VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation: Complete Guide 2026
2V0-31.23
The VCP-CMA certification validates skills in installing, configuring, and administering VMware Aria Automation (formerly vRealize Automation) for cloud management and automation solutions.
An organization is designing a multi-cloud architecture using VMware Aria Suite. They want to ensure consistent governance and policy enforcement while managing workloads across multiple public clouds. Which component of VMware Aria Suite is specifically suited for achieving this goal?
A
VMware Aria Automation
B
VMware Aria Operations
C
VMware Aria Guardrails
D
VMware Aria Cost
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
VMware Aria Guardrails is the component within VMware Aria Suite that enables consistent governance and policy enforcement across clouds. It ensures that workloads comply with the organization's standards regardless of the cloud platform they operate on, making it the ideal choice for this scenario.
A. Incorrect.
VMware Aria Automation is primarily focused on providing automation and orchestration of workloads but does not directly handle governance or policy enforcement across clouds.
B. Incorrect.
VMware Aria Operations is used for performance monitoring, optimization, and troubleshooting but does not enforce governance or policies.
C. Correct.
VMware Aria Guardrails is specifically designed to provide consistent governance, policy enforcement, and compliance across multiple public and private clouds, making it the correct answer.
D. Incorrect.
VMware Aria Cost focuses on cost management and optimization but does not handle governance or policy enforcement.
An organization is planning to implement a multi-cloud strategy using VMware Aria Suite. They want to enable consistent governance, workload placement, and cost optimization across their on-premises data center and public cloud environments. Which architectural components should be included to meet these requirements?
A
VMware Aria Automation for workload provisioning and lifecycle management
B
VMware Aria Operations for monitoring and performance optimization
C
VMware Aria Cost powered by CloudHealth for cost management and optimization
D
VMware vSphere Distributed Resource Scheduler (DRS) for workload placement
E
VMware Aria Guardrails for governance and policy enforcement
Show answer and explanation
Correct answers: A, B, C, E
Explanation
To implement a successful multi-cloud strategy with VMware Aria Suite, the organization needs components that address provisioning, monitoring, cost management, and governance. VMware Aria Automation, Operations, Cost, and Guardrails collectively provide the tools for consistent workload management, visibility, and compliance across on-premises and public cloud environments. While vSphere DRS is valuable in a single vSphere cluster, it does not support the broader multi-cloud requirements.
A. Correct.
Correct. VMware Aria Automation provides the tools for workload provisioning and lifecycle management, which are essential for a multi-cloud strategy.
B. Correct.
Correct. VMware Aria Operations offers monitoring and performance optimization, enabling visibility across multiple environments to ensure consistent operations.
C. Correct.
Correct. VMware Aria Cost powered by CloudHealth is designed for cost management and optimization, supporting multi-cloud financial governance.
D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. VMware vSphere DRS is primarily used for workload placement within a vSphere cluster but does not address multi-cloud workload placement or governance.
E. Correct.
Correct. VMware Aria Guardrails ensures governance and policy enforcement across cloud environments by providing consistent policy application.
An organization is designing a VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) architecture to support its hybrid cloud strategy. They want to ensure seamless management of resources across private and public clouds, while maintaining compliance with security policies. Which key VCF component should the organization prioritize to achieve centralized cloud management and automation?
A
vSphere with Tanzu
B
vRealize Automation
C
NSX-T Data Center
D
vSAN
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
vRealize Automation is a critical component of VMware Cloud Foundation for organizations implementing a hybrid cloud strategy. It enables centralized management and automation of cloud resources, supports self-service provisioning, and ensures compliance with policies, making it the most appropriate choice in this scenario.
A. Incorrect.
vSphere with Tanzu is primarily focused on enabling Kubernetes workloads on vSphere and is not specifically designed for centralized cloud management or automation.
B. Correct.
vRealize Automation is the correct choice because it provides a centralized platform for infrastructure automation, self-service provisioning, and policy-based governance, making it ideal for managing resources across hybrid clouds.
C. Incorrect.
NSX-T Data Center focuses on network virtualization and security but does not directly address centralized cloud management or automation.
D. Incorrect.
vSAN is a software-defined storage solution that provides storage virtualization but does not play a role in centralized cloud management or automation.
Exam Content
Exam Domains & Topics
Master these 4 domains to pass your exam
1
VMware Aria Automation Architecture and Installation
20%
2
Cloud Account and Resource Configuration
25%
3
Cloud Templates and Blueprint Design
30%
4
Administration and Operations
25%
Who Should Take This Exam?
IT professionals with experience in VMware virtualization and cloud automation
System administrators managing multi-cloud environments
DevOps engineers implementing infrastructure as code
The VCP-CMA certification validates your skills in deploying, configuring, and administering VMware Aria Automation (formerly vRealize Automation). This professional-level certification demonstrates expertise in cloud automation, infrastructure as code, blueprint design, and multi-cloud management. It's essential for cloud architects, automation engineers, and IT professionals managing modern cloud infrastructures.
