Pass CCDE Exams Easily

Certification Introduction

Cisco Certified Design Expert is an expert level certification and provides the credentials to be a network design expert. CCDE is focused on network infrastructure design issues and does not cover network implementation and operations management. Cisco Certified Design experts are capable of designing, planning and validation of network design issues.

The CCDE certification is intended for network engineers and network design experts to enhance their skill level in network designing issues technically.

Related Exams

Cisco Certified Design Expert is an expert level certification in network design domain. There are other expert level certifications offered in network design and management domain. Few of these are mentioned below:

• CCIE Routing and Switching
• CCIE Collaboration
• CCIE Data Center
• CCIE Security
• CCIE Service Provider
• CCIE Wireless.

Certification Objective

CCDE certification is intended for network professionals having at least 7 years of experience in the network engineering and advanced network design field. The main objective of the CCDE is to test and training the candidate in following areas on network design.

• Knowledge of Routing Protocols
• Knowledge of Internetworking Theories
• Network Design Principles i.e. Topology, Routing Protocols,
• Network traffic management strategy Design e.g. Network Address Translation, Tunneling, IPv6 topics.
• Management policy designing and cost assessment of a network.
• Network Security monitoring policy.

Certification Format

CCDE comprises of two exams; a written exam and a practical exam. After passing the written exam candidates can schedule their practical exam to pass the certification completion requirement.

CCDE Written Exam

The CCDE written exam code is 352-001 CCDE. The exam is taken in English language and its duration is 120 minutes and contains a total of 90 to 110 questions. The written exam covers in depth network design principles and technical concepts. The exam topics start from network topology and move up to routing, routing protocols, policy based routing, network address translation, network security policy design, tunneling, Virtual Private Network Design issues to Quality of Service management issues.

CCDE Practical Exam

The CCDE practical exam comprise of eight hour practical exam to judge the ability of the candidate to effectively design a network using all possible network design techniques and methodologies based on the questionnaire requirement. The candidates passing the CCDE written exam are only eligible to appear in CCDE Practical exam. The practical exam is scenario based to test the candidate's skills to practically apply the network design knowledge in current business problems and situations. The practical exam comprises of four sections. The candidate does not required to manipulate devices during the CCDE practical exam.

Certification Information

Re Certification

Cisco Certified Design Expert certification is valid for two years. However for recertification candidate has to pass one of the following exams before CCDE expiry.

• Any CCIE written or practical exam.
• Recent CCDE written or practical exam.
• Cisco Certified Architect interview or board exam to extend lower certifications.

For recertification candidate can appear only in one written exam in any two years period. If the candidate is unable to pass the applied exam before certification expiry the original certification is suspended up to one more year. Hence candidate can further try to recertify and if failed the certification is expired and of no further use. With the recertification of an expert level certification such as CCDE all Professional, Associate and entry level certifications are also recertified and extended up to expert level certification expiry date.

Pre requisite

Cisco Certified Design Expert certification exam has no specific pre requisite. However it is assumed that candidate is familiar with Cisco Certified Design Associate and Cisco Certified Design Professional certifications content and has work experience in network design domain.

Skills and Benefits

The CCDE certified design experts are eligible to design a converged network infrastructure which fulfils the business requirements, budget and cost restrictions and operational constraints. This certification prepares professional experts to design networks for large business groups and companies. CCDE experts are well qualified to tackle challenging network design assignments.

What's next?

CCDE is an expert level certification in the certification hierarchy in network design domain. After having CCDE credentials candidates can move on to the most senior level certification i.e. CCAr i.e. Cisco Certified Architecture. It comprises of complex level networks design details and technologies.