The CCNA exam asks you to provide at least three reasons that the "industry" uses layered interconnection models. Examples of layered networking models include the seven-layer OSI model (which you need to know inside and out) and the Department of Defense (DOD) five-layer model (which you don't). The basic reason for using a layered networking approach is that a layered model takes a task, such as data communications, and breaks it into a series of tasks, activities, or components, each of which is defined and developed independently.