As synthetic intelligence (AI) strikes from the lab to the enterprise, a important actuality is rising: the infrastructure that powers it’s essentially totally different. AI and machine studying (ML) workloads usually are not like conventional purposes.
They demand:
- Immense computational energy: Delivered by specialised accelerators like GPUs that may course of parallel computations at a scale far past normal CPUs.
- Extremely-fast, low-latency networking: Required to attach massive clusters of accelerators for distributed coaching, the place any community bottleneck can convey a multi-million greenback AI funding to a standstill.
- Refined orchestration: Wanted to handle and schedule advanced jobs throughout a pool of specialised {hardware}, guaranteeing most utilization and effectivity.
This has created an unprecedented demand for technical professionals who can design, deploy, and handle these extremely specialised knowledge middle environments. To fulfill this demand, Cisco has launched a brand new AI certification designed to validate the abilities wanted to excel within the age of AI. For architects and engineers constructing this important spine, the Implementing Cisco Information Heart AI Infrastructure (DCAI) certification is your path to turning into an indispensable professional.
Let’s discover what the DCAI certification entails and the way it can speed up your profession.
What’s the DCAI certification?
The Implementing Cisco Information Heart AI Infrastructure (DCAI) certification is designed for the technical infrastructure group; IT and community engineers, options architects, and technical leads who’re on the entrance strains of the AI revolution. It focuses on the important expertise wanted to construct, deploy, and function the sturdy, scalable infrastructure that underpins AI options.
To prep for the certification examination, it’s best to full these two Studying Paths:
These Studying Paths present the structured information and hands-on experience required to move the DCAI certification examination.
What core expertise will you get hold of?
If you full the above two Studying Paths, you’ll achieve deep, sensible experience in essentially the most in-demand areas of AI infrastructure.
You’ll be taught to:
- Design AI/ML compute clusters and optimize fashions: Look at the elements and use circumstances of AI/ML compute clusters, develop and optimize customized AI fashions, and fine-tune pre-trained fashions for optimum efficiency and effectivity.
- Implement high-performance networks for AI/ML: Establish the important thing traits of high-performance networks for AI workloads—together with bandwidth, latency, and resiliency—and preserve visibility utilizing superior instruments akin to Cisco Nexus Dashboard Insights.
- Grasp AI {hardware} and compute assets: Evaluate important AI/ML {hardware} (CPUs, GPUs, DPUs, SmartNICs, Cisco UCS), perceive GPU sharing applied sciences like MIG and vGPU, and discover compute options akin to HCI and specialised AI orchestration platforms like Run:ai.
- Develop multicloud and workload mobility methods: Implement workload mobility, consider efficient multicloud methods for AI, and mitigate the dangers of vendor lock-in.
- Combine Inexperienced AI and value optimization: Perceive Inexperienced AI ideas, optimize prices throughout your entire AI lifecycle, and leverage AI accelerators (GPUs, TPUs, DPUs) alongside environment friendly energy and cooling methods.
- Apply AIOps ideas for operational excellence: superior incident detection, predictive analytics, root-cause evaluation, and automation to make sure steady enchancment in AI operations.


Are you able to turn out to be an AI infrastructure professional?
The brand new DCAI certification represents Cisco’s dedication to empowering the engineers and designers who’re constructing our AI-driven future. That is your alternative to maneuver past principle and achieve the hands-on expertise to guide on this thrilling area.
Prepare for DCAI certification
Testing for the 300-640 DCAI certification examination begins February 9, 2026.
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