Liberty Profile environments. Candidates must first obtain the Certified System Administrator credential and then pass an additional exam.
The IBM Certified System Administrator – IBM Lotus Sametime 8.5 credential is still available for those working in Lotus Sametime 8.5 environments.
While IBM certifications are evergreen and don’t expire, the same cannot be said for technology. Credential holders should plan to move up and recertify on new technology as it becomes available.
IBM Certified System Administrator – Sametime V9.0 Facts and Figures
| Certification Name | IBM Certified System Administrator – Sametime V9.0 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites | Basic IBM Sametime administration knowledge plus hands-on experience with IBM Sametime V9.0 |
| Number of Exams | One exam: Exam C2040-413: IBM Sametime 9.0 Administration (78 questions, 105 minutes, 52 questions required to pass) |
| Cost of Exam | $200. Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
| URL | https://www.ibm.com/certify/cert?id=14011704 |
| Self-Study Materials | IBM maintains a list of test objectives, Technotes, product documentation and web resources for the exam. Also, candidates can purchase a web-based sample/practice test (number A2040-413 Assessment: IBM Sametime 9.0 Administration) from Pearson VUE for $30. |
MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert): Productivity
The MCSE: Productivity certification targets professionals supporting enterprise-grade hybrid and cloud solutions for Microsoft Office. Key technologies include Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Office, Exchange, Skype for Business and SharePoint.
To obtain the MCSE: Productivity credential, candidates must first obtain the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA): Office 365, MCSA: Windows Server 2012 or MCSA Windows Server 2016 certification. Then, they must pass one additional test from an approved list. Currently, there are eight different exams to choose from. In addition, Microsoft recommends three to four years of experience.
The Microsoft Certification Program underwent extensive changes in September 2016. Once you earn one of the latest MCSE credentials, you do not have to recertify within three years as was the case in the past. However, by passing an elective test each calendar year, you add an entry to your transcript that indicates your commitment to staying current on technologies and expanding your skillset.
MCSE: Productivity Facts and Figures
| Certification Name | Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Productivity |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites & Required Courses | MCSA: Office 365, MCSA: Windows Server 2012 or MCSA Windows Server 2016 certification
Three or more years of experience recommended. |
| Number of Exams | Candidates must pass one of the following exams:
Exam 70-345: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 Exam 70-339: Managing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016 Exam 70-333: Deploying Enterprise Voice with Skype for Business 2015 Exam 70-334: Core Solutions of Microsoft Skype for Business 2015 Exam 70-331: Core Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Exam 70-332: Advanced Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Exam 70-341: Core Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 Exam 70-342: Advanced Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013 |
| Cost of Exam | $165 per exam. Exams administered by Pearson VUE. |
| URL | https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/mcse-productivity-certification.aspx |
| Self-Study Materials | Microsoft provides links to training, practice exams by third-party vendors such as Mindhub and MeasureUp, case studies, test study groups and more. Links to community support forums and other resources are listed on each test web page. Microsoft also offers various training options through its Microsoft Official Courses On-Demand (MOC On-Demand) program. |
Beyond the top 5: more UC certifications
The UC certification landscape is not as crowded as the pool of general networking certs or the increasingly popular cloud and mobile credentials, but UC is on the rise nonetheless. In fact, traditional UC is increasingly offered through the cloud, forcing certifications to take on a new flavor to accommodate the latest technologies and techniques.
In addition to the top five certs covered in this article, many colleges and universities offer courses in unified communications or certificate programs aimed at workforce training. Note that most of those programs incorporate Cisco equipment and applications. Other programs are available, though. We conducted a simple Google search that revealed several interesting choices, including the Information Technology: Network Specialist Concentration at the Pennsylvania College of Technology.
Another consideration is Mitel Networks. Although the company doesn’t offer its own IT career certifications as of this writing, Gartner considers Mitel one of the leaders in the UC market, and the company name appears in job board searches for “unified communications” with great frequency. That means there’s an abundance of open positions that call for Mitel experience and/or knowledge. When evaluating UC certifications, and especially certificate programs through colleges or universities, consider if the required skills and knowledge might transfer to a job working with Mitel technology.
- Cisco has announced a collaboration with WomHub, launching two EDGE Centres at spaces in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
- WomHub is a boutique incubator for female science, technology, engineering, mining, and manufacturing business founders in SA.
- The collaboration will focus on local SMEs, offering business mentoring, incubation, and training opportunities.
This week Cisco announced a new collaborative initiative with local incubator WomHub.
Described as a boutique incubator focused on female science, technology, engineering, mining, and manufacturing business founders in South Africa, the collaboration sees Cisco EDGE Centres being made available at two of WomHub’s spaces in the country, with one in Johannesburg and the other in Cape Town.
“The initiative aims to support Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in the country’s technology sector with business mentoring, incubation and training opportunities, to help advance their market access and exposure,” Cisco explained in a press release sent to Hypertext.
For those unfamiliar with EDGE Centres, the company notes that it stands for Experience, Design, GTM (Go-to-Market), and Earn. The Centres are aimed at providing access to Cisco connectivity and collaboration technologies, as well as tools and resources to local innovators and entrepreneurs.
“This new, powerful collaboration further demonstrates Cisco’s commitment to fostering innovation and supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs, focusing on women who are often underrepresented in the tech sector. With Cisco’s digital skills development training and cutting-edge technologies, and WomHub’s network of aspiring female entrepreneurs in South African STEM sectors, we believe we can make an important and tangible difference in the industry and help to drive the country’s digital economy,” enthused Francine Katsoudas, EVP and chief People, Policy & Purpose officer at Cisco.
“We’re excited to bring the power of WomHub and Cisco together to create a lasting legacy in the South African tech ecosystem. Everything we do is about building the entire ecosystem to support women in STEM. With the help of a global tech leader like Cisco, we hope to deliver female business founders the skills, technology, and confidence they need to take their tech start-ups to the next level. We’re very excited to embark on what we know will be a prosperous journey,” added Anjani Harjeven, CEO at WomHub.
Those female founders of SMEs focused on STEM-related fields are urged to find out more about this new collaborative initiative by contacting WomHub here.
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