Netskil

Netskil is a term used in information technology discussions to denote a comprehensive set of competencies required to work with networked systems and online services. It is not a single standard but a generic label used by educators, trainers, and professionals to reference core networking skills.

Netskil encompasses knowledge across core networking concepts such as TCP/IP, routing, switching, DNS, and addressing; network security including firewalls, VPNs, and threat modeling; monitoring and analytics with logs and metrics; automation and scripting with languages like Python and automation tools; cloud and virtualization with virtual networks; and incident response and troubleshooting.

The term emerged in IT education contexts during the 2010s as shorthand for "network skills" and has been used by various training providers to brand courses. There is no single governing body or universally recognized Netskil credential; rather, programs offer certificates of completion or vendor-specific certifications that cover similar content.

In practice, netskil describes the skill set required for roles such as network administrator, systems engineer, cloud engineer, and security analyst. As networking evolves with software-defined networking and automation, the netskil concept has broadened to include telemetry interpretation, scripting, and collaborative problem solving.

See also network engineering, IT certification, computer networking, and network security.