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100+ Free CCIE Security Practice Questions

Pass your Cisco CCIE Security (SCOR 350-701) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Key Facts: CCIE Security Exam

$400 + $1,600

Core + Lab Fees

Cisco

8 hours

Lab Duration

Cisco

Pass/fail

Score Reporting

Cisco

5-7 years

Recommended Experience

Cisco

$130-200K+

Median Salary Range

Industry data

3 years

Certification Validity

Cisco

CCIE Security requires two assessments: the 350-701 SCOR qualifying exam and the CCIE Security lab. Cisco lists the core exam at $400 and the lab at $1,600. The lab covers network security (firewalls, VPNs), secure access (ISE, TrustSec), cloud security (Umbrella, SASE), endpoint protection, and security automation. Cisco does not publish fixed passing scores.

Sample CCIE Security Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CCIE Security exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the primary purpose of Cisco TrustSec in a network security architecture?
A.To provide VPN connectivity
B.To implement software-defined segmentation using Security Group Tags (SGTs) for identity-based access control
C.To replace firewalls entirely
D.To encrypt DNS queries
Explanation: Cisco TrustSec uses Security Group Tags (SGTs) to classify and enforce access policies based on user or device identity rather than IP addresses. SGTs are assigned at authentication and carried through the network, enabling Security Group ACLs (SGACLs) to enforce policy at any enforcement point. This provides scalable, topology-independent segmentation.
2In Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD), what is the difference between an Access Control Policy (ACP) and a Prefilter Policy?
A.They are identical
B.The Prefilter Policy handles first-packet decisions using simple rules before the ACP applies deeper inspection including application awareness and IPS
C.The ACP runs before the Prefilter Policy
D.The Prefilter Policy only applies to encrypted traffic
Explanation: The Prefilter Policy processes traffic before the Access Control Policy, making fast-path decisions (trust, block, or analyze) based on simple criteria like source/destination IP, ports, and VLAN. Traffic that passes through the Prefilter enters the ACP for full inspection including application identification, URL filtering, IPS, and malware detection. This two-stage approach optimizes performance.
3What is the purpose of Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) in a secure network architecture?
A.To replace the DNS server
B.To provide centralized identity-based network access control, policy management, and device profiling
C.To manage MPLS labels
D.To configure routing protocols
Explanation: Cisco ISE is a centralized policy engine that provides authentication (802.1X, MAB, WebAuth), authorization (assigning VLANs, dACLs, SGTs), and accounting for network access. ISE integrates with Active Directory, profiles endpoints, assesses posture compliance, and enforces policies across wired, wireless, and VPN access. It is the foundation of Cisco Zero Trust network access.
4What is the difference between 802.1X authentication and MAB (MAC Authentication Bypass)?
A.They are identical
B.802.1X uses EAP-based supplicant authentication; MAB authenticates devices using their MAC address when no 802.1X supplicant is available
C.MAB is more secure than 802.1X
D.802.1X uses MAC addresses; MAB uses certificates
Explanation: 802.1X requires an EAP supplicant on the endpoint that authenticates using credentials (certificates, username/password). MAB is a fallback mechanism for devices without 802.1X supplicants (printers, IP phones, IoT devices) that authenticates using the device's MAC address. MAB is less secure than 802.1X since MAC addresses can be spoofed, but it provides network access control for non-supplicant devices.
5What is Cisco Umbrella and how does it provide security?
A.A physical firewall appliance
