As artificial intelligence reshapes job roles and automation changes workflows, organizations are under pressure to constantly build, validate and apply new skills at scale. Most talent pipelines simply can’t keep up: almost half of IT leaders already say a lack of AI skills is slowing progress.
At Learn with Cisco, we aim to make IT skills accessible to everyone: from students and emerging professionals to seasoned professionals. So it is extremely gratifying to see that IDC MarketScape has positioned Cisco as a IDC MarketScape Leader for IT Training Services in North America 2025-2026 aa Leader in the 2025 IDC MarketScape for IT Training Services in Europe.
Thank you to everyone at Cisco and our partners for making this recognition possible. As artificial intelligence changes the way we work, we are more committed than ever to providing students around the world with access to the skills they need.
Learning as critical infrastructure
“The advent of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies is adding a new dimension of complexity to an ecosystem already burdened by a widening IT skills shortage,” says the IDC MarketScape for North America IT Training Services. The report continues: “IDC predicts that by the end of next year, skills shortages could cost the global economy as much as $5.5 trillion in lost revenue, product delays, quality issues and impaired competitiveness.” Workforce development is no longer a nice to have. It is the essential infrastructure for competitiveness in an AI-driven economy.
At Cisco, we’ve always believed that technology alone doesn’t drive transformation—people do. This belief is reflected in our comprehensive learning ecosystem, designed to help individuals, teams and businesses build the skills that matter today while preparing for what’s next.
Right now, that means getting teams ready to work with AI. The World Economic Forum predicts that 39 percent of workers’ essential skills will change by 2030. This applies to everyone, not just people in ICT or even ICT-related roles. And of course the dominant driver of this skills shift is artificial intelligence and technological change.
A generational challenge
Our ability to meet this need for retraining – both for individuals and businesses – will have implications for generations. At Learn with Cisco, we address this challenge head-on.
Now available in 12 languages, Cisco Networking Academy’s Introduction to Modern Artificial Intelligence is already one of our most popular courses. The NetAcad team also publishes a whole learning suite called “Apply AI”. The first module shows how to use AI-driven thematic analysis to better understand customer feedback. Another module clearly teaches everyone to use AI to write and update summaries. Additional courses and the full Apply AI curriculum will be announced at Cisco Live Amsterdam.
We are also seeing exciting developments with our AI Business Practitioner Learning Path, available at Cisco U. This Learning Path helps professionals at all levels in all industries build core AI skills and lead responsible adoption of AI through strategic use and a range of business applications.
ICT workers can expect even greater changes. By 2024, the first AI-Enabled Workforce Consortium report found that 90 percent of ICT-related roles will experience a high or moderate level of transformation from AI. A second report, released just a year later, found that 78 percent of ICT-related job roles had already been transformed.
We are transforming our portfolio of certifications just as quickly. We’re updating existing courses and certifications to include new in-demand skills and adding new learning and certifications to teach and validate AI-specific skills. These include:
- Tea Cisco AI infrastructure specialistwhich lies in the CCNP Data Center certification track. It enables students to build and validate skills in deploying, migrating and operating AI solutions in Cisco data center infrastructure, as well as monitoring and troubleshooting.
- Tea AI Technical Practitioner certification focuses on artificial intelligence and machine learning and helps tech professionals prepare for AI and successfully incorporate AI into their workflows.
- Tea CCDE-AI infrastructure The specialization enables networking experts to validate their ability to design, provision and optimize networks and computing power for today’s AI workloads. It includes knowledge of AI and machine learning, as well as networking, security, hardware, and environmental considerations.
We will continue to make these skills available through our connected cross-platform ecosystem:
- Cisco Networking Academy
- Cisco U.
- Cisco Learning Network
- Globally recognized certification program
Together, these platforms support approximately 7 million students each year and more than 28 million students worldwide since inception, covering basic digital literacy through expert-level mastery.
Personalized learning driven by artificial intelligence on a global scale
Artificial intelligence is changing the way work is done while redefining how people learn.
Through Cisco U., students can identify skill gaps, receive customized content, and track progress over time—moving learning from reactive training to proactive skill development.
From GenAI-based assessments and adaptive practice exams to dynamic content updates, Cisco is embedding intelligence directly into learning—while continuing to pair technology with expert instruction, mentorship, and community support.
Learning by doing: Hands-on experience that reflects reality
Cisco’s ecosystem is built on real-world applications and prepares students with job-ready skills. We emphasize project-based learning – such as that found in our Data Science Essentials with Python course, which was recently highlighted in a white paper published at the World Economic Forum.
Across our portfolio, students engage in virtual labs, hardware remote labs, realistic simulations, Capture the Flag challenges and project-based experiences that mirror corporate environments. They can build, secure, automate, and troubleshoot using the same tools and scenarios they encounter on the job.
This experiential approach extends to global and regional events such as Cisco Live, hackathons and expertly moderated study groups – helping students build not only skills but also confidence, credibility and community.
Leading the future of IT education
In an era where the ability to continuously learn is the ultimate competitive advantage, we believe IDC MarketScape’s recognition reinforces what we see every day: skills are the foundation of innovation, resilience and economic growth.
At Cisco, we remain committed to providing students, partners, and customers in North America, Europe, and beyond with the knowledge and hands-on experience they need to lead in an AI-driven world—today and in the future.
Because when people thrive, technology changes.
The IDC MarketScape for IT Training Services analyzes IT training firms with portfolios that are suitable for organizations considering major digital and AI transformation initiatives.
Inclusion criteria include:
- Wide offer
- The size and breadth of the offering that can significantly contribute to transformation
- initiatives
- Significant technology expertise relevant to transformational initiatives
IDC MarketScape: European IT Training Services 2025 Vendor Assessment, #EUR153005625, December 2025
IDC MarketScape: IT Training Services in North America 2025-2026 Vendor Assessment, #US52991625, December 2025
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