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Network automation is not difficult because engineers cannot learn Python. The bigger challenge is understanding how infrastructure work changes when manual actions become repeatable workflows.

Why Network Engineers Need to Rethink Automation Before Learning It

When I speak with networking professionals about automation, the first concern is often predictable: “Do I need to become a programmer?”

That question makes sense because traditional networking has always been built around direct interaction. Engineers learn protocols, understand device behavior, troubleshoot failures, and use CLI commands to control infrastructure. The command line becomes a familiar environment where every action has a visible relationship between an engineer and a device.

Automation introduces a different way of thinking.

The biggest shift is not learning a programming language. It is learning how to describe a process that a system can repeat.

A network engineer who manually configures a switch understands the immediate relationship:

Engineer → Device → Configuration

The engineer makes a decision, enters commands, checks the result, and movesforward.

 » Read more about: Cisco 200-901 CCNAAUTO in 2026: What Network Engineers Should Know Before Learning Automation  »