Course Content
Network Fundamentals
-Explaining the role and function of network components
-Describing characteristics of network topology architectures
-Comparing physical interface and cabling types
-Identifying interface and cable issues (collisions, errors, mismatch duplex, and/or speed)
-Comparing TCP to UDP
-Configuring and verifying IPv4 addressing and subnetting
-Describing private IPv4 addressing
-Configuring and verifying IPv6 addressing and prefix
-Describing IPv6 address types
-Verifying IP parameters for Client OS (Windows, Mac OS, Linux)
-Describing wireless principles
-Explaining virtualization fundamentals (server virtualization, containers, and VRFs)
-Describing switching concepts

Network Access
-Configuring and verifying VLANs (normal range) spanning multiple switches
-Configuring and verifying interswitch connectivity
-Configuring and verifying Layer 2 discovery protocols (Cisco Discovery Protocol and LLDP)
-Configuring and verifying (Layer 2/Layer 3) EtherChannel (LACP)
-Interpreting basic operations of Rapid PVST+ Spanning Tree Protocol
-Describing Cisco Wireless Architectures and AP modes
-Describing physical infrastructure connections of WLAN components (AP, WLC, access/trunk ports, and LAG)
-Describing network device management access (Telnet, SSH, HTTP, HTTPS, console, TACACS+/RADIUS, and cloud managed)
-Interpreting the wireless LAN GUI configuration for client connectivity, such as WLAN creation, security settings, QoS profiles, and advanced settings

IP Connectivity
-Interpreting the components of routing table
-Determining how a router makes a forwarding decision by default
-Configuring and verifying IPv4 and IPv6 static routing
-Configuring and verifying single area OSPFv2
-Describing the purpose, functions, and concepts of first hop redundancy protocols

IP Services
-Configuring and verifying inside source NAT using static and pools
-Configuring and verifying NTP operating in a client and server mode
-Explaining the role of DHCP and DNS within the network
-Explaining the function of SNMP in network operations
-Describing the use of syslog features including facilities and levels
-Configuring and verifying DHCP client and relay
-Explaining the forwarding per-hop behavior (PHB) for QoS, such as classification, marking, queuing, congestion, policing, and shaping
-Configuring network devices for remote access using SSH
-Describing the capabilities and functions of TFTP/FTP in the network

Security Fundamentals
-Defining key security concepts (threats, vulnerabilities, exploits, and mitigation techniques)
-Describing security program elements (user awareness, training, and physical access control)
- Configuring and verifying device access control using local passwords
-Describing security password policies elements, such as management, complexity, and password alternatives (multifactor authentication, certificates, and biometrics)
-Describing IPsec remote access and site-to-site VPNs
-Configuring and verifying access control lists
-Configuring and verifying Layer 2 security features (DHCP snooping, dynamic ARP inspection, and port security)
- Comparing authentication, authorization, and accounting concepts
-Describing wireless security protocols (WPA, WPA2, and WPA3)
-Configuring and verifying WLAN within the GUI using WPA2 PSK

Automation and Programmability
-Explaining how automation impacts network management
-Comparing traditional networks with controller-based networking
-Describing controller-based, software defined architecture (overlay, underlay, and fabric)
-Explaining AI (generative and predictive) and machine learning in network operations
-Describing characteristics of REST-based APIs (authentication types, CRUD, HTTP verbs, and data encoding)
-Recognizing the capabilities of configuration management mechanisms, such as Ansible and Terraform
-Recognizing components of JSON-encoded data