What is DevNet?
If you’re a network engineer like me, you might’ve heard terms like “network automation” and “DevNet” floating around. So what is DevNet exactly? What does it mean, and why is it becoming so important? In this beginner-friendly guide, we’ll break down what network automation is, how it’s changing traditional networking, and talk a bit more about the Cisco DevNet certifications.
I’ll also answer some common questions, like the benefits of automation (faster deployments, fewer errors, better scalability) and whether automation will replace network engineering jobs (spoiler: it won’t!). By the time you’re done, you’ll see how automation can make your work more efficient and even more fun! And you’ll know why learning Python can actually boost your career.
What is Network Automation?
Network automation basically means using software and scripts to automate the config, management, testing, deployment, and operation of network devices. Basically, it means using code or tools to do what network engineers traditionally did manually in the CLI. For a long time, network management was pretty much manual, with engineers typing commands to each device, and those practices didn’t really change. Network automation changes this by introducing a more programmatic approach. Instead of logging into a bunch of devices to make a change, you could run a script or use an automation platform to push that change to all of them at once.
This move from manual to automated networking is a huge change in our industry. A lot of organizations are moving “from manual to automated, from hardware to software-defined” networks . Traditional networking tasks like setting up a new VLAN or updating firewall rules can be handled by automation tools faster and with fewer mistakes than a human typing each command. So with network automation, tasks that used to take hours can now be done in a few minutes. This makes for a more agile and efficient network operations model that can keep up with rapidly changing demands (think cloud services, remote work, IoT devices, etc.).
So, what’s network automation? It’s basically using software do the repetitive, boring work. According to IBM, manual network configuration and management is a cumbersome, error-prone practice that’s insufficient for handling the dynamic, unpredictable demands of modern networks. Automation solves this by running those processes automatically. This means that routine changes, setting up new devices, load balancing, and even some troubleshooting tasks can be done with almost no human intervention. The idea isn’t to replace network engineers, but to give them a more important role. Engineers will be the ones designing and overseeing automated workflows, instead of having to do everything manually.
Key Benefits of Network Automation
Adopting network automation brings many clear benefits to network operations. If you’re familiar with traditional networking, you’ll especially appreciate these key advantages:
- Faster deployments
Automation can really speed up the rollout of new network services and devices. Things like configuring lots of switches for a new office can take hours or days, but with scripts or tools, it can often be done in minutes. This quick provisioning is especially important in dynamic environments, like cloud networks. When you can deploy faster, your network can respond to business needs more quickly. - Fewer errors
All humans make mistakes. A typo in a config or missing a step in a change window can cause outages. According to this Batfish blog post blog post from Ratul Mahajan studies show that 50–80% of network outages are due to configuration errors (I couldn’t find the actual study, but this isn’t a scientific paper so we just trust him). Automation helps cut down on a lot of these human errors by making sure the things we do are consistent. When you automate a task, it’s done the same way every time. This consistency reduces the risk of human errors and the security vulnerabilities or outages that result. So in short, automation makes things reliable, repeatable, and consistent. - Better scalability
As networks grow larger and larger, it’s pretty hard to keep up with manual management. You’d need an army of engineers to individually manage thousands of devices. Automation, on the other hand, makes it much easier to scale up your infrastructure. You can add devices or push updates to the whole network with minimal extra effort. So in practice, a single engineer with the right automation skills can handle a network that would’ve needed a bunch of engineers to handle manually. - Consistency and standardization
With automation we can make sure sure that configs and policies are applied the same way across the whole network. This makes sure that each device is set up according to the approved standards, which improves overall network stability and compliance. It makes sure that all devices are configured the same way. It doesn’t matter if your configuring your 1st, 2nd, or 50th device. - Cost and time savings
Automation can save you hours and prevent expensive outages, which can lower operational costs. It lets you focus on designing, optimizing, and building new projects that add value. In other words, you’ll spend less time “putting out fires” and spend more time on strategic projects. Plus, it leads to better job satisfaction. No one likes repeating the same boring tasks over and over!
Real-World Network Automation Examples
We’ve already talked about what network automation is and the benefits it brings. Now, let’s look at some real-world examples of network automation!
