Cisco Networking Academy is an innovative Cisco education initiative that delivers information and communication technology skills to improve career and economic opportunities around the world. The Academy provides online courses, interactive tools, and lab activities to prepare individuals for information technology and networking careers in virtually every industry.

Contributing Author:

Allan Johnson entered the academic world in 1999, after 10 years as a business owner/operator, to dedicate his efforts to his passion for teaching. He holds both an M.B.A. and an M.Ed. in training and development. He taught CCNA courses at the high school level for 7 years and has taught both CCNA and CCNP courses at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. In 2003, Allan began to commit much of his time and energy to the CCNA Instructional Support Team, providing services to Networking Academy instructors worldwide and creating training materials. He now works full time for Cisco Networking Academy as Curriculum Lead.

Technical Reviewer:

Dave Holzinger has been a curriculum developer, project manager, author, and technical editor for Cisco Networking Academy in Phoenix since 2001. Dave works on the team that develops Cisco Networking Academy's online curricula, including CCNA, CCNP, and IT Essentials. He has been working with computer hardware and software since 1981. Dave has certifications from Cisco, BICSI, and CompTIA.