RIPE NCC Academy: Nurturing Internet Professionals

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The RIPE NCC Academy is a free online learning platform for internet networking professionals and students anywhere. With a focus on self-paced, online courses, the academy offers a diverse curriculum covering crucial aspects of internet networking. Each course consists of short modules, interactive activities and exercises.

Free, open-access courses

Free and open to all, the courses cater to professionals and students alike, ensuring inclusivity in the pursuit of knowledge. Courses span vital domains:

IPv6 Fundamentals: Gain foundational insights into IPv6 addressing, subnetting, and best practices
IPv6 Security: Develop strategies to fortify IPv6 infrastructure against prevalent threats
IPv6 Advanced: Develop advanced strategies to implement and deploy IPv6
BGP Security: Explore vulnerabilities in BGP and adopt recommended security measures to safeguard networks
RIPE Database: Learn effective navigation and utilisation, earning the RIPE Database Associate badge
LIR Fundamentals: Learn how a Local Internet Registry functions
Internet Governance: Participants delve into the processes shaping the Internet and learn how to actively engage in governance events

Microlearning for quick insights

Microlearning offers quick insights into essential concepts in under 15 minutes. Topics include using API keys in the RIPS database, RPKI, Ping, Traceroute, and Packet Switching, among others, and cater to busy professionals seeking efficient knowledge enhancement.

For those aspiring to leadership roles, the RIPE Working Group Chair Course prepares individuals to lead discussions, coordinate meetings, and foster collaboration within RIPE Working Groups.

Access RIPE NCC learning resources

You can also access webinar recordings and learning material from RIPE NCC training courses. If you are a RIPE NCC member, you can attend a face-to-face training or a webinar – this is included in your membership.

Get certified

The Academy also provides certification opportunities, allowing individuals to validate their expertise through RIPE NCC Certified Professionals exams.

These online exams provide verifiable digital badges, demonstrating your proficiency in critical areas of Internet networking. Each badge signifies specialised knowledge and contributes to your credibility in the dynamic field of Internet technology:

Local Internet Registry (LIR) Fundamentals: Has demonstrated the ability to manage internet number resources, including requesting, distributing, registering, sponsoring, and transferring them. They can also identify how to seek support and engage as stakeholders in the Internet ecosystem.
IPv6 Fundamentals - Analyst: Is proficient in calculating IPv6 subnets according to current best practices and creating IPv6 addressing plans. Candidates with this certification have demonstrated the ability to identify and describe how the different IPv6 supporting protocols work and impact their networks. These candidates can also identify different use cases for specific transition mechanisms, as well as the reasons to migrate from IPv4 to IPv6.
RIPE Database Associate: Is proficient in searching for and interpreting data in the RIPE Database. Candidates with this certification have demonstrated the ability to update and register data in the RIPE Database. These candidates can use different flags to query IP address space (IPv4 and IPv6), as well as register assignments and sub-allocations by applying authority delegation mechanisms. They can also register routing policies and set up reverse delegation.
BGP Security Associate: Can choose the appropriate security measures to protect networks against common threats. They contribute to global routing security by making Internet routing more secure and reliable. A holder of this badge has demonstrated the ability to identify and analyse the security vulnerabilities of BGP, how those vulnerabilities can be exploited accidentally or maliciously, their impact on the Internet and how to mitigate the effects of those BGP incidents.
IPv6 Security Expert: Is capable of designing a high-level strategy to protect an IPv6 network against common threats. A badge holder has demonstrated the ability to identify and analyse common IPv6 security threats and their impact and create a plan to counter them. An IPv6 Security Expert has shown the ability to assess the security of an IPv6 network and to make use of the latest information about IPv6 network vulnerabilities and mitigation techniques.