Talent Programs

We transform talented graduates into certified and highly qualified experts for your company!

Your Benefits

The cost advantage that comes with hiring trainees

Trainees draw significantly lower starting salaries than a newly recruited, seasoned IT specialist. The costs of the program are amortized within about a year. After a few months training, your well-trained personnel are ready and able to be deployed to serve customers in complex IT projects. What‘s more, experience has taught us that recent talent program graduates‘ commitment to their employers runs very deep.

Added visibility for your business

Our talent programs are heavily promoted to potential candidates. This affords you access to a very large pool of applicants and the opportunity to position your company as an attractive employer.

The price advantage that comes with an end-to-end program

Our talent programs spare you between 40 and 50 percent of the cumulative cost of discrete services (recruitment, multi-month training program, certifications).

Specialized skills to benefit your business

Rest assured, your new employees will be well-prepared for the future challenges of your business by the time they complete the program. Participants will earn the targeted certifications, and we will even guarantee this to you. The insights gained by our coaches during the assessment course give us a very clear picture of a trainee‘s ability to quickly become the highly skilled professional you are seeking.

Interested?

Feel free to contact Diana Frehse if you have any questions:

Fast Lane Institute for Knowledge Transfer GmbH
Gasstrasse 4a, D - 22761 Hamburg
+49 (0)40 25334610, dfrehse@flane.de

Advanced Multivendor Cloud Talent Program

Multi-vendor Certifications

All Multivendor Cloud Talent Program graduates will have achieved the following certifications:

• CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate
• CCNP - Cisco Certified Network Professional
• CCNA Data Center
• CCNP Data Center
• Cisco Data Center Unified Fabric Support Specialist
• Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Support Specialist
• Cisco Data Center Unified Fabric Design Specialist
• Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Design Specialist
• VCP6-DCV – VMware Certified Professional 6 – Data Center Virtualization
• VCP6-DTM – VMware Certified Professional 6 – Desktop & Mobility
• NCDA – NetApp Certified Data Management Administrator

Cloud, Data Center & Virtualization Training Program

Fast Lane conducts training in several blocks to ensure candidates are well prepared for their future job assignments.

Over the course of six months, candidates will work with self-study materials, receive additional mentoring, and participate in intensive workshops.

Level 0
Evaluation Class, 1 Week

• Technical Foundation Review
• One-to-One & Online Assessments

Level 1
Networking Power Workshops, 3 Weeks

• Networking Basics
• Networking Advanced Routing & Switching
• Networking Design & Troubleshooting

Level 2
Server & Applications Virtualization Power Workshops, 4 Weeks

• VMware vSphere Installation, Configuration & Troubleshooting
• High Availability & Fault Tolerance; Data Protection
• Advanced Troubleshooting & Scaling of a Vmware vSphere Environment
• Microsoft Windows Server 2012 / 2016 Basics
• Microsoft Server Virtualization with Hyper-V Deep Dive

Level 3
Storage Technologies Workshops, 3 Weeks

• NetApp Basics & Advanced Concepts (e.g. Clustered Mode)
• NetApp Data ONTAP CIFS, NFS & SAN Administration
• NetApp SolidFire All-Flash Arrays
• Integration of NetApp & VMware vSphere
• SAN Switching
• Storage Migration Techniques

Level 4
Data Center Infrastructure Virtualization Workshops, 4½ Weeks

• Data Center & Virtualization Design
• Unified Fabric Installation & Troubleshooting
• Unified Computing Installation & Troubleshooting
• Hyperconvergent infrastructure with Cisco HyperFlex systems

Level 5
Multivendor Integration for Advanced Cloud Solutions Workshops, 4 Weeks

• Cloud Technologies
• Cisco UCS Director (former Cloupia)
• Cisco Application Centric Infrastructure (former Insieme)
• FlexPod Architecture & Design
• FlexPod Installation, Administration & Troubleshooting
• VMware Horizon View Desktop Virtualization & Citrix Virtualization Overview
• Validated Cloud Designs for Key Applications:
  Big Data; SAP HANA; VDI/VXI; MS Exchange/SharePoint; Virtualized Oracle Database
• Cisco Road Map, Competition, Corning Cabling Solutions

Enterprise Networks & Advanced Security Talent Program

Enterprise Networks & Advanced Security Training Program

Fast Lane conducts training in several blocks to ensure candidates are well prepared for their future job assignments.

Over the course of six months, candidates will work with self-study materials, receive additional mentoring, and participate in intensive workshops.