- Firmware Upgrades Across Lots of Devices
Let’s say you need to upgrade the software on 100 routers. If you did it manually, you’d have to log into each router, copy the new firmware, update it, and reboot — 100 times over! It’s a lot to keep track of, and there’s always a chance you’ll forget to upgrade a device. With a single mistake, you could end up with an inconsistent network. But with automation, you can use a script or tool to push the firmware to all routers and schedule reboots at the same time. Well maybe you shouldn’t reboot all routers at the same time. But this way, you could finish the process way faster and make sure every device gets the same exact procedure. The result is a faster rollout with far less chance of an inconsistency or missed device. - Configuration Changes and Typos
We’ve all heard about horror stories of network outages caused by something as simple as a typo in a config file. Like, an engineer might accidentally put an access-list with “deny any” in the wrong place, type the wrong OSPF area ID on one router, causing a routing black hole, or accidentally sending a “no router bgp” command. When you manually configure the devices, these mistakes happen. And in fact, a large portion of outages stem from such config errors. Automation can prevent a lot of these issues. You could use an automation platform that validates and tests changes in a sandbox or on a digital twin. Or use templates that have been pre-tested. Instead of typing commands line by line, you fill in variables in a standardized template. The automation system won’t accidentally swap a 0 for an O. Fewer fingers on keyboards means fewer chances to introduce a typo! - Inconsistent Device Configurations
In big networks that are managed manually, it’s pretty normal to find devices set up a bit differently. Maybe a QoS policy got updated in one place but not another, or some old ACL entries are still hanging around. These inconsistencies can lead to unpredictable behavior and security gaps. Automation solves this by using centralized definitions. With Infrastructure-as-Code, you define the desired state of the network in code, and automation makes sure every device matches that state. Tools like NetBox can be a reliable source of truth, keeping a single, up-to-date inventory of network devices and configurations. So with network automation, you reduce the rist of inconsistent network configurations.
So, here’s the bottom line. Manual network management just can’t keep up when things get bigger and more complex. And as networks have gotten larger and more complex, manual operations just doesn’t work anymore. Automation, on the other hand, not only speeds things up but also makes your network more stable and reliable.
Will Network Automation Replace Network Engineering Jobs?
This is a very common concern that I hear a lot. And it’s totally understandable. “If we automate tasks X, Y, and Z, will companies still need me around?” The good news is that automation isn’t trying to replace you. It’s here to help you improve your work!
Actually, the industry repeatedly tells that network automation complements engineers rather than replacing them. In the lightyear.ai FAQ you can also read that network automation complements the work of network engineers by handling repetitive tasks, allowing engineers to focus on strategic initiatives and complex problem-solving. And in my opinion, this captures it perfectly! Instead of spending hours typing the same config on 40 devices, you could spend that time designing a new network architecture or researching improvements to boost performance.
Instead of fewer network engineering jobs, we are actually seeing an evolution of network roles. There is an increasing demand for network engineers with automation skills, but the demand for “manual config engineers” is decreasing. If you don’t believe me, you can read more about that in the TechTarget blog post “A look into the networking job market for 2025“. So the job market needs network engineers to upskill by adding coding and automation knowledge to their existing networking skills.
It’s also worth mentioning that someone still needs to design, test, and manage the automation logic. Networks will not function on autopilot with no human input. Your expertise of protocols and network design still remains vital. Automation does not suddenly understand why you would configure things in a specific way. It simply executes what you tell it to execute. As automation replaces routine jobs, you will still need deep knowledge to handle errors, plan significant migrations, evaluate the data produced by automation technologies, and verify the network meets business requirements.
Finally, think about the quality of work-life balance. Most engineers find that once they start automating, they don’t miss the late-night maintenance windows, typing endless commands, or the mundane tasks like copying configs. You might still do your changes during the after-hours. But with automation and if everything goes well, you’re finished in a few minutes. You get to work on more challenging and interesting projects. The kind of work that hopefully motivated you to become an engineer in the first place. In other words, don’t see automation as a threat. See it as something that can make your job more enjoyable and make your role more valuable to your employer.
What is Cisco DevNet?
If you read this far, you might be thinking “Alright, automation sounds great. But how do I start?” And this is where the Cisco DevNet certifications come into play. DevNet is Cisco’s new network automation certification track and community. It’s designed to help network engineers and developers build skills in network automation, programmability, and application development on Cisco platforms. It gives network engineers the tools, resources, and training they need to feel confident working with APIs, scripting, and automation.
