A step-by-step roadmap to develop essential competencies in key areas such as network architecture design, relationship management, systems and services, as well as certification guidance and valuable tips.Key FeaturesThe big picture of information technology infrastructure to become a successful Network ArchitectOvercome challenges that you come across in network performance and configuration managementEnhance your skills to grow your career filled with real-life examples and important tipsBook DescriptionBecoming a network architect is challenging, requiring hands-on engineering skills, hardware installation, configuration, and fabric layout design. It involves collaboration with internal teams and C-Suite stakeholders while managing external entities like vendors and service providers. This handbook will teach you how to become an effective network architect within an organization, including communication with leadership teams and other stakeholders.The book start with the helping you to know the actual meaning of a Network Architect, covers the roadmap, and how to delve into the attributes and mindset a network architect should possess. As you progress, you will explore network architect design, physical infrastructure routing and switching, and network services such as DNS, MLAG, and service insertion. With this book, you will find information on the necessary skills and typical daily challenges faced by network architects. Towards the end, book covers certifications and associated training for maintaining relevance in an organization, along with common interview questions for a network architect's position.By the end of this handbook, you'll have gained the skills, concepts, and techniques needed to pursue a career as a Network Architect.What you will learnExplore the role of a network architectUnderstand the key design makers in a organizationChoose the best strategies to meet the needs of your stakeholdersUnderstand networking conceptsLearn and prepare for an interview for a network architect positionUnderstand the difference IT architects in an organizationLearn which certification is useful for Network ArchitectsUnderstand the different defacto network fabric architect models used todayWho This Book Is ForThis book is intended for network engineers and technicians who are looking to pursue a career as a Network Architect. You can use this book as a guide to help you along your Network architect path. The intent is to help facilitate the key aspects of what is required of a Network Architect - design concepts, architectural requirements, relevant experience, certifications and advanced education with expansion to cloud best practices. A practical understanding of IT networking is expected to get through this book.Table of ContentsThe meaning of a Network ArchitectNetwork Architect in an OrganizationRoadmap to a Network ArchitectAttributes of a Network ArchitectThe mindset of the Network Architect [the Principles of Design]Foundation of a Network Architect - Part 1; R SFoundations of a Network Architect - Part 2, network services, automationParadigm shift to CloudSkills to become better Network Architect and overcome the daily challengesPreparing for Certifications and get the job by cracking the Interview Questio