Introduction
Hello to all readers of the blog about IT Architecture and Training!
In the previous article of the “VMware Training and Certification. Year 2025” series, we examined VMware Aria Automation as the automation and orchestration layer of VMware’s cloud management platform.
In this article, we shift our focus to the Network Virtualization learning domain and explore VMware NSX – VMware’s software-defined networking and security platform that forms the foundation of modern virtualized and cloud-native network architectures.
The VMware NSX training direction includes educational programs designed to help IT professionals design, deploy, and operate virtualized networks and security services across vSphere, VMware Cloud Foundation, and multi-cloud environments. Key areas include overlay networking, logical switching and routing, microsegmentation, distributed firewalling, load balancing, VPN, and advanced security services.
This article provides an overview of the current VMware Authorized Training programs for VMware NSX, their structure, learning objectives, and their alignment with real-world enterprise network and security architectures.
VMware NSX
VMware NSX-T Data Center is the network virtualization and security platform that enables the virtual cloud network, a software-defined approach to networking that extends across data centers, clouds, and application frameworks.
VMware has updated the product name for the VMware NSX-T data center to VMware NSX. This change better reflects the capabilities and benefits the product brings to customers.
From an architectural perspective, VMware NSX implements a full-stack software-defined networking (SDN) and security model by virtualizing network functions in software and decoupling them from the underlying physical infrastructure.
At its core, NSX provides overlay networking using encapsulation technologies such as Geneve to create logical Layer 2 and Layer 3 networks that are independent of the physical topology. Logical switches and routers enable flexible network segmentation, dynamic routing, and workload mobility across clusters, data centers, and cloud environments.
A defining architectural component of NSX is its distributed firewall (DFW), which operates at the hypervisor or workload level, enabling microsegmentation with fine-grained, identity-aware security policies. This allows security controls to follow workloads wherever they move, enforcing zero-trust principles within the data center.
NSX also delivers network services virtualization, including load balancing, VPN, NAT, and advanced threat prevention. When integrated with VMware Cloud Foundation, NSX becomes the native networking and security layer of the SDDC, tightly coupled with vSphere, vSAN, and VMware Aria for unified operations, automation, and lifecycle management.
This architecture enables organizations to implement agile, secure, and scalable network infrastructures that support hybrid and multi-cloud strategies.
The main current training programs for VMware NSX technologies are:
● VMware NSX: Install, Configure, Manage [V4.0]
- Course code: NSXICM4.
- Duration: 5 days.
- Level of difficulty: Intermediate.
- Target audience: Experienced security administrators or network administrators.
- Prerequisites:
- Good understanding of TCP/IP services and protocols;
- Knowledge and working experience of computer networking, including switching and routing technologies (L2 through L3) and L2 through L7 firewall;
- Knowledge and working experience with VMware vSphere environments;
- Knowledge and working experience with Kubernetes or VMware vSphere with VMware Tanzu environments;
- Solid understanding of concepts presented in the following courses:
- VMware Virtual Cloud Network Core Technical Skills;
- VMware Data Center Virtualization: Core Technical Skills;
- Kubernetes Fundamentals.
This five-day, fast-paced course provides comprehensive training to install, configure, and manage a VMware NSX environment. This course covers key features and functionality offered in the NSX 4.0.0.1 and NSX 4.0.1 releases, including the overall infrastructure, logical switching, logical routing, networking and security services, firewalls and advanced threat prevention, and more.
● VMware NSX: Troubleshooting and Operations [V4.x]
- Course code: NSXTO4.
- Duration: 5 days.
- Level of difficulty: Advanced.
- Target audience:
- Experienced system administrators and network administrators;
- Network and security professionals who work with enterprise networks.
- Prerequisites: Before taking this course, you must complete the following course:
- VMware NSX: Install, Configure, Manage [V4.0].
- You should also have understanding or knowledge of these technologies:
- Good understanding of TCP/IP services and protocols;
- Knowledge and working experience of computer networking and security, including:
- Switching and routing technologies (L2 andL3);
- Network and application delivery services (L4 through L7);
- Firewalling (L4 through L7);
- VMware vSphere environments.
- The VMware Certified Professional – Network Virtualization certification is recommended.
This five-day, hands-on training course provides the advanced knowledge, skills, and tools to achieve competency in operating and troubleshooting the VMware NSX infrastructure. This course introduces you to workflows of various networking and security constructs along with several operational and troubleshooting tools that help you manage and troubleshoot your VMware NSX environment.
In addition, various types of technical problems are presented to you, which you will identify, analyze, and solve through a systematic process.
● VMware NSX: Design [V4.x]
- Course code: NSXD4.
- Duration: 5 days.
- Level of difficulty: Advanced.
- Target audience: Network and security architects and consultants who design the enterprise and data center networks and NSX environments.
- Prerequisites:
- Before taking this course, you must complete the following course:
- VMware NSX-T Data Center: Install, Configure, Manage [V4.0].
- You should also have the understanding or knowledge of these technologies:
- Good understanding of TCP/IP services and protocols;
- Knowledge and working experience of computer networking and security, including:
- Switching and routing technologies (L2-L3);
- Network and application delivery services (L4-L7);
- Firewalling (L4-L7);
- vSphere environments.
- The VMware Certified Professional – Network Virtualization certification is recommended.
- Before taking this course, you must complete the following course:
This five-day, hands-on training course provides the advanced knowledge, skills, and tools to achieve competency in operating and troubleshooting the VMware NSX infrastructure.
This course introduces you to workflows of various networking and security constructs along with several operational and troubleshooting tools that help you manage and troubleshoot your VMware NSX environment.
In addition, various types of technical problems are presented to you, which you will identify, analyze, and solve through a systematic process.
Brief Summary
This article explored VMware NSX as the core platform for network virtualization and security within modern VMware-based infrastructures. We examined how software-defined networking, overlay architectures, and distributed security services enable flexible, scalable, and secure network designs across vSphere, VMware Cloud Foundation, and multi-cloud environments.
By introducing capabilities such as microsegmentation, distributed firewalling, and virtualized network services, VMware NSX establishes a security-first networking model where policies are tightly coupled to workloads rather than physical network boundaries. Integrated with VMware Cloud Foundation and VMware Aria, NSX becomes a foundational layer for secure, automated, and operationally consistent SDDC architectures.
In the next article of the “VMware Training and Certification. Year 2025” series, we will shift our focus to the End-User Computing (EUC) learning domain and explore VMware Horizon 8 — VMware’s platform for delivering virtual desktops and applications.
We will review the Horizon 8 training programs, their architectural components, and how EUC solutions integrate with vSphere, NSX, and VMware Cloud Foundation to deliver secure, scalable, and centrally managed digital workspaces.
Follow the news until the meeting is on air in a few days.
Sincerely, AIRRA.
