I’ve been working with Cisco R&S for six years and currently hold a CCNA. With the industry shifting so heavily toward SD-WAN and automation, I’m wondering if the CCNP Enterprise core exam is still the gold standard? Does it provide enough hands-on depth for modern fabric technologies like SD-Access, or should I be looking at DevNet instead? I want to make sure the 350-401 path actually translates to high-level troubleshooting skills in a real-world production environment.
3 answers
The CCNP Enterprise is definitely still the benchmark for professional-level networking. Having passed the ENCOR 350-401 late last year, I can tell you that while it covers a lot of ground, it really forces you to understand dual-stack architecture and virtualization deeply. It isn't just about legacy routing anymore; the inclusion of automation and SD-WAN elements makes it very relevant. If you want to lead architecture projects, this is the way to go. It bridges the gap between traditional CLI and modern software-defined networking perfectly for senior roles.
That’s a great point, Emily. However, Sarah, have you considered how much time you can actually dedicate to the automation section of the blueprint? Most people struggle with the Python and JSON components because they aren't used to coding in their daily networking tasks. How much programming experience do you already have?
I highly recommend the ENCOR path. It’s the prerequisite for the CCIE Lab anyway, so it keeps your options open for the future. The infrastructure section alone is 30% of the exam!
I totally agree with Jennifer. The modularity of the new CCNP means you can pair ENCOR with a concentration like ENARSI to really prove your advanced routing and troubleshooting expertise.
To answer David's point, I found that you don't need to be a full-stack dev. The ENCOR exam focuses more on interpreting REST API responses and understanding how EEM applets work. You just need enough Python to understand the logic and how to use tools like Ansible for configuration management. It's more about "network programmability" than hardcore software development.