In 2026, Juniper certification follows a four level progressive system (Associate → Specialist → Professional → Expert), covering eight major technical directions, with a core focus on enterprise routing and switching, network security, cloud networking, and automation/DevOps. The knowledge system is based on Junos OS, strengthening cloud network integration, zero trust security EVPN-VXLAN. The four core trends of network automation in 2026 perfectly match the large-scale network architecture, multi cloud deployment, compliance auditing, and FinOps needs of European and American enterprises.

1. General Core Knowledge System (JNCIA Junos, mandatory for all levels)

As the only basic threshold for Juniper certification, with a weight of 100%, it is required to master the core principles and basic operation and maintenance capabilities of Junos OS, and adapt to all technical directions.

Junos OS architecture core: separation of control plane/forwarding plane, collaboration between routing engine (RE) and packet forwarding engine (PFE); Exception traffic handling, software modular design, and process management.

CLI operation and configuration management: CLI mode navigation (operation/configuration/editing), filtering output and help; Active/backup configuration, rollback and submission confirmation; Configure locking and annotation, batch configure import and export.

Basic network and Junos implementation: OSI/TCP/IP model, IPv4/IPv6 address planning; Layer 2 switching (VLAN, Trunk, STP/RSTP/MSTP), layer 3 interfaces (IRB, sub interfaces); Static routing and policy routing, routing table separation logic.

Basic routing protocols: IGP basic (OSPFv2/OSPFv3, IS-IS), BGP basic (neighbor establishment, route announcement); Policy options and stateless firewall filters, routing introduction and attribute control.

Security and Operations Fundamentals: Junos security partitioning (trusted/untrusted/DMZ), local user and SSH/RADIOUS/TACACS+authentication; Syslog, SNMP, Ping/TraceRoute monitoring, software upgrade and device restart strategies.

2. Four core knowledge systems (JNCIS → JNCIP, Intermediate → Advanced)

The recruitment core of European and American enterprises focuses on the following four directions: Intermediate (JNCIS) focuses on deployment and configuration, while Advanced (JNCIP) focuses on architecture design, troubleshooting, and performance optimization.

Direction 1: Enterprise Routing and Switching (ENT, the most mainstream)

Adapting to large-scale campus networks, data centers, and wide area network architectures, the core will be EVPN-VXLAN and Quality of Service (CoS) by 2026.

JNCIS-ENT (Intermediate): Advanced IGP (OSPFv3/IS-IS Certification, Area Design, Routing Summary); BGP Advanced (Community Attributes, Route Reflection, Multipath); EVPN-VXLAN Fundamentals (VXLAN Encapsulation, EVPN Control Plane, IRB Gateway); CoS basics (classification, labeling, queue scheduling); High availability (VRRP, BGP Graceful Restart).

JNCIP-ENT (Advanced): EVPN-VXLAN architecture design (centralized/distributed gateway, multi tenant isolation, MAC address learning optimization); Design of IGP/BGP for large-scale networks (refinement of routing strategies, optimization of filtering, and acceleration of convergence); CoS end-to-end design (multi domain classification, rewriting rules, regulator configuration); Network troubleshooting (routing protocol, EVPN-VXLAN, high availability scenarios); Junos automation basics (event scripts, configuration templates).

Direction 2: Cybersecurity (SEC, European and American compliance essential)

Focusing on zero trust architecture, next-generation firewalls, cloud security, meeting GDPR/HIPAA/PCI-DSS compliance, and strengthening vSRX cloud native security by 2026.

JNCIS-SEC (Intermediate): Junos Security Policy (Region/Application/User based Policy); NAT Advanced (Source/Destination NAT, Bidirectional NAT, Port Address Translation); IPsec VPN (Site to Site, Remote Access) IKEv2）； UTM functions (antivirus, intrusion detection/defense IDP, web filtering); VSRX basic deployment (KVM/Xen).

JNCIP-SEC (Advanced): Zero Trust Security Architecture (Micro Segment, Security Group, Identity Aware Policy); EVPN-VXLAN security (MACsec, tenant isolation, traffic monitoring); Advanced VPN design (DMVPN, VPN load balancing, failover); IDP Advanced Configuration (custom signature, Threat Intelligence Integration); Cloud security deployment (vSRX automated deployment in AWS/Azure, integrated with cloud native security); Security compliance audit (log analysis, vulnerability scanning, Security Director management).

Direction 3: Cloud Network (Cloud, the core of European and American cloud transformation)

Adapting to hybrid cloud/multi cloud architecture, the core is the integration of Juniper with AWS/Azure/GCP, with a focus on NFV/SDN and cloud native networks by 2026.