On the official Cisco DevNet page, the tagline says “Innovate, code, and build with Cisco DevNet.” But what does DevNet offer in practical terms for someone new to automation? So here are a few key parts of Cisco DevNet that help engineers get into network automation:
- Learning Labs and Tutorials
Cisco DevNet has a bunch of learning labs that cover a lot of different topics. They’re self-paced and hands-on, and they cover things like network programmability, automation, security, and a lot more! These labs range from beginner-level (like Introduction to Python or Introduction to REST APIs) to more advanced topics like Machine Learning for Network Engineers. They give you hands-on experience by guiding you through step-by-step exercises. So these labs are a great way to get your first coding and automation experience. And best of all, these DevNet Labs are free, and all you need is a web browser to get started! - DevNet Sandbox
One of the coolest resources out there are the DevNet Sandboxes. These sandboxes allow you to play around with Cisco products or APIs. And you can even use them for free! Need to practice automating an IOS-XE router or try out the Catalyst Center API? The DevNet sandboxes let’s you do exactly that! This is a great way to get some experience without breaking anything. And you don’t even have to spend anything on hardware or licenses. I’m actually a big fan of these sandboxes and used them a lot for my Cisco Certified DevNet Expert certification. I even wrote a blog post about how you can build your own DevNet Expert lab, and the sandboxes play a big role in that. They make it extremely easy to get started and gain some hands-on experience. - Code Exchange and Samples
In DevNet, we write a lot of code, scripts, or other solutions. And the great part of the community is that some of the solutions are uploaded to the code exchange. In this repository you can find scripts for common network automation tasks. Like for example find CRC errors on Nexus9K devices. In this code exchange, you might find a script that solves your problem. Or maybe you’ll find something close to what you need, and then you can tweak it yourself. - Community and Support
DevNet also has a huge community. There are forums (the DevNet community boards and Cisco Communities) where you can ask questions and share knowledge with your peers and Cisco experts. Transitioning from a pure network engineering role to a more hybrid network automation role can be intimidating, but you’re not alone in this! In the community you can connect with people from around the world on the same journey. The community is very welcoming to newcomers, and you’ll find many engineers answering your questions. And if you post something there, most of the time Stuart Clark is one of the first people answering you (seriously, I don’t know how he does that…). Networking has always had a strong community (user groups, different conferences, etc.) and DevNet extends that culture into network automation. - Cisco DevNet Certification Track
Cisco even created the new DevNet certification track, focused specifically on network automation skills. For example, the DevNet Associate certification is for people learning software development and automation in networking. Then there’s also the DevNet Professional and DevNet Expert certification. These certifications proof you have skills working with APIs, programmability, and different Cisco platforms. The best thing about these certificates is that you can use the skills anywhere! For example, you’ll learn how to automate Cisco tools with Python, Ansible, or Terraform. But you can also use this know-how to automate networks with other vendors like Juniper, Nokia, or Arista. Getting a DevNet certification validates your new skills and often come with career benefits. The DevNet Expert certification is on the same level as other CCIEs, and companies will pay you a premium if you have that. So if you’re someone who’s focused on certifications, this path gives you a clear, structured learning goal. And I can highly recommend the certifications!
Here’s even a quote from Joe Clarke, further highlighting the benefits of DevNet. He’s one of the creators of the DevNet certification track:
“Cisco Certified DevNet engineers are empowered to think about complex networking problems and deliver solutions at scale via automation.” – (NetworkWorld) Joe Clarke, Cisco Distinguished Engineer.
That quote by Joe Clarke perfectly captures the essence of DevNet. DevNet is far more than just learning a programming language. The goal is to solve real-world large-scale networking problems. This is only possible if we transition from manually configuring devices to writing code and using APIs to manage networks
Why should network engineers learn DevNet?
If you’re comfortable with traditional networking, you might be wondering why you should spend time on Cisco DevNet (or any network automation learning). The short answer is that it’ll help you future-proof your career and make your networks better. So here are a few key reasons:
- Industry Shift
We already talked about this previously. Networks are moving towards automation because it’s necessary. The job market is also showing this change. There’s a growing demand for network engineers with coding skills. Just to LinkedIn Jobs and search for “network engineer”. Literary the first job I clicked on mentioned “Infrastructure as Code (IAC) tools like Ansible or Terraform”. So if you want to stay relevant, you should learn how to automate networks! It’s better to be the one automating tasks instead of the one being automated. The DevNet certification actually provides a clear and guided way to get the skills that companies are looking for. - Working Smarter
DevNet or network automation allows you to work smarter, not harder. The network engineers I know are notoriously overworked. They have to handle outages, tackle ticket queues for setting up simple stuff like VLANs or interfaces. With network automation, you can script away the boring parts of your job. And writing these scripts is also fun… much more fun than doing the same thing over and over again. For example, instead of manually putting together device inventories or compliance reports every week, you could write a script to do it. This saves you a lot of time and reduces errors. Then, you can use that time to make improvements or learn new technologies. - Leveraging Programmability Features
Cisco and other vendors are building more software-oriented platforms. Just think of Cisco Catalyst Center, ACI, or Meraki. These platforms have APIs and programmability built in. If you learn DevNet, you’ll learn how to use these APIs to get more out of your network. For example, the Cisco DNA Center can automate QoS deployments or gather analytics via its API. A network engineer who can script these tasks can manage a larger, more complex network with relative ease. - Career Growth
Finally, learning network automation can open up new exciting career paths! You could move into roles that combine software and networking (like NetDevOps or Automation Architect). This usually also means a pay raise. Or you could become the automation expert in your company. A lot of engineers find that learning programming adds a new dimension to the job. Doing something manually on a few devices is easy. Figuring out an automation approach that scales to your whole infrastructure and handles all edge cases is challenging. But it’s also a lot of fun!