Level 0
Evaluation Class, 1 week

• Technical Foundation Review
• One-to-One and Online Assessments

Level 1
Networking Workshop, 5 weeks

• Networking Basics
• Networking Advanced Routing & Switching
• Troubleshooting in Routed and Switched Networks
• Overview Cisco Nexus Family
• Designing Cisco Networks

Level 2
Advanced Network Security Workshop, 6 weeks

• Implementing Security on Routing and Switching Devices
• Implementing Network Security with the Cisco ASA Firewall and ASA NGFW (Next-Generation Firewall Services)
• Securing Networks with different forms of VPNs using Cisco Routers and Firewalls
• Implementing Threat Defense with Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
• Deploying and managing the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) Platform
• Content Security with Cisco Email & Web Security Appliances
• Cisco TrustSec Solution
• BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Strategies

Level 3
Cisco Unified Wireless & Mobile Services Workshop, 5 weeks

• Wireless Networks and Topologies
• Planning RF Networks
• Accomplishing Site Surveys
• Wireless Voice Network Implementation
• Wireless Mobility Service Integration
• Wireless Security Planning and Integration

Level 4
Managing & Optimizing the Workflow in the Enterprise Network Architecture, 3 weeks

• Network Management Basics
• Optimizing Networks with Cisco Prime Infrastructure
• Managing Security Policies on Cisco Security Devices

Collaboration & Business Video Talent Program

Collaboration & Business Video Training Program

Fast Lane conducts training in several blocks to ensure candidates are well prepared for their future job assignments.

Over the course of six months, candidates will work with self-study materials, receive additional mentoring, and participate in intensive workshops.

Level 0
Evaluation Class, 1 week

• Technical Foundation Review
• One-to-One and Online Assessments

Level 1
Networking & Unified Communications Fundamentals Workshop, 3 weeks

• Networking Basics
• Cisco Unified Communications Fundamentals
• Technical Design with Architectural Concepts

Level 2
Unified Communications Expert Workshop, 5 weeks

• Design, Implement & Troubleshoot Express Collaboration Solutions
• Design, Implement & Troubleshoot Enterprise Collaboration Solutions
• Understand, Design & Implement Expert Level QoS for Collaboration Solutions

Level 3
Unified Communications Applications Workshop, 5 weeks

• Unified Messaging Solution
• Enterprise Instant Messaging with Presence Solution
• Customer Care Solution Design & Implementation
• Third Party Collaboration Applications

Level 4
Collaboration Video & TelePresence Power Workshop, 3 weeks

• Cisco Business Video & TelePresence Solutions
• Components & Architectures of Video Solutions
• Implement Business Video & TelePresence Software & Hardware Endpoints
• Collaboration Conferencing Solutions

Level 5
Add-on Workshops, 4 weeks

• Collaboration 10 UC on UCS
• Design, Implement & Manage a Secure Collaboration Solution
• Implement a Webex Solution
• Wrap-up

Cisco IoT (Internet of Things) Talent Program

Internet of Things Training Program

Fast Lane conducts training in several blocks to ensure candidates are well prepared for their future job assignments. Over the course of 2 ½ months, candidates will work with self-study materials, receive additional mentoring, and participate in intensive workshops.

Level 0
Evaluation Class, 3 days

• Technical Foundation Review
• One-to-One and Online Assessments

Level 1
Business & IoT Sales Skills, 2 weeks

• Selling Technology Services & Solutions with a Business Outcome Focus
• Cisco Business Value Analysis
• Cisco’s IoT Strategy, Cisco IoT Portfolio & some real world Examples of IoT

Level 2
Networking Workshop, 1 week

• Networking Basics
• Networking Advanced Routing & Switching

Level 3
Network Security Workshop, 1 week

• Implementing Security on Routing & Switching Devices
• Implementing Network Security with the Cisco ASA Firewall & ASA NGFW

Level 4
Internet of Things Workshops, 3 weeks

• Fundamentals of Manufacturing
• Cisco IoT Portfolio of Solutions for Manufacturing
• IoT Technical Sales Model for Manufacturing
• Introduction to ICS/OT Security – Manufacturing
• Implementing the IoT Security Model for ICS/OT Manufacturing Environments
• Designing Cisco Industrial Networking Solutions
• Installing & Configuring Industrial Network Switches, Routers & Cabling
• Troubleshoot Network & Control Issues

NetApp Talent Program

Multi-vendor Certifications

All NetApp Talent Program graduates will have achieved the following certifications:

• Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Support Specialist
• Cisco Data Center Unified Computing Design Specialist
• VCP - VMware Certified Professional
• NCIE-Backup & Recovery - NetApp Certified Implementation Engineer
• NCIE-SAN - NetApp Certified Implementation Engineer
• NCDA - NetApp Certified Data Management Administrator
• NAIP - NetApp Accredited Installation Professional
• ASAP - NetApp Accredited Storage Architect Professional

NetApp Training Program

Fast Lane conducts training in several blocks to ensure candidates are well prepared for their future job assignments.

Over the course of three months, candidates will work with self-study materials, receive additional mentoring, and participate in intensive workshops.