B.A cloud-delivered security service that uses DNS-layer security, secure web gateway, CASB, and cloud firewall to protect users anywhere
C.A VPN concentrator
D.A SIEM platform
Explanation: Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-delivered security platform that provides DNS-layer security (blocking malicious domains before connections are established), secure web gateway (inspecting web traffic), Cloud Access Security Broker (monitoring SaaS usage), and cloud-delivered firewall. It protects users regardless of location by redirecting DNS queries and web traffic through Umbrella's cloud infrastructure.
6What is the purpose of Cisco AMP (Advanced Malware Protection) for Endpoints?
A.To manage network switches
B.To provide endpoint detection and response (EDR) with continuous analysis, retrospective security, and file trajectory tracking
C.To configure VPN tunnels
D.To provide email filtering
Explanation: Cisco AMP for Endpoints (now Cisco Secure Endpoint) provides endpoint protection through continuous monitoring, behavioral analysis, and retrospective security. It can detect, contain, and remediate malware. File trajectory shows the spread of files across the organization. Retrospective security alerts on files that were initially clean but later determined to be malicious through cloud analysis updates.
7What EAP type provides mutual authentication using digital certificates on both the client and the authentication server?
A.EAP-MD5
B.EAP-TLS
C.PEAP
D.EAP-FAST
Explanation: EAP-TLS (Extensible Authentication Protocol - Transport Layer Security) provides the strongest 802.1X authentication by requiring digital certificates on both the client (supplicant) and the authentication server (RADIUS/ISE). This mutual certificate-based authentication prevents man-in-the-middle attacks and eliminates password-based vulnerabilities. EAP-TLS requires a PKI infrastructure for certificate management.
8What is the purpose of Cisco Stealthwatch (now Secure Network Analytics)?
A.To configure firewalls
B.To provide network visibility and threat detection using NetFlow/IPFIX telemetry and behavioral analytics
C.To manage VPN tunnels
D.To replace IPS
Explanation: Cisco Secure Network Analytics (formerly Stealthwatch) uses NetFlow/IPFIX data from network infrastructure to provide deep visibility into network traffic patterns. It uses behavioral analytics and machine learning to detect threats such as data exfiltration, lateral movement, command-and-control communications, and insider threats without requiring agents on endpoints or inline traffic inspection.
9In a Cisco DMVPN (Dynamic Multipoint VPN) deployment, what is the role of the NHRP (Next Hop Resolution Protocol)?
A.To encrypt VPN traffic
B.To dynamically map tunnel endpoints to their physical addresses, enabling spoke-to-spoke direct tunnels
C.To authenticate VPN users
D.To distribute routing updates
Explanation: NHRP in DMVPN maps the tunnel (NBMA) addresses to the underlying physical (NBMA) addresses of tunnel endpoints. Spoke routers register their mappings with the hub (NHS - Next Hop Server). When a spoke needs to communicate with another spoke, NHRP resolves the destination's physical address, enabling a direct spoke-to-spoke GRE/IPsec tunnel without routing traffic through the hub.
10What is the purpose of Encrypted Visibility Engine (EVE) in Cisco Secure Firewall?
A.To decrypt all TLS traffic
B.To identify applications and detect threats within encrypted traffic without decryption, using TLS fingerprinting and behavioral analysis
C.To manage encryption keys
D.To encrypt firewall logs
Explanation: Encrypted Visibility Engine analyzes encrypted TLS traffic metadata (ClientHello fingerprints, certificate information, connection behavior) to identify applications and detect threats without performing TLS decryption. This addresses the challenge of encrypted traffic visibility without the performance impact and privacy concerns of full TLS interception. EVE uses machine learning models trained on observed TLS behaviors.

