With pretty much all companies — not just tech — adopting remote and hybrid work modes and moving their operations to the cloud, it’s no surprise that there’s an increased demand for network security engineers experienced in Software-assisted Wide Area Network (SD-WAN).
There are multiple reasons for this — SD-WAN unifies traditional WAN technologies like MPLS, LTE, and broadband connections, giving companies a single platform to manage everything from configuration and connectivity to multi-pathway traffic routing and management.
Via Palo Alto
If you’re a network security engineer just starting your career, then a good way to build your profile is by getting certified in SD-WAN tools. Not only does this show potential employers that you’re committed to professional development, but it also increases your chances of getting hired if the company is using an SD-WAN tool you’re certified in.
We suggest you start by mastering Palo Alto’s Prisma SD-WAN — its consistently been named a ‘Leader’ in the Gartner Magic Quadrants and is a preferred choice for multiple Fortune 500 companies.
You can start with Palo Alto’s own instructor-led course for Prisma SD-WAN — EDU-238.
Three ways the Palo Alto EDU-238 course can benefit you
Here are some reasons why any network security engineer should consider taking the Prisma SD-WAN: Design and Operation (EDU-238) course.
- Increases your ‘hireability’ factor: SD-WAN skills are highly sought-after. Completing this course can significantly enhance your resume and marketability in the cybersecurity job market — particularly with global enterprises that have distributed workforces.
- Helps you upskill: Like we mentioned earlier, SD-WAN is an important technology to secure hybrid and cloud environments. And this course helps you keep your skillset relevant and in-demand as businesses continue to adopt these models.
- Hands-on learning: Gain practical experience configuring, managing, and troubleshooting a Prisma SD-WAN environment in a simulated lab. This can prepare you to confidently handle real-world SD-WAN deployments (and simulated tests during interviews).
Finally, instructor-led courses like EDU-238 are a great way to get career advice from experts and network with like-minded peers.
Prisma SD-WAN: Design and Operation (EDU-238): At a Glance
Ready to dive in? Let’s explore how the course works and what you’ll need to get started.
Duration | 5 days |
Delivery format | Instructor-led |
Level | Intermediate |
Target audience | Network engineers, architects, and administrators |
Pre-requisites | 1+ years of experience in basics like deploying and operating WANs |
Training credits | Accepted |
How to enroll in the EDU-238 course?
The Prisma SD-WAN: Design and Operation (EDU-238) is a five-day instructor-led course for network engineers in the early stages of their career and is offered by most Palo Alto Authorized Training Partners (ATPs).
You can find the list of classes on the ATP schedule page. Multiple ATPs from around the world offer both in-person and virtual classes in multiple languages throughout the year. You can use the filter options to find a class in your locality or time zone.
At Datacipher Education Services, we offer monthly virtual classes across multiple time zones, ensuring accessibility for students in the Americas (AMER), Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific (APAC) regions.
Organizations (and educational institutions) in APAC can also request customized on-site training for groups of employees or students.
Who is the target audience?
While the primary target audience for EDU-238 is network engineers, anyone in broader network security roles can also benefit from it. Some people who can benefit from the course are:
- Network Engineers
- Network Administrators
- Network Security Engineers
- Network Architects
- NOC Administrators
Are there any prerequisites for attending the course?
As the EDU-238 course is an intermediate one, Palo Alto recommends learners should have at least a year of experience in WAN concepts like:
- Routing and switching Border Gateway Protocols (BGP)
- Integrating SD-WAN with traditional WAN infrastructures
- Working knowledge of DNS, DHCP, and IP management tools
A basic understanding of scripting and APIs for network automation will also be a plus.
Also, while Palo Alto doesn’t mandate it, we recommend you go over their digital learning course on Prisma SD-WAN. A 11-hour, self-paced course, this can help you get a basic idea of the Prisma SD-WAN infrastructure and fundamental features and the CloudBlades platform — two topics that will be covered in detail in the EDU-238 course.
How to enroll in the EDU-238 course with training credits?