JNCIS Cloud (Intermediate): Cloud Fundamentals (Public/Private/Hybrid Cloud Deployment Models, IaaS/PaaS/SaaS); NFV architecture (VNF, NFVO, MANO); SDN Fundamentals (OpenFlow, Controller); Juniper cloud products (vSRX, vMX, Contrail Networking); Cloud network integration (VPC peer-to-peer connection, cloud routing designed by tables).

JNCIP Cloud (Advanced): Hybrid cloud network architecture (connection between data center and AWS/Azure/GCP, Direct Connect/VPN optimization); Contrail Networking design (SD-WAN, multi tenancy, service chain); NFV orchestration (automated deployment of VNFs, lifecycle management); Cloud network troubleshooting (cross cloud connectivity, VNF performance, routing interoperability); Cloud cost optimization (resource size on the right, on-demand deployment).

Direction 4: Automation and DevOps (DevOps, European and American operational efficiency core)

Focus on Network as Code (IaC), automated operations, and telemetry, and strengthen the integration of PyEZ with cloud native automation tools by 2026.

JNCIS DevOps (Intermediate): Junos Automation Fundamentals (NETCONF/XML API, RESTCONF); Telemetry technology (gRPC/gNMI, JTI); PyEZ scripting basics (device connection, configuration modification, monitoring); Configuration management (Ansible/Juniper modules, Terraform integration); Event/submission script development.

JNCIP DevOps (Advanced): Large scale network automation (batch device configuration, upgrade, fault self-healing); IaC architecture design (Terraform+CloudFormation to manage Juniper resources); Telemetry data analysis (integrated with Prometheus/Grafana, anomaly detection); CI/CD pipeline integration (Jenkins+GitLab automated deployment network configuration); Complex script development (PyEZ advanced features, cross machine scripts).

3. Expert level certified core competence (JNCIE, the highest industry recognition)

JNCIE is a practical LAB exam without a written test, which focuses on end-to-end solution capabilities. It is a standard certificate for senior network engineers/architects in European and American enterprises.

Scenario based architecture design: Design Junos end-to-end architecture based on enterprise business requirements (multi tenancy, high availability, low latency, compliance), covering routing switching, security, cloud, and automation integration scenarios.

Complex troubleshooting: locate and resolve multi-level faults (routing protocols, EVPN-VXLAN, security policies, automation scripts, cloud integration) within a limited time frame, providing root cause analysis and solutions.

Multi vendor integration capability: Achieve seamless integration between Juniper and Cisco, VMware, AWS/Azure/GCP, and solve cross vendor compatibility issues.

4. Juniper certification strengthening direction in 2026 (hot topics in the European and American markets)

Mist AI Wireless Management: Mist AI driven wireless network design, monitoring, troubleshooting, and adaptation for enterprise wireless digital transformation.

SD-WAN architecture: Juniper SD-WAN (Contrail SD-WAN) deployment, traffic optimization, and multi link load balancing to meet the needs of enterprise wide area network transformation.

Segmented Routing (SR): SR-MPLS/SRv6 is deployed in service providers and enterprise networks to optimize network convergence and traffic engineering.

AI assisted network operation and maintenance: using AI tools to achieve network anomaly detection, capacity planning, fault prediction, and improve operation and maintenance efficiency.

Compliance audit enhancement: Meet the latest security standards such as EU EN 18031 and GDPR, strengthen data privacy protection and log audit capabilities.

5. Core Tool Stack and Exam Preparation Points

Core tools: Junos OS (MX/QFX/SRX series devices) vSRX/vMX、Contrail Networking、Mist AI、PyEZ、Ansible、Terraform、NETCONF/gNMI。

Preparation points: First, master the basics of JNCIA Junos; Choose JNCIS (Intermediate) based on career direction; Advanced JNCIP requires a lot of practical experience; JNCIE needs to simulate LAB scenarios and accumulate real project experience.

European and American workplace adaptation: The focus is on strengthening multi tenant design, cloud network integration, automated operation and maintenance, and compliance audit capabilities, which are the core assessment points for recruitment in European and American enterprises.

Summary: The 2026 Juniper certification knowledge system is centered around Junos OS, with cloud, security, and automation as its three pillars, forming a progressive structure of "foundation → direction → expert."

Preparing for the exam requires a combination of official learning paths and practical environments, with a focus on breaking through the high-frequency scenarios of European and American companies to ensure seamless integration between skills and workplace needs.