Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) Study Guide: Everything You Need to Know 2025
Your complete roadmap to passing the 352-001 certification exam. This comprehensive study guide covers all 6 exam domains with detailed explanations, study tips, and practice resources.
Quick Start
Essential steps to begin your preparation
Review Exam Objectives
View all domains →Take Assessment Quiz
Free practice test →Follow Study Plan
8-week roadmap →Full Practice Exams
Start practicing →Exam Domains & Objectives
Master these 6 domains to pass the 352-001 exam
Network Design Principles
Layer 2 Design
Layer 3 Design
Network Services
Security Design
Automation and Orchestration
8-Week Study Plan
Follow this structured plan to prepare for your Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) exam
Foundation
Understand core concepts and exam objectives
Focus Areas:
- Network Design Principles
- Layer 2 Design
Deep Dive
Master advanced topics and practical applications
Focus Areas:
- Layer 3 Design
- Network Services
Practice & Review
Take practice exams and review weak areas
Focus Areas:
- Security Design
- Automation and Orchestration
Final Prep
Full practice exams and last-minute review
Focus Areas:
- Full-length practice tests
- Review all domains
Curated Study Resources
AI-curated resources with real links to help you prepare for the Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) exam
Complete Study Guide for Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE)
The CCDE certification is Cisco's premier expert-level design certification, validating advanced network infrastructure design skills. This certification focuses on designing complex enterprise network solutions covering routing, switching, security, services, and automation. Unlike implementation-focused certifications, CCDE tests your ability to make strategic design decisions based on business requirements and technical constraints.
Who Should Take This Exam
- Senior Network Architects with 7+ years of experience
- Network Design Engineers working on large-scale infrastructures
- Network Consultants designing enterprise and service provider networks
- CCIEs looking to validate design expertise
- Technical Leaders responsible for network strategy and architecture
Prerequisites
- Deep understanding of network protocols and technologies
- Extensive experience with enterprise network design
- Strong grasp of routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, IS-IS)
- Experience with multi-layer network architectures
- Understanding of security principles and network services
- Business acumen and requirements gathering skills
- Recommended: CCNP or CCIE level knowledge
Official Resources
CCDE Certification Official Page
Official CCDE certification overview, exam requirements, and registration information
View ResourceCCDE Exam Topics
Detailed exam blueprint with all topics covered in the 352-001 exam
View ResourceCisco Design Zone
Comprehensive design guides, CVDs, and best practices for enterprise network design
View ResourceCisco Validated Designs (CVD)
Detailed architecture guides for campus, data center, WAN, and security designs
View ResourceEnterprise Networking Design Guides
Specific design guides for enterprise networks covering all layers and services
View ResourceCisco Learning Network - CCDE Study Group
Official Cisco community forum for CCDE candidates with discussions and study resources
View ResourceCCDE Practical Studies
Official Cisco training course for design principles and methodologies
View ResourceRecommended Courses
Recommended Books
Network Design Principles and Practice
by Marwan Al-Shawi
Comprehensive guide to network design principles, methodologies, and best practices aligned with CCDE objectives
View on AmazonCCDE Study Guide
by Marwan Al-Shawi
Official CCDE study guide covering all exam topics with design scenarios and case studies
View on AmazonOptimal Routing Design
by Russ White, Don Slice, Alvaro Retana
Deep dive into routing protocol design decisions and optimization strategies
View on AmazonTop-Down Network Design
by Priscilla Oppenheimer
Structured approach to network design from business requirements to implementation
View on AmazonDesigning Cisco Network Architectures (ARCH) Foundation Learning Guide
by Marwan Al-Shawi
Foundation concepts for network architecture design with Cisco technologies
View on AmazonAdvanced Enterprise Campus Networks Design
by Jazib Frahim
Detailed campus network design strategies and best practices
View on AmazonPractice & Hands-On Resources
Cisco Learning Network CCDE Practice
Community-shared scenarios and practice questions from CCDE candidates
View ResourceCisco Modeling Labs (CML)
Network simulation platform for designing and testing network architectures
View ResourceCisco dCloud
Free access to live Cisco demos and labs for practicing design concepts
View ResourceINE CCDE Practice Scenarios
Comprehensive practice scenarios mimicking real CCDE exam format
View ResourceGNS3 Network Simulator
Free network simulation tool for testing design concepts and protocols
View ResourceCisco Design Zone Case Studies
Real-world design scenarios and solutions for practice
View ResourceCommunity & Forums
Cisco Learning Network - CCDE Forum
Official Cisco community with CCDE discussions, study tips, and candidate experiences
Join Communityr/ccde
Reddit community for CCDE candidates sharing resources and study strategies
Join CommunityNetwork Design and Architecture Blog
Cisco's official blog with design insights, best practices, and new architecture patterns
Join CommunityCCDE LinkedIn Study Group
