Change can be a scary thing. Because you never know what’s going to happen, which is new for everyone. When Cisco announced their certificate changes in June 2019, it was a big enough deal called a certificate revelation by many onlookers.
The new certification path went into effect on February 24, 2020. These changes include retiring CCENT and all CCNA paths, replacing them with a single CCNA, and introducing the Cisco certification DevNet. In addition, these changes make much of the information about Cisco certifications online obsolete.
Therefore, we will talk about what Cisco’s changes mean for the new CCNP Enterprise certification. We’ll explore the new CCNP Enterprise certification path, the new exams, and what you need to know to prepare for these exams. For an in-depth look at CCNP Enterprise exams, refer to SPOTO.
CCNP Enterprise: The Basics
You should know that you need to pass two exams to earn your CCNP Enterprise certification.
Like other new Cisco certifications, this means that you must pass a core exam and a concentration exam. The benefit of this change is that each concentration exam will also earn you the Cisco Specialist certification.
The core exams will change according to the path you decide to take. In the case of the CCNP Enterprise, you need to look at the 350-401 ENCOR exam. A passing score, even on the core exam, will earn you the Specialist certification. In addition, the 350-401 ENCOR core exam can be used as a requirement for the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure and CCIE Enterprise Wireless.
CCNP Enterprise: The 350-401 ENCOR Exam
350-401 ENCOR is a 120-minute exam designed to test your overall knowledge of implementing core enterprise networking technologies. The exam costs $400 in the United States. Although there are no formal prerequisites, it is recommended to have three to five years of experience implementing enterprise networking solutions. Once you pass the core exam, you will have three years to take the centralized exam and earn your CCNP Enterprise certification.
From Cisco’s list of exam topics, the CCNP Enterprise Core exam is designed to test your skills in the following areas (the numbers in parentheses are weighted specifically for that topic)
From Cisco’s listing of exam questions, the CCNP Enterprise Core exam is designed to test your skills in the following areas (the numbers in parentheses are weighted specifically for that topic)
• Architecture (15%)
• Virtualization (10%)
• Infrastructure (30%)
• Network assurance (10%)
• Security (20%)
• Automation (15%)
CCNP Enterprise: Core Exam Options
Once you complete the core exam, you can pick one concentration exam from six different concentration exams. Which one you decide to take will depend on your chosen area of specialization.
Cisco Enterprise Advanced Routing and Services – 300-410 ENARSI will test your knowledge of implementing and troubleshooting advanced routing technologies and services. Once you complete this exam, you will also be certified as a Cisco Certified Professional – Enterprise Advanced Infrastructure Implementation. In preparation for this exam, you will be required to have an understanding of the following
• Layer 3
• VPN services
• Infrastructure security
• Infrastructure services
• Infrastructure automation
Implementing Cisco SD-WAN Solutions – 300-415 ENSDWI: You will be tested on your knowledge of Cisco SD-WAN solutions. Once you complete this exam, you will be certified as a Cisco Certified Professional – Enterprise SD-WAN Implementation. It will test the knowledge of the following:
• SD-WAN architecture
• Controller deployment
• Edge router deployment
• Policies
• Security
• Quality of service
• Multicast
• Management and operations
Designing Cisco Enterprise Networks – 300-420 ENSLD: You’ll test your knowledge of designing an enterprise network through this exam. Once you complete this exam, you will be certified as a Cisco Specialist – Enterprise Design certification. It will test the knowledge of the following:
• Advanced addressing and routing solutions
• Advanced enterprise campus networks
• WAN
• Security services
• Network services
• SDA
Designing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks – 300-425 ENWLSD: This exam will test your knowledge of wireless network design. After passing this exam, you will be certified as a Cisco Certified Professional – Enterprise Wireless Design. It will test the knowledge of the following:
• Site surveys
• Wired and wireless infrastructure
• Mobility
• WLAN high availability
Implementing Cisco Enterprise Wireless Networks – 300-430 ENWLSI: This exam will test your knowledge in wireless network implementation. After passing this exam, you will be certified as a Cisco Certified Professional – Enterprise Wireless Implementation. This exam will test your knowledge in the following areas:
• FlexConnect
• QoS
• Multicast
• Advanced location services
• Security for client connectivity
• Monitoring
• Device hardening
Automating Cisco Enterprise Solutions – 300-435 ENAUTO: You’ll be tested on automated solutions with this exam. If you pass this exam, you will be certified as a Cisco Certified DevNet Expert – Enterprise Automation and Programmability. You will be tested on your automation skills and will need to know the following areas:
• Programming concepts
• Python programming
• APIs
• Controllers
• Automation tools
The exam duration of these concentration exams is 90 minutes long, and each exam cost is $300 in the U.S.
The core exam covers the essential topics and skills that any IT professional at this level needs to know. Depending on the area you want to focus on, you will gain insight into a specific topic through the concentration exams.
Who Needs to Take the CCNP?
So, who should consider taking the CCNP, specifically the CCNP Enterprise? Suppose you hold a now-retired certificate, such as the CCNA Routing and Switching, by February 24, 2020. Assuming you were active at that time, then at that point, you would transition to the new CCNA. It makes sense to take the next step and research the relevant CCNP from there. In this case, the natural choice is CCNP Enterprise.
Many of the skills certified by the CCNP Enterprise are helpful in real-world enterprise networking environments. For example, network engineers can benefit from the skills and resume enhancements that come with CCNP. With Cisco solutions being widely valued, you can’t go wrong with the CCNP Enterprise certification. As you progress, the specialist certifications earned along the way alone will be well worth the effort.
The Difficulty of the New CCNP Exams
If you are wondering whether the new exams are more challenging than the old ones, of course, there is no standard answer to this question. But in our opinion, they are more complex than the old CCNP exams.
But you have to take into account that the old exams are very old. They need a significant update to cover topics that are more relevant to today’s networking environment. Understanding Python and some basic scripting emphasize automation, which was not included in the old CCNP exam. While this update does make the exams more difficult than before, they are also more relevant to real-world expectations.
How to Prepare for the New CCNP Exams
Having actual networking experience and the right resources and studying according to the exam blueprints will help you optimize your CCNP learning. The new Cisco exams are not easy, but they seem to have a reputation for being “fair” so far, which means that they match the exam blueprints reasonably well. If you put in the work and have good study habits, you will have a good chance of passing the exam.
If you are interested in keeping your focus on automation, you may find this training helpful, namely Cisco CCNP Automating Enterprise Solutions (300 435 ENAUTO). It would be best to start by getting comfortable with implementing and operating Cisco solutions in a modern environment.
Final Thoughts
In short, the new CCNP has not lost the value and prestige of the old CCNP, but its content has been updated. The new CCNP exam is challenging, relevant, and modern. The previous offering had begun to show its age, and they have done an excellent job of adapting the exam content to match the skills in demand. You’re your CCNP exam with SPOTO 100% updated exam dumps on the first try! Good luck with your new CCNP!
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