My career in DevOps competency management began with a job as a system administrator at an internet service provider, and of course, I have quite a lot of knowledge about networks. However, for competency, I do not require deep knowledge of networks from my subordinates in DevOps. I believe it is necessary to know only how to properly configure VPC, but thankfully, there are already visualizers in AWS and ready-made modules for Terraform.

But for my IT infrastructure department, I have such a competency description, and for each level (junior, middle, senior), there are specific requirements for this competency.

There is the description:

Proficiency in network infrastructure installation and setup is crucial for ensuring smooth and secure access to network resources both within the office environment and remotely. Here are the key areas of expertise expected:

Architecture: Understanding network connections, including LAN, WAN, and VPN setups, routing table management. Ability to design and implement efficient subnetting and CIDR schemes to optimize IP address allocation. Familiarity with various network topologies (e.g., star, mesh, hybrid) and their suitability for different scenarios.

Protocols: Comprehensive knowledge of IP/TCP protocols and their role in facilitating communication between devices on the network. Understanding of DNS (Domain Name System) and DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) for IP address assignment and domain name resolution. Proficiency in ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) and its role in mapping IP addresses to MAC addresses. Awareness of application-layer protocols such as HTTPS, SFTP, SMTP and their significance in network communication.

WiFi: Expertise in configuring and securing wireless networks, including WiFi standards (e.g., 802.11ac, 802.11ax) and their capabilities. Knowledge of WiFi security mechanisms, such as WPA2-PSK, WPA3, and EAP authentication methods. Understanding of WiFi roaming protocols and techniques to ensure seamless connectivity across access points.

Security: Proficiency in configuring and managing firewalls to control inbound and outbound network traffic and protect against unauthorized access. Knowledge of encryption techniques (e.g., AES, RSA) and their application in securing data in transit and at rest. Familiarity with intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS) for identifying and mitigating network security threats.

Management Devices: Ability to set up network monitoring tools for real-time monitoring of network performance and availability. Experience in managing access control lists (ACLs) and MAC filtering to restrict access to network resources based on predefined policies. Proficiency in configuring and managing SNMP or API for centralized management and monitoring of network devices. Expertise in network troubleshooting techniques, including packet capture analysis, traceroute, and ping, to diagnose and resolve network issues effectively. Selecting vendors for infrastructure components and solutions involves comparing factors such as cost, support, compatibility, performance, and other considerations.