Like all instructor-led programs, the EDU-238 course also comes under the Palo Alto Training Credits Program. So you can enroll in the course using prepaid credits as well. As the EDU-238 course costs $5000 USD, you’ll need 50 credits (1 credit = $100) to enroll in the course.
How training credits work
Large enterprises and organizations with employee upskilling programs can leverage the Training Credit Program. You can allocate a set number of credits to your network engineers annually. They can then redeem these credits for any course they choose, including EDU-238.
Alternatively, yoy can use these credits to organize custom in-person training for your employees with ATPs.
Everything you’ll learn in EDU-238: Course objective and modules
The EDU-238 course focuses on two main purposes — helping network engineers master the Prsima SD-WAN solution with hands-on experience and understanding how to integrate Prisma SD-WAN with Prisma Access to create a comprehensive SASE architecture.
As such, the course comes with 11 modules structured in such a way to take you through the entire process of designing branches, routing traffic, and streamlining your network security DevOps for maximum efficiency.
Each student will also be provided with a study guide and lab exercise manual in the form of a PDF. You can access it via KorText — a digital learning platform that Palo Alto uses to host its courses.
Here’s what you’ll learn over the course duration —
- The key features of Prisma SD-WAN and why its important for implementing Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) infrastructures
- Designing a secure and scalable Prisma SD-WAN network for branch offices
- Hands-on experience with the routing protocols used within Prisma SD-WAN to ensure efficient traffic flow across various connections like MPLS, internet and broadband
- Creating policies within Prisma SD-WAN to define the path and Quality of Service (QoS) for different applications
- Configuring Network Address Translation (NAT) and Zero-Branch Firewall (ZBFW) to protect your network from unauthorized access and malicious traffic
There’s also a separate module for CloudBlades — which are pre-built software modules that extend the functionality of Prisma SD-WAN. You’ll be shown how to use the different CloudBlades available to enhance your network security.
(You can find the entire list of modules covered in this datasheet.)
The result of this five-day course? By the end of the final day, you’ll be able to:
- Design and deploy secure, reliable, and high-performance SD-WAN networks
- Manage and optimize traffic flow across various network connections
- Apply security policies to protect users, devices, and applications across the network
- Troubleshoot and resolve common issues within a Prisma SD-WAN environment
Next steps
Once you’re done with the EDU-238 course, you can do two things —
- Take the EDU-318 course: An advanced course on Prisma Access (and SASE frameworks), this can be a great way to further your knowledge of cloud security
- Complete the PCNSE certification: The Palo Alto Certified Network Security Engineer (PCNSE) program has been one of the most popular certifications for network security engineers and can add to your credibility factor
Become a Prisma SD-WAN expert with Datacipher Education Services
If you’re a network engineer in the APAc region and want to get trained in Prisma SD-WAN, then Datacipher Education Services can be a great fit for you. We’re one of the oldest Palo Alto Authorized Training Partners in the region and have cultivated partnerships with some of the largest enterprises including IBM, Deloitte, and Ericcson.
With DES, you can learn from seasoned security consultants with years of experience in Prisma SD-WAN and get additional support like lab exercises, print and digital study materials, and even a recording of the class.
Ready to become an Prisma SD-WAN pro? Get in touch with our team here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What advantage does Prisma SD-WAN have over legacy SD-WANs?
Prisma SD-WAN offers several advantages over legacy SD-WANs, the primary one being a native security solution — unlike legacy SD-WANs that depend on third-party solutions. Prisma SD-WAN also 5G, unlike legacy ones that only support 4G/LTE.
2. What is the difference between Prisma SD-WAN and Prisma Access?
While both Prisma SD-WAN and Prisma Access are both part of the Prisma SASE suite, they deal with different things. Prisma SD-WAN focuses on optimizing traffic flow across your Wide Area Network (WAN) to connect branches, data centers, and cloud environments.
Prisma Access, on the other hand, is a cloud-delivered security service that helps organizations secure their applications, networks, and mobile devices — regardless of their location.
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