Level 0
Evaluation Class, 2 Days

• Welcome Package
• Technical Foundation Review
• One-to-One and Online Assessments

Level 1
ASAP, NCDA & HOIW Power Workshops, 3 Weeks

• NetApp Accredited Storage Architect Program (ASAP – trained by NetApp)
• NetApp Basics & Advanced Concepts (Data ONTAP 8.1 7-Mode)
• NetApp Data ONTAP CIFS, NFS & SAN Administration
• NetApp Hands-on Installation Workshop

Level 2
NCIE SAN / NCIE Backup & Recovery Power Workshops, 2 Weeks

• SAN Solutions with NetApp Storage Systems
• Clustered ONTAP Overview
• SAN Scaling & Architecting
• Snapshot, SnapRestore, SnapVault, Open Systems SnapVault and SnapMirror Software
• SnapProtect Solution

Level 3
Cloud & Virtualization Solutions, 2 Weeks

• Cloud Technologies
• VMware vSphere Installation, Configuration & Troubleshooting
• Microsoft Cloud Computing Solutions with Hyper-V
• Designing & Implementing Virtualization Solutions on NetApp Storage

Level 4
Unified Computing & FlexPod Power Workshops, 3 Weeks

• Cisco Unified Computing Design & Implementation for FlexPod
• NetApp FlexPod Architecture & Design
• NetApp FlexPod Implementation with Secure Multi-Tenancy

Talent Program References

“It takes a comprehensive skill-set to master the demands and complexity in a data center, and the Data Center Talent program provides the perfect coverage. The experts trained by Fast Lane help roll out projects faster and with greater quality. This means we are able to achieve and maximize the targeted results, which enhances customer satisfaction and retention.”

Michael Sterker, Business Architect, Bechtle GmbH & Co. KG

“Computacenter needs data center and networking engineering service specialists to set up private clouds. They have to be able to integrate complex solutions from different vendors into customers’ infrastructures to standardize, virtualize and automate their data centers. The qualification initiative launched by Fast Lane and Cisco - the Data Center Talent program - enables us to train five new ambitious and motivated colleagues to become top specialists for dynamic data centers within just six months. This is how we keep the quality of projects up to standard.”

Michael May, National Leader Datacenter Engineering, Computacenter AG & Co. oHG
Michael Chrobok, National Leader Networking Engineering, Computacenter AG & Co. oHG

“Within half a year, Fast Lane's team of trainers was able to coach our data center crew to all the Cisco, NetApp, and VMware certifications that we need to get the job done at the customer’s. The decisive factors for this success were, among others, the state-of-the-art, high-end labs that are always available and the special supplementary Fast Lane lab exercises.“

Stojan Jarak, Member of the Board, Alliances Manager CISCO Partnership, COMLINE AG

“The idea behind Fast Lane’s Data Center Talent Program had us convinced right from the start. We were able to steadily develop the solutioneering skills we need for customer projects such as operating data centers and setting up private cloud infrastructures. Fast Lane provided the full package encompassing recruitment, training and comprehensive certifications, and even guaranteed it! We hired two new employees via this qualification initiative. Both achieved best scores to earn 13 different Cisco, NetApp and VMware certifications during this six-month program. Our European colleagues are already looking forward to the forthcoming European rollout of the Data Center Talent Program!“

Sven Heinsen, Director Solutions & Professional Services, Dimension Data Germany AG & Co. KG

“With the Data Center Talent program, we have a unique end-to-end package encompassing assessment, recruiting, training and a host of certifications, some of which are very challenging and sophisticated. Within half a year, our young employee went from a data center newbie to an enthusiastic, highly motivated, and well trained data center specialist. Our thanks go out to the Fast Lane trainer team for their success in working with the graduates in the classroom and at sessions in the high-end labs.”

Prok. Dipl.-Ing. Peter Werzer, Manager Data Center Technologies , Imtech ICT Austria GmbH

“We are constantly seeking well-qualified specialists to master current challenges for our customers. The Data Center Talent program is a very good initiative to cope with the lack of IT specialists. After just six months we have the best trained and multivendor-certified specialists available to us for virtualized data center solutions! Commendations to all the participants for making this happen.” 

Marc Schürch, CEO Netcloud AG

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the selection process work in detail?

• Partners will receive CVs of suitable candidates and can pre-select a number of candidates. Partners should perform an interview via phone or video in order to make sure that candidate(s) would be suitable.
• Selected candidates receive the self study material and take the evaluation class - once candidates have passed the evaluation class, a final interview may be performed by partner and as a result, one ore more candidates will be hired by partner (temporary contract).

What happens with candidates that pass the evaluation class but are not hired by any partner?

• This should not happen because we allow only pre-selected candidates to enter the evaluation class. In those very rare cases where this would be the case, we will charge the partner a 10% cancellation fee but will allow the partner to select another candidate.

What kind of recruitment services are included?

• The program includes the pre-selection of candidates, presenting suitable candidates to partners, and performing the final evaluation of candidates.
• Costs for personal interviews (for example travel costs) are not included, this needs to be arranged between partner and candidate.

What happens if a candidate fails to complete the program?

• There is one additional check at the end of Level 1. Candidates that are in really bad shape at this point in time will be asked to leave the program and the partner may select one more candidate free of charge.
• Once candidates are past this point, they will not fail; the program provides enough time for one to one mentoring as well as various retries.

What happens if a candidate leaves the program?

• This is something neither Fast Lane or Cisco can take responsibility for and needs to be part of the contract between the partner and the candidate.

What are the terms of payment?

• 50% once partner orders one or more seats
• 30% once candidate has been hired by partner
• 20% after candidate achieved CCNP certification

Can partners bring their own candidates?

• Yes, but they will still have to pass the evaluation class. If partners bring their own candidates, the total cost of the program is reduced.