CCIE Security (350-701 SCOR) Practice Exam

The CCIE Security (350-701 SCOR) certification, also known as Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert Security Core, validates your advanced skills and expertise in designing, implementing, operating, and troubleshooting security solutions across complex enterprise networks. 

Who Should Pursue This Certification?

• The CCIE Security certification targets highly experienced security professionals with a deep understanding of Cisco security technologies and extensive hands-on experience. Here are some roles that might pursue this challenging certification:
• Senior Security Architects: Designing and implementing secure network architectures for large enterprises.
• Security Specialists (Advanced): Troubleshooting complex security incidents and managing advanced security solutions within an organization.
• Security Consultants: Providing expert security consulting services to organizations, leveraging deep knowledge of Cisco security solutions.

Prerequisites

There are no formal prerequisites for taking the CCIE Security exam. However, achieving this level of expertise typically requires:

• Strong Foundation in Security Concepts: In-depth knowledge of core security principles, network security threats, and best practices.
• Extensive Cisco Security Experience: Years of experience implementing, managing, and troubleshooting Cisco security solutions in complex network environments.
• Advanced Networking Skills: Solid understanding of networking protocols, routing, and switching concepts.
• Hands-on Lab Skills: The ability to configure, troubleshoot, and solve security problems within a simulated network environment.

Earning the CCIE Security Certification

The CCIE Security certification process is rigorous and involves two phases:

• Written Exam (350-701 SCOR): This computer-based exam tests your theoretical knowledge of Cisco security solutions and security concepts.
• Lab Exam: This hands-on lab exam simulates real-world scenarios where you need to configure, troubleshoot, and optimize security solutions within a complex network environment.

Exam Pattern 

Length of Time:  120 Minutes

Registration Fee: $400 USD

Exam Language English, Japanese

Course Structure

1. Security Concepts 25%

1.1 Explain common threats against on-premises and cloud environments

1.2 Compare common security vulnerabilities such as software bugs, weak and/or hardcoded passwords, SQL injection, missing encryption, buffer overflow, path traversal, cross-site scripting/forgery

1.3 Describe functions of the cryptography components such as hashing, encryption, PKI, SSL, IPsec, NAT-T IPv4 for IPsec, pre-shared key and certificate based authorization

1.4 Compare site-to-site VPN and remote access VPN deployment types such as sVTI, IPsec, Cryptomap, DMVPN, FLEXVPN including high availability considerations, and AnyConnect

1.5 Describe security intelligence authoring, sharing, and consumption

1.6 Explain the role of the endpoint in protecting humans from phishing and social engineering attacks

1.7 Explain North Bound and South Bound APIs in the SDN architecture

1.8 Explain DNAC APIs for network provisioning, optimization, monitoring, and troubleshooting

1.9 Interpret basic Python scripts used to call Cisco Security appliances APIs

2. Network Security 20%

2.1 Compare network security solutions that provide intrusion prevention and firewall capabilities

2.2 Describe deployment models of network security solutions and architectures that provide intrusion prevention and firewall capabilities

2.3 Describe the components, capabilities, and benefits of NetFlow and Flexible NetFlow records

2.4 Configure and verify network infrastructure security methods (router, switch, wireless)

2.5 Implement segmentation, access control policies, AVC, URL filtering, and malware protection

2.6 Implement management options for network security solutions such as intrusion prevention and perimeter security (Single vs. multidevice manager, in-band vs. out-ofband, CDP, DNS, SCP, SFTP, and DHCP security and risks)

2.7 Configure AAA for device and network access (authentication and authorization,

TACACS+, RADIUS and RADIUS flows, accounting, and dACL)

2.8 Configure secure network management of perimeter security and infrastructure devices (secure device management, SNMPv3, views, groups, users, authentication, and encryption, secure logging, and NTP with authentication)

2.9 Configure and verify site-to-site VPN and remote access VPN

3. Securing the Cloud 15%

3.1 Identify security solutions for cloud environments

3.2 Compare the customer vs. provider security responsibility for the different cloud service models

3.3 Describe the concept of DevSecOps (CI/CD pipeline, container orchestration, and security

3.4 Implement application and data security in cloud environments

3.5 Identify security capabilities, deployment models, and policy management to secure the cloud

3.6 Configure cloud logging and monitoring methodologies

3.7 Describe application and workload security concepts

4. Content Security 15%

4.1 Implement traffic redirection and capture methods

4.2 Describe web proxy identity and authentication including transparent user identification

4.3 Compare the components, capabilities, and benefits of local and cloud-based email and web solutions (ESA, CES, WSA)

4.4 Configure and verify web and email security deployment methods to protect onpremises and remote users (inbound and outbound controls and policy management)

4.5 Configure and verify email security features such as SPAM filtering, antimalware filtering, DLP, blacklisting, and email encryption

4.6 Configure and verify secure internet gateway and web security features such as blacklisting, URL filtering, malware scanning, URL categorization, web application filtering, and TLS decryption

4.7 Describe the components, capabilities, and benefits of Cisco Umbrella

4.8 Configure and verify web security controls on Cisco Umbrella (identities, URL content settings, destination lists, and reporting)

5. Endpoint Protection and Detection 10%

5.1 Compare Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP) and Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) solutions

5.2 Explain antimalware, retrospective security, Indication of Compromise (IOC), antivirus, dynamic file analysis, and endpoint-sourced telemetry

5.3 Configure and verify outbreak control and quarantines to limit infection

5.4 Describe justifications for endpoint-based security

5.5 Describe the value of endpoint device management and asset inventory such as MDM

5.6 Describe the uses and importance of a multifactor authentication (MFA) strategy

5.7 Describe endpoint posture assessment solutions to ensure endpoint security

5.8 Explain the importance of an endpoint patching strategy

6. Secure Network Access, Visibility, and Enforcement 15%

6.1 Describe identity management and secure network access concepts such as guest services, profiling, posture assessment and BYOD

6.2 Configure and verify network access device functionality such as 802.1X, MAB, WebAuth

6.3 Describe network access with CoA

6.4 Describe the benefits of device compliance and application control

6.5 Explain exfiltration techniques (DNS tunneling, HTTPS, email, FTP/SSH/SCP/SFTP, ICMP, Messenger, IRC, NTP)

6.6 Describe the benefits of network telemetry

6.7 Describe the components, capabilities, and benefits of these security products and solutions