Cisco · Professional-Level Certification

CCNP Security

CCNP SEC · 350-701 SCOR + Concentration

CCNP Security is Cisco's professional-tier credential for engineers who design, deploy, and run enterprise network security. Unlike a single test, it's earned by passing two exams — the 350-701 SCOR core plus one concentration of your choice — and it's a hard gate for senior network-security and SOC roles, with the certification expiring after three years if you don't recertify. A failed attempt costs you the exam fee and weeks of momentum, so each sitting carries real weight. This page breaks down exactly what each exam covers, how it's delivered, and how to get it done right.

120 min / exam
2 exams (core + concentration)
Scaled score · Pass/Fail
Center or OnVUE online

Pay Only After You Pass

No upfront fee — you settle only after your verified passing result. We advertise guaranteed results — 100% pass guaranteed or money back.

Exam Spec Sheet

Provider Cisco
Core exam 350-701 SCOR v1.1
To certify Core + 1 concentration
Duration 120 min core · 90 min conc.
Scoring Scaled · pass/fail (no fixed mark)
Fee ~$400 core · ~$300 conc.
Proctoring Pearson VUE / OnVUE online
Validity 3 years
Language English (Japanese on some)
See Cisco Exam Help Options

EXAM FORMAT

How the CCNP Security path is built — at a glance

1

Core Exam — 350-701 SCOR

Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies. A 120-minute exam of roughly 90–110 questions covering security across the whole stack. Required for everyone.

+1

One Concentration Exam

A 90-minute focused exam — firewall, ISE, VPN, email, web, or security automation. You pick the one that matches your role and go deep on it.

3 yr

Certification Validity

Once both exams pass, you hold CCNP Security for three years. Recertify with a qualifying exam, Continuing Education credits, or a mix before it lapses.

Question types & pacing

Cisco exams mix multiple-choice (single and multiple answer), drag-and-drop, and scenario-based items; some forms include simlets that ask you to interpret configurations. The clock does not stop, you cannot return to a question once you submit it, and there is no on-screen calculator. Budget roughly a minute per item on the SCOR core.

How scoring works

Cisco reports a scaled score (roughly 300–1000) and a simple pass or fail. Cisco does not publish the passing cut score and it can change per exam form, so there is no public number to target — you either clear the bar or you don't. Your report shows performance by topic area so you can see where a retake should focus.

WHAT'S TESTED

The 350-701 SCOR core blueprint — bars show each domain's official weight

1

Security Concepts

25%

Threats, vulnerabilities, cryptography, the security intelligence stack, and common attack types against on-prem and cloud assets.

2

Network Security

20%

Firewalls, IPS, NGFW deployment, network access control, and Cisco Secure Firewall / Firepower policy on the data plane.

3

Securing the Cloud

15%

Cloud-delivered security, workload protection, application visibility, and securing SaaS and IaaS environments.

4

Content Security

15%

Email and web security, Cisco Umbrella, and traffic redirection and filtering to control content threats.

5

Endpoint & Detection

10%

Endpoint protection and detection (EDR), Cisco Secure Endpoint, outbreak control, and posture assessment.

6

Secure Access & Visibility

15%

Secure network access (802.1X, TACACS+, RADIUS), Cisco ISE, plus enforcement and telemetry for full network visibility.

Weights above reflect the published 350-701 SCOR v1.1 blueprint and can shift when Cisco revises the exam. Your concentration exam then drills one domain — for example 300-710 SNCF on firewalls or 300-715 SISE on identity services — in far greater depth. Always confirm the live blueprint on Cisco's exam page before you book.

DELIVERY & PROCTORING

Both exams run through Pearson VUE — and here's what test day looks like

At a Pearson VUE test center

You sit the exam in a quiet, monitored room at an authorized Pearson VUE center. Staff verify your government-issued ID, store your belongings, and supply an erasable noteboard. The SCOR core fee is about $400 USD; concentration exams run about $300 USD, plus local taxes.

Online, proctored via OnVUE

You take the exam from a private room at home through Pearson VUE's OnVUE platform, monitored by a live remote proctor. You'll run a system test, do an ID and workspace scan, and clear your desk beforehand. No scratch paper or physical whiteboard is allowed — only the built-in on-screen notes.

ID & identity check

A valid, unexpired government photo ID with your name matching your Cisco / Pearson VUE profile exactly. The proctor captures photos before the exam unlocks.

Environment scan

A clear desk, no second monitor, no phone within reach, and a 360° webcam scan of the room. No one else may enter, and you must run the OnVUE system check in advance.