Professional network groups focused on CCDE preparation and design discussions
Join CommunityPacket Pushers Podcast
Network engineering podcast covering design principles and architecture discussions
Join CommunityStudy Tips
Understanding the CCDE Exam Format
- The exam is 8 hours long with scenario-based questions - practice managing your time across multiple complex scenarios
- Focus on the 'why' and 'what' rather than 'how' - you're designing, not configuring
- Each scenario presents business requirements, constraints, and existing infrastructure - analyze all components
- Questions test your ability to justify design decisions, not memorize commands
- Use the marking feature to flag difficult questions and return to them later
Design Thinking Approach
- Always start by identifying business requirements and constraints before proposing solutions
- Consider scalability, availability, performance, security, and manageability for every design
- Understand trade-offs - there's rarely a perfect solution, only optimal solutions for given constraints
- Practice creating design diagrams and documenting design rationale
- Study multiple solutions for the same problem and understand when to use each
- Think like a consultant - consider cost, complexity, and operational impact
Studying Cisco Validated Designs (CVDs)
- Don't just read CVDs - analyze why each design decision was made
- Compare different CVD approaches for similar problems
- Understand how CVDs address high availability, scalability, and security
- Practice redrawing CVD diagrams from memory and explaining each component
- Focus on design patterns that appear across multiple CVDs
Protocol Deep Dive Strategy
- For Layer 3 protocols, understand scalability limits and design boundaries
- Master BGP for WAN edge, MPLS, and service provider scenarios
- Know when to use OSPF vs IS-IS vs EIGRP based on requirements
- Understand protocol interaction and redistribution design implications
- Study failure scenarios and convergence behavior for each protocol
Practice and Scenario Building
- Create your own design scenarios from real-world problems you've encountered
- Join study groups and practice peer reviews of designs
- Time yourself on practice scenarios to build exam stamina
- Practice explaining your designs verbally - this reinforces understanding
- Document design alternatives and the rationale for selecting one over others
- Work through at least 20-30 complete design scenarios before the exam
Advanced Topics Focus
- Don't neglect automation and SDN topics - they represent the future and carry 10% weight
- Understand when to use traditional vs software-defined approaches
- Study segmentation strategies beyond VLANs - TrustSec, VRFs, VXLAN
- Master QoS design as it impacts every network service
- Understand how to integrate security throughout the design, not as an afterthought
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
- Don't over-engineer solutions - simpler is often better
- Avoid vendor-specific bias - understand multi-vendor integration points
- Don't ignore operational considerations - designs must be manageable
- Consider the migration path from current to future state
- Avoid designs that create single points of failure unless constraints require it
- Remember that 'latest technology' isn't always the right answer
Exam Day Tips
- 1Arrive well-rested - the 8-hour exam requires sustained mental focus
- 2Bring snacks and water - you're allowed breaks but the clock keeps running
- 3Start with scenarios that feel most comfortable to build confidence
- 4Read each scenario completely before attempting to answer - all details matter
- 5Identify business requirements vs nice-to-haves in each scenario
- 6Use scratch paper to diagram the existing network and proposed changes
- 7Eliminate obviously wrong answers first, then evaluate remaining options
- 8If stuck, move on and return later - don't let one question consume too much time
- 9Remember that some questions may test multiple domains simultaneously
- 10Trust your experience and design judgment - second-guessing costs time
- 11Pace yourself - aim to complete the first review with 60-90 minutes remaining
- 12Use remaining time to review flagged questions and validate design consistency
- 13Stay calm during difficult scenarios - they're designed to be challenging
Study guide generated on January 8, 2026
Pro Study Tips
Expert advice to maximize your study effectiveness
Active Learning Strategies
- Hands-on practice: Apply concepts in real scenarios
- Teach others: Explain concepts to reinforce learning
- Take notes: Write summaries in your own words
Exam Day Preparation
- Get enough sleep: Rest well the night before
- Review key points: Go through your notes and cheat sheets
- Time management: Practice pacing with timed exams
Continue Your Preparation
More resources to help you succeed
Complete Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide will help you prepare for the 352-001 certification exam offered by Cisco. Whether you are a beginner or experienced professional, this guide covers everything you need to know to pass on your first attempt.
What You Will Learn
Our study guide covers all 6 exam domains in detail:
- Network Design Principles (20%)
- Layer 2 Design (15%)
- Layer 3 Design (25%)
- Network Services (15%)
- Security Design (15%)
- + 1 more domains
Recommended Timeline
Most candidates need 6-8 weeks of dedicated study to pass the Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) exam. We recommend studying 1-2 hours daily and taking practice exams weekly to track your progress.
Next Step: Start with our free practice test to assess your current knowledge level.