Why should network engineers learn Python?
You’ve probably heard Python a lot when you read about network automation. It’s pretty much the go-to language for network automation these days. If you’re a network engineer getting into automation, you’ll probably learn Python first, and for good reason.
- Easy to Learn
Python’s syntax is simple and easy to read. You don’t need to be a professional software engineer to start writing useful Python scripts. It’s designed to be easy for beginners to use, and it actually “reads” a bit like English. Some network engineers I met told me that they can’t code and can never learn it. But Python makes it relatively easy. And I really believe that someone who knows how to configure different routing and switching protocols can also write Python scripts. I’m sure you’ll quickly get the hang of basic Python and start automating tasks. And once you know the basics, you can move on to more complex object-oriented coding topics. - Widely Used in Networking Tools
A lot of network automation tools and libraries are built around Python. For example, Netmiko and NAPALM are Python libraries that make it easier to connect to network devices and apply configs. And Cisco’s own pyATS is a Python-based framework for network testing. So, if you learn Python, you can use all these libraries. Also, popular automation tools like Ansible are implemented in Python. So knowing Python makes it a lot easier to work or extend such tools to fit your needs. - Automate Repetitive Tasks
Even if you don’t know a lot about Python, you can still start scripting repetitive tasks to save time. So for example, you could write a simple Python script to pull ARP table info from a set of switches, or to find and disable interfaces that have errors. Such Python scripts can reduce repetitive tasks and lower the chance of errors, making your whole network more reliable. Start by writing a step-by-step checklist what you need to do. Then write a Python script that solves the first step. Build confidence by verifying that it’s working. And then start building out your script. This script will do exactly what you tell it to do. Every time, without exceptions. There are many great use cases you could solve with that. Like config backups, user account setup, compliance verifications and so much more! - Integration with APIs
A lot of network devices and controllers have REST APIs. Python, with libraries like requests, makes it extremely easy to work with these APIs. You can use Python to get network telemetry data from an API or to push a config template to the Meraki cloud API. By learning Python, you can link the network to other IT workflows, like writing a script that automatically updates a DNS record when a new server is deployed, creating a more integrated and automated IT infrastructure.
So in a nutshell, Python is the go-to programming language for network automation. It’s a great skill to have because it gives you access to most of the automation features that Cisco and other companies offer. Combining your existing networking knowledge with Python skills will give you the power to create custom built solutions that fit your needs. Whether you need a small script to gather info or a large-scale automation framework, Python is usually the starting point. Start small by automating a simple task you do daily, and build from there. There are lots of Python tutorials for network engineers to help you.
Conclusion
Network automation is changing how we manage the network. What used to be manual work is now orchestrated and designed to scale to infinity. I understand if it seems a bit intimidating at first. But as we’ve talked about it, it’s actually a great opportunity for network engineers. If you pick up some new automation skills, you can make your job easier and have a bigger impact too.
If you’re a network engineer just starting out with automation, Cisco DevNet is an awesome resource to get started. It’s perfect for people who know networking inside and out but need a little help adding coding and automation to their skills. With DevNet’s labs, sandboxes, and community, you can go from writing your first “Hello World” script to automating complex network operations in a supportive environment.
So, will automation take your job? No, but it’ll definitely change the way you work (in a good way, if you’re open to it). The role of a network engineer is becoming more software-oriented, which is a positive change. This means less time on boring, repetitive tasks and more time on designing strong networks, improving security, and coming up with new creative solutions.
If you’re ready to take the next step, you should start by visiting the official Cisco DevNet page. There, you’ll find some great introductory material, as well as the option to sign up for the DevNet community. Here at DevNet Academy I provide e-learning content for the DevNet Expert certifications. The DevNet Academy Sample Course is a great way to learn more about Python Click and Flask-RESTX. And then there’s also the DevNet Expert Full Course if you really want to get into network automation!
