Splunk Academic Alliance: From Data to Networks to Security

The Splunk Academic Alliance Program was built on a simple idea: when students learn to work with data, they gain skills that translate directly into careers. Today, that vision is expanding through our integration and greater collaboration with the Cisco Networking Academy. Together, Splunk and Cisco are creating a compelling learning journey that starts with data foundations and extends across networking and security into a unified, career-aligned pathway.

This collaboration increases the value of the Splunk Academic Alliance program by giving not-for-profit colleges and universities access to Splunk platform and security training, and networking curriculum offered through Cisco's globally recognized Networking Academy program. Students are no longer just learning tools, they are learning how real environments operate—from how data is generated and moved, to how networks connect everything, to how security teams detect and respond to threats.

Why This Matters Now

The 2025 Splunk Career Impact Report illustrates a clear shift in the market. Demand for Splunk practitioners has doubled since Cisco acquired Splunk, and interest in building Splunk skills has surged by 107% year over year. At the same time, Splunk’s importance in professionals’ careers has more than doubled, with 43% of respondents now ranking it as a top technology to master.

These trends signal that employers are not just looking for people who understand data or networking or security in isolation. They are looking for professionals who understand how these domains work together.

That is exactly what this new joint learning path is designed to do.

A Learning Path Designed for Real-World Roles

The Splunk Academic Alliance learning portfolio, previously focused on Splunk Platform and Security, has expanded to include curated networking courses from Cisco Networking Academy—providing students with a more complete understanding of how data moves, how systems connect, and how security operations function in real-world environments.

The expanded portfolio offers a curriculum that now includes Networking Basics, plus Networking Devices and Initial Configuration. The portfolio has been reimagined to reflect how roles operate in the real world, with a curriculum intentionally aligned to industry needs and career pathways. Learners begin by building data fluency with the Splunk platform, then apply those skills across both Networking and Security pathways, which are all supported by hands-on labs and real-world scenarios that reinforce practical application.

This approach enables learners to understand how data, infrastructure, and security intersect in practice, culminating in the foundational skills needed to be Security Operation Center (SOC) ready.

Start Your Learning Journey

Whether you are a current member ready to add networking to your curriculum, or a new member exploring the full portfolio, the program provides flexible learning paths that help students build valuable, career-ready skills at no cost.

• Become a program member by learning more and enrolling today

• Current members can log into STEP to access the overview and expand their curriculum to include networking

This next chapter of the Splunk Academic Alliance reflects a deeper focus on collaboration, alignment with industry, and preparing the next generation of cybersecurity professionals to understand not just data, but the full environment in which it lives, moves, and must be protected.