About the CCIE Security Exam

CCIE Security is Cisco's expert-level security certification. Earning it requires passing the qualifying 350-701 SCOR core exam and then the CCIE Security lab, which tests expert-level design, deployment, troubleshooting, and automation of comprehensive security solutions across network, cloud, endpoint, and identity domains.

Assessment

One qualifying core exam (350-701 SCOR) plus one 8-hour hands-on lab; Cisco does not publish fixed lab task counts

Time Limit

120 minutes core exam + 8-hour lab

Passing Score

Pass/fail (Cisco does not publish fixed passing scores)

Exam Fee

$2,000 total baseline ($400 core + $1,600 lab) (Cisco / Pearson VUE / Cisco Expert-Level Lab)

CCIE Security Exam Content Outline

25%

Network Security

Firewalls (FTD, ASA), IPS, VPNs (IPsec, DMVPN, FlexVPN, GETVPN), Layer 2 security, NAT, ACLs, and device hardening

20%

Cloud Security

Cisco Umbrella, SASE, CASB, cloud email security, SD-WAN security, multicloud defense, and DNS security

15%

Endpoint Security

Cisco Secure Endpoint, Secure Email, Secure Web Appliance, malware analytics, DLP, and file inspection policies

25%

Secure Network Access

ISE, 802.1X, MAB, TrustSec/SGT, RADIUS/TACACS+, posture, BYOD, guest access, and Zero Trust architecture

15%

Security Automation and Visibility

Secure Network Analytics, pxGrid, XDR, SOAR, threat intelligence, NetFlow, and Ansible security automation

How to Pass the CCIE Security Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Pass/fail (Cisco does not publish fixed passing scores)
  • Assessment: One qualifying core exam (350-701 SCOR) plus one 8-hour hands-on lab; Cisco does not publish fixed lab task counts
  • Time limit: 120 minutes core exam + 8-hour lab
  • Exam fee: $2,000 total baseline ($400 core + $1,600 lab)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CCIE Security Study Tips from Top Performers

1Spend most time on the 25% domains: Network Security (firewalls, VPNs) and Secure Network Access (ISE, TrustSec)
2Build a comprehensive ISE lab covering 802.1X, MAB, profiling, posture, TrustSec SGT assignment, and CoA workflows
3Master FTD/FMC access control policies, IPS rules, SSL decryption, malware file policies, and identity-based rules
4Practice all VPN types: site-to-site IPsec, DMVPN, FlexVPN, GETVPN, and AnyConnect remote access with split/full tunnel
5Know Umbrella, SASE, and SD-WAN security integration as cloud security becomes a larger portion of the blueprint
6Build timing discipline: CCIE lab candidates often understand the technology but fail due to speed and systematic approach
7Treat automation as integral: know pxGrid, REST APIs, Ansible for security, and threat hunting with Secure Network Analytics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CCIE Security exam format?

CCIE Security requires two assessments: first pass the qualifying 350-701 SCOR written core exam, then pass the CCIE Security lab (8-hour hands-on expert lab at Cisco testing facilities). Cisco does not publish fixed lab task counts or passing scores. The lab tests expert-level implementation and troubleshooting across all security domains.

Does Cisco publish a CCIE Security passing score?

No. Cisco does not publish fixed passing scores for either the SCOR core exam or the CCIE Security lab. Results are reported as pass or fail. Focus on comprehensive blueprint coverage, speed, accuracy, and systematic troubleshooting rather than targeting a numeric threshold.

Which CCIE Security domains matter most?

Network Security and Secure Network Access are the largest domains at 25% each, comprising 50% of the blueprint. ISE expertise (802.1X, TrustSec, posture, profiling) and firewall skills (FTD/ASA, VPNs) are essential. Cloud Security (20%) is increasingly important with Umbrella, SASE, and SD-WAN security integration.

How long should I study for CCIE Security?

Most candidates who are solid at CCNP Security level need 350-500 hours of focused preparation. Build a comprehensive lab covering ISE, FTD/ASA, VPNs, Umbrella, and security automation. Practice timed troubleshooting scenarios and policy deployment. Do not schedule the lab until you can solve security tasks quickly without looking up syntax.

How is CCIE Security different from CCNP Security?

CCNP Security validates professional-level breadth across Cisco security products. CCIE Security demands expert-level depth: faster fault isolation, deeper integration knowledge across ISE-firewall-endpoint-cloud ecosystems, and hands-on performance in an 8-hour lab. CCIE expects you to design, deploy, and troubleshoot comprehensive security architectures under pressure.

What jobs can I get with CCIE Security?

CCIE Security qualifies you for elite roles including Security Architect ($130,000-200,000+), Principal Security Engineer ($120,000-180,000), Security Consultant ($140,000-220,000+), CISO/Security Director ($150,000-250,000+), and Senior Security Operations Manager ($120,000-175,000). CCIE Security is one of the most respected certifications in cybersecurity.