Week 1-2
Foundation and Architecture
Understand VMware Aria Automation architecture, components, and deployment models
Complete official VMware Aria Automation documentation review (architecture sections)
Watch introduction videos on VMware Aria Suite
Complete at least 2 HOL labs focused on Aria Automation basics
Understand all architectural components and their interactions
Learn authentication methods and identity source integration
Week 3-4
Cloud Account Configuration
Master cloud account setup, resource configuration, and multi-cloud integration
Configure cloud accounts for vSphere, AWS, and Azure
Completion of VMware Aria Automation: Install, Configure, Manage course or equivalent experience
Hands-on experience with VMware vSphere and cloud management platforms
Understanding of automation concepts and scripting basics
Recommended: 6-12 months of practical experience with VMware Aria Automation
FAQ
VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation FAQs
Common questions about the 2V0-31.23 certification exam
The VCP-CMA certification validates your ability to install, configure, and administer VMware Aria Automation (formerly vRealize Automation). It demonstrates expertise in creating cloud templates, managing multi-cloud deployments, and implementing automation workflows for infrastructure provisioning and lifecycle management.
The 2V0-31.23 exam is considered moderately challenging, requiring both theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience with VMware Aria Automation. Success typically requires 6-12 months of practical experience, completion of official training, and thorough lab practice. The exam tests real-world scenarios including blueprint design, multi-cloud configuration, and troubleshooting.
Professionals holding the VCP-CMA certification typically earn between $95,000 and $135,000 annually, with an average salary around $115,000. Actual compensation varies based on experience level, geographic location, organization size, and additional certifications held. Senior roles combining VCP-CMA with cloud architect certifications can command significantly higher salaries.
While there are no mandatory certification prerequisites, VMware strongly recommends completing the VMware Aria Automation: Install, Configure, Manage course and having hands-on experience with VMware vSphere and Aria Automation. Practical experience with cloud platforms, scripting, and infrastructure automation concepts is highly beneficial for exam success.
The VCP-CMA certification is valid for 2 years from the date you pass the exam. To maintain your certification, you must recertify before expiration by passing the current version of the VCP-CMA exam or a higher-level certification in the same track, such as the VCAP-CMA Deploy or Design certifications.
About the VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation Certification
The VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation (2V0-31.23) is a professional-level certification offered by VMware. This certification validates your expertise in virtualization and is recognized globally by employers seeking qualified professionals. The exam consists of 70 questions to be completed in 130 minutes, with a passing score of 300/500. The exam fee is $250, and the certification is valid for 2 years.
Why Get VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation Certified?
Career Advancement: Certified professionals earn an average of $115,000 per year. VMware-certified professionals are among the most sought-after in the virtualization industry.
Industry Recognition: VMware certifications are respected worldwide by employers, demonstrating verified competency in virtualization technologies and practices.
Skill Validation: The VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation exam rigorously tests your knowledge across 4 domains, ensuring you have the practical skills employers demand.
VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation Exam Format & Details
The 2V0-31.23 exam is designed to test both theoretical knowledge and practical application. Candidates are given 130 minutes to complete the exam, which contains approximately 70 questions. A score of 300/500 is required to pass. As a professional-level exam, it requires significant hands-on experience and deep technical knowledge. Prerequisites include: Completion of VMware Aria Automation: Install, Configure, Manage course or equivalent experience
Hands-on experience with VMware vSphere and cloud management platforms
Understanding of automation concepts and scripting basics
Recommended: 6-12 months of practical experience with VMware Aria Automation.
Exam Domains & Topics
The VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation exam covers 4 key domains. Understanding the weight of each domain helps you allocate your study time effectively:
VMware Aria Automation Architecture and Installation (20% of exam)
Cloud Account and Resource Configuration (25% of exam)
Cloud Templates and Blueprint Design (30% of exam)
Administration and Operations (25% of exam)
Who Should Take the VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation Exam?
This certification is designed for professionals in the following roles:
IT professionals with experience in VMware virtualization and cloud automation
System administrators managing multi-cloud environments
DevOps engineers implementing infrastructure as code
Earning the VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation certification opens doors to roles such as Cloud Automation Engineer, VMware Cloud Administrator, Cloud Infrastructure Architect, DevOps Engineer. Certified professionals earn an average salary of $115,000 per year, reflecting the high demand for virtualization skills in today's job market.
Recertification & Renewal
The VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation certification is valid for 2 years. To maintain your credential, you will need to meet VMware's renewal requirements before your certification expires. This may include earning continuing education credits, passing a recertification exam, or earning a higher-level certification.
Exam Registration & Cost
The 2V0-31.23 exam costs $250. You can register through VMware's official website or an authorized testing center. Most candidates choose between in-person testing at a Pearson VUE or PSI center and online proctored exams taken from home. Be sure to review the exam policies, including identification requirements and prohibited items, before your test date.
How to Prepare for 2V0-31.23
We recommend 8-12 weeks of dedicated study time to prepare for the VMware Certified Professional - Cloud Management and Automation exam. Start by reviewing the official exam objectives, then work through each domain systematically. Regular practice with exam-style questions is essential for building confidence and identifying weak areas. Combine reading with hands-on practice to develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
HydraNode publishes 268 free 2V0-31.23 practice questions with answers and explanations, plus a timed practice exam drawn from the same bank. Every question is written to the published objectives, so what you practise matches the format and difficulty of the actual 2V0-31.23 exam.