During the exam

Stay in frame and on-camera the whole time. No scheduled breaks on most Cisco exams. Talking aloud, leaving the seat, or losing connection can flag or void the session.

WHO SHOULD TAKE THIS

CCNP Security is built for hands-on security engineers

  • Network security engineers and security administrators
  • SOC analysts and infrastructure engineers moving into security
  • CCNA holders advancing to a professional-level credential
  • Engineers working toward CCIE Security (SCOR is the qualifying exam)
  • Professionals whose employer or role mandates a current CCNP

PREREQUISITES & DIFFICULTY

No formal requirement — but experience is assumed

  • No formal prerequisite exam — but Cisco recommends 3–5 years of security experience
  • Solid routing, switching, and TCP/IP fundamentals (CCNA-level)
  • Hands-on familiarity with firewalls, VPNs, ISE, and cloud security
  • A 5-day wait applies before you can retake a failed Cisco exam

Difficulty: CCNP Security is genuinely demanding. The SCOR core spans a wide surface — from cryptography to cloud to endpoint — and rewards real configuration experience, not memorization. Most candidates invest 150–250 hours across both exams, and the scenario items punish shallow prep. That breadth, plus the cost of two paid exams, is exactly the pressure our help is designed to remove.

HOW EXAM ASSIST HELPS YOU PASS CCNP SECURITY

CCNP Security is two high-stakes, paid exams standing between you and a senior security role or an employer mandate. Exam Assist pairs you with a vetted Cisco security specialist and works on a pay-after-you-pass model — so the risk sits with us, not you. No upfront fee, guaranteed results: Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end, and you settle only after the verified result.

1

Share your exam details

Tell us whether you need the SCOR core, a concentration (SNCF, SISE, SVPN, and so on), or both, plus your delivery method and target date. Takes a couple of minutes over WhatsApp, Telegram, or Discord.

2

Get an honest feasibility answer

We review your timeline and which exams you need and tell you plainly whether it's realistic — before any money is discussed. If it isn't a fit, we say so.

3

The sitting is handled

Exam Assist handles the sitting end to end. You're matched with a Cisco security specialist who maps the work around the SCOR blueprint, your chosen concentration, and the OnVUE environment — discreetly and confidentially.

4

Settle after the verified result

You only pay once your passing result is confirmed on your official Cisco score report. No verified result, nothing owed.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED

Straight answers about CCNP Security

How many exams do I need to pass for CCNP Security? +
CCNP Security requires two exams: the 350-701 SCOR core exam plus one concentration exam of your choice. You can take them in any order, and there are no formal prerequisites. Passing the SCOR core on its own also earns the Cisco Certified Specialist – Security Core certification.
What concentration exams can I choose for CCNP Security? +
Current concentration options include 300-710 SNCF (Securing Networks with Cisco Firepower), 300-715 SISE (Cisco Identity Services Engine), 300-720 SESA (Email Security), 300-725 SWSA (Web Security), and 300-730 SVPN (Virtual Private Networks). Cisco periodically refreshes this list and is retiring some exams — 300-735 SAUTO was retired in early 2026, and several others have announced end dates — so always confirm the active options on cisco.com before you book.
What score do I need to pass the 350-701 SCOR exam? +
Cisco does not publish a fixed passing score for the SCOR exam. Scores are reported on a scaled range (roughly 300–1000), and the cut score is set per exam form and can change without notice. Cisco only confirms whether you passed or failed and provides a section-by-section breakdown on your score report.
Can I take CCNP Security exams online from home? +
Yes. Both the SCOR core and the concentration exams are delivered through Pearson VUE — at a physical test center or online via OnVUE with remote proctoring. The online option requires a webcam, a quiet private room, a government ID check, and a workspace scan before the exam unlocks.
How long is CCNP Security valid? +
CCNP Security is valid for three years from the date you complete the certification. You can recertify by passing a qualifying exam, by earning the required Cisco Continuing Education credits, or through a combination of exams and credits before your certification expires.
Do I pay Exam Assist before or after I see my CCNP Security result? +
You settle only after your verified passing result is confirmed. There is no upfront fee — you share your exam details, receive an honest feasibility answer, and decide before any money changes hands. We advertise a guaranteed pass with money back if you do not pass; we offer a transparent, results-first arrangement.
EXAM HELP SERVICE CCNP SEC Exam Help: Pay After You Pass We handle the sitting end to end. Pass guaranteed — settle only after the result posts. View Service

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