Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) 400‑007:

What is CCDE 400‑007 (Cisco Certified Design Expert)?

• It’s an expert-level certification from Cisco, focused on network design and architecture rather than implementation.

• The certification validates your ability to: gather and clarify business and technical requirements, design high-level network solutions, justify design decisions, and present implementation plans. Cisco+1

• To earn the CCDE, you must pass two exams:

  1. The written exam (400-007) — 2 hours, 90‑110 questions.

  2. The practical exam — 8‑hour, scenario-based, modular.

It’s an expert-level certification from Cisco, focused on network design and architecture rather than implementation.

The certification validates your ability to: gather and clarify business and technical requirements, design high-level network solutions, justify design decisions, and present implementation plans. Cisco+1

To earn the CCDE, you must pass two exams:

The written exam (400-007) — 2 hours, 90‑110 questions.

The practical exam — 8‑hour, scenario-based, modular.

Key Domains / Topics Covered in the Course / Exam

According to Cisco’s official blueprint (Unified Exam Topics) and training guides, the 400‑007 course (and exam) covers:

Business Strategy Design (~ 15% of written exam)

• Understanding business requirements, cost factors, strategic alignment.

• Translating stakeholder needs into network design.

Understanding business requirements, cost factors, strategic alignment.

Translating stakeholder needs into network design.

Control, Data, Management Plane, and Operational Design (~ 25%)

• Designing the control plane, data plane, and management plane.

• Operational design: automation, orchestration, network operational models.

• Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD pipelines, and zero-touch provisioning.

Designing the control plane, data plane, and management plane.

Operational design: automation, orchestration, network operational models.

Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD pipelines, and zero-touch provisioning.

Network Design (~ 30%)

• Layered topology design (core, distribution, access), scalable and resilient networks.

• Considering technical constraints (e.g. capacity, performance) and business constraints in design.

• Migration and transformation strategies (from existing to new designs).

Layered topology design (core, distribution, access), scalable and resilient networks.

Considering technical constraints (e.g. capacity, performance) and business constraints in design.

Migration and transformation strategies (from existing to new designs).

Service Design (~ 15%)

• Designing network services: voice, video, storage, data-center replication, IoT, etc.

• Incorporating SLAs, QoS, reliability, and operational constraints into service design.

Designing network services: voice, video, storage, data-center replication, IoT, etc.

Incorporating SLAs, QoS, reliability, and operational constraints into service design.

Security Design (~ 15%)

• Secure architecture, segmentation, threat modeling.

• Identity and access control, zero trust, firewall / VPN design.

Secure architecture, segmentation, threat modeling.

Identity and access control, zero trust, firewall / VPN design.

Core Technologies / Technical Focus Areas

In addition to the high-level design domains, the course involves deep technical content. According to the Official Cert Guide and exam blueprint, topics include:

• Transport Technologies (Layer 1‑3) — e.g. MPLS, optical, WAN.

• Layer 2 and Layer 3 Control Plane design.

• Network Virtualization (VRF, VXLAN, etc.). Apple+1

• Security technologies and strategies.

• Wireless design.

• Automation / Model-Driven Networking (APIs, IaC, telemetry).

• Network management paradigms (FCAPS, DevOps, TOGAF, etc.).

Transport Technologies (Layer 1‑3) — e.g. MPLS, optical, WAN.

Layer 2 and Layer 3 Control Plane design.

Network Virtualization (VRF, VXLAN, etc.). Apple+1

Security technologies and strategies.

Wireless design.

Automation / Model-Driven Networking (APIs, IaC, telemetry).

Network management paradigms (FCAPS, DevOps, TOGAF, etc.).

Exam & Certification Details

• Written Exam:

  • Code: 400‑007

  • Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours).

  • Number of Questions: ~ 90‑110.

  • Question Types: Multiple choice.

• Practical Exam:

  • 8‑hour exam.Scenario-based: there is a “core” set of enterprise architecture topics + a scenario based on your chosen area of expertise. Cisco

  • Areas of Expertise (examples): Large‑Scale Networks, On-Prem & Cloud Services, Workforce Mobility.

• Recertification / Benefits:

  • Passing the 400‑007 written exam can also be used towards recertifying other Cisco certifications.

  • It demonstrates your ability to act as a network architect / designer, not just implementer. Cisco

Written Exam:

• Code: 400‑007

• Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours).

• Number of Questions: ~ 90‑110.

• Question Types: Multiple choice.

Code: 400‑007

Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours).

Number of Questions: ~ 90‑110.

Question Types: Multiple choice.

Practical Exam:

• 8‑hour exam.Scenario-based: there is a “core” set of enterprise architecture topics + a scenario based on your chosen area of expertise. Cisco

• Areas of Expertise (examples): Large‑Scale Networks, On-Prem & Cloud Services, Workforce Mobility.

8‑hour exam.Scenario-based: there is a “core” set of enterprise architecture topics + a scenario based on your chosen area of expertise. Cisco

Areas of Expertise (examples): Large‑Scale Networks, On-Prem & Cloud Services, Workforce Mobility.

Recertification / Benefits:

• Passing the 400‑007 written exam can also be used towards recertifying other Cisco certifications.

• It demonstrates your ability to act as a network architect / designer, not just implementer. Cisco

Passing the 400‑007 written exam can also be used towards recertifying other Cisco certifications.

It demonstrates your ability to act as a network architect / designer, not just implementer. Cisco

Target Audience

This course / certification is meant for:

• Senior network engineers, network architects, or consultants who are deeply involved in designing complex network infrastructure.

• Professionals who need to translate business requirements into network design — bridging the gap between business stakeholders and technical implementation teams.

• Engineers who want to validate their expert-level design skills (not just hands-on configuration) — especially in enterprise-scale architectures.

Senior network engineers, network architects, or consultants who are deeply involved in designing complex network infrastructure.

Professionals who need to translate business requirements into network design — bridging the gap between business stakeholders and technical implementation teams.

Engineers who want to validate their expert-level design skills (not just hands-on configuration) — especially in enterprise-scale architectures.

Why Take This Course / Certification?

• It gives credibility: CCDE is one of Cisco’s top-tier design certifications, proving you’re qualified to make high‑level architectural decisions.

• It’s business + technology: The exam tests not only technical knowledge but also your ability to understand business drivers, cost models, and strategic alignment.

• Prepares you for real-world design challenges: You learn