Cisco - Collaboration Trainings

Cisco Collaboration training in Geneva: IP telephony, unified communications and quality of service

The Cisco Collaboration scope gathers all products and solutions orchestrating voice, video, instant messaging, contact center and mobility within an organisation: Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), Cisco Unity Connection, Cisco IM and Presence, Webex, Cisco IP Phone terminals and video endpoints. The ITTA Cisco Collaboration catalogue, delivered in Geneva and Lausanne, covers the complete CCNP Collaboration curriculum (CLCOR + concentrations) as well as the CLFNDU fundamentals and Cisco QoS.

Why train on Cisco Collaboration?

Unified communications architectures remain at the heart of many Swiss organisations: industrial firms, banks, public administration, healthcare. Although usage is gradually shifting to Webex and the cloud (Cisco Calling), on-premise Cisco Unified Communications Manager deployments remain widespread and require sharp skills. For network engineers looking to specialise in voice, video and contact center, the CCNP Collaboration path delivers a recognised Cisco certification that opens doors in integration and collaboration operations projects.

CLFNDU: building Cisco Collaboration foundations

The Understanding Cisco Collaboration Foundations (CLFNDU) course is the ideal starting point for profiles discovering the Cisco collaboration ecosystem: unified communications architecture, IP endpoints, dial plan, basic configuration of Cisco Unified Communications Manager, unified messaging, presence, Webex integration. It is a discovery course (typically 5 days) that lays the vocabulary and concepts before tackling the CCNP modules.

CLCOR and concentrations: the CCNP Collaboration curriculum

The CCNP Collaboration curriculum from Cisco is built around a Core exam and a concentration exam of choice. From a training perspective, this means:

• CLCOR (Implementing and Operating Cisco Collaboration Core Technologies): exam 350-801, covers collaboration infrastructure (CUCM, signalling, codecs, security, QoS, mobility, collaboration applications). It is the mandatory common trunk of CCNP Collaboration.
• CLICA (Implementing Cisco Collaboration Applications): concentration exam 300-810, focused on collaboration applications (Unity Connection, IM and Presence, Cisco Webex Meetings, mobile applications).
• CLACCM (Implementing Cisco Advanced Call Control and Mobility Services): concentration exam 300-815, focused on advanced call control (SIP signalling, PSTN integration, Mobility Services, Webex Calling, Service Discovery).
• CLCEI (Implementing Cisco Collaboration Cloud and Edge Solutions): concentration exam 300-820, dedicated to cloud and edge (Cisco Expressway, Mobile and Remote Access, hybrid deployments, Webex Edge).

The CCNP Collaboration holder must pass CLCOR plus one concentration. ITTA offers all four associated courses on-site in Geneva and Lausanne, and in synchronous remote mode.

Cisco QoS: the cornerstone of voice and video

Quality of Service (QoS) is a cross-cutting skill essential to any Cisco Collaboration deployment. Voice and video are sensitive to latency, jitter and packet loss; without properly configured QoS, a high-performing data network can collapse on real-time communications. The Implementing Cisco QoS course covers traffic classification, marking (DSCP, CoS), queueing (LLQ, CBWFQ), admission control, noise cancellation, and end-to-end QoS deployment across LAN and WAN. It complements CLCOR and is strongly recommended for engineers in charge of IP telephony estates.

Skills built across this Cisco Collaboration catalogue

• Configure Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) and the dial plan
• Deploy Cisco Unity Connection (unified messaging) and IM and Presence
• Implement Cisco Expressway and Mobile and Remote Access
• Integrate Webex Calling and cloud/hybrid deployments
• Design and deploy an end-to-end QoS policy
• Secure voice and video communications (TLS, SRTP, SIP TLS)
• Prepare exams 350-801 (Core) and 300-810/815/820 (concentrations)

ITTA catalogue around Cisco

• Cisco: root editor covering the entire Cisco catalogue (CCNA, CCNP, CCIE).
• Cisco Mobility: wireless and mobility.
• Microsoft Teams: complementary editor for Microsoft unified communications.
• Systems and networking: domain covering core network skills.

Featured Cisco Collaboration courses

• Understanding Cisco Collaboration Foundations (CLFNDU)
• Implementing and Operating Cisco Collaboration Core Technologies (CLCOR)
• Implementing Cisco Collaboration Applications (CLICA)
• Implementing Cisco Advanced Call Control and Mobility Services (CLACCM)
• Cisco Collaboration Cloud and Edge Solutions (CLCEI)
• Implementing Cisco Quality of Services

Learning formats

Cisco Collaboration training sessions take place in Geneva and Lausanne on-site, and also in synchronous remote mode. Labs use official Cisco environments (DevNet sandbox, voice simulators, physical equipment depending on the session). CCNP-level sessions assume a CCNA Routing & Switching base (or current Cisco Certified Network Associate); for beginner profiles, ITTA recommends starting with CLFNDU before tackling CLCOR. Exam vouchers are not included by default and can be added on request for certifying courses.

Frequently asked questions on Cisco Collaboration

What is the difference between Cisco Unified Communications and Webex Calling? Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) is the historic on-premise IP telephony solution, deployed in company datacentres. Webex Calling is Cisco’s cloud offering, externalising call control and signalling. Both can coexist in a hybrid deployment through Cisco Expressway and Cloud Connected UC. CLCOR and CLCEI training cover both worlds; engineers benefit from mastering this coexistence.

Is CCNP Collaboration still relevant in 2026? Yes. Despite cloud pressure, most large organisations keep an on-premise CUCM estate (banks, public sector, critical industries). CCNP Collaboration remains a recognised credential for Unified Communications engineer, IP telephony architect and Cisco integration consultant roles. The CLCEI concentration (cloud and edge) is gaining additional value with the gradual shift to Webex Calling.

Do you need Microsoft Teams knowledge to work on Cisco Collaboration? Increasingly yes. Many organisations now run a mixed estate: Cisco for historic telephony, Teams for modern collaboration. Cisco engineers benefit from understanding the Teams Phone ecosystem for hybrid deployments and ongoing migrations. ITTA offers complementary Microsoft Teams training via its dedicated catalogue.

Evolution of the Cisco Collaboration ecosystem

The Cisco Collaboration ecosystem has experienced several major evolutions in recent years: gradual move from Skype for Business / Cisco Jabber to Webex App, rise of Webex Calling on the cloud market, native integration with Microsoft Teams (Cisco Cert Compatible), new video endpoints (Webex Room series, Webex Desk), focus on hybrid experience for meeting spaces. CLCOR and CLICA courses progressively update their content to reflect these evolutions, while keeping the still widely deployed CUCM foundations. Collaboration engineers benefit from regular training to stay current, and from complementing with cross-cutting courses (security, networking, cloud) according to their career trajectory.

Building a coherent collaboration learning path

For a network engineer looking to specialise in collaboration, ITTA recommends a progressive path over 12 to 24 months. Step 1: CCNA Routing & Switching or current Cisco Certified Network Associate as the indispensable networking foundation. Step 2: CLFNDU to set the vocabulary and concepts of collaboration. Step 3: CLCOR to validate the CCNP Collaboration common trunk. Step 4: a concentration of choice (CLICA, CLACCM or CLCEI) depending on role needs. Step 5: Implementing Cisco QoS to solidify quality of service. This path leads to the CCNP Collaboration certification and covers all key skills of a voice/video engineer. Organisations looking to upskill a full team can organise in-company sessions to align level and vocabulary of staff members on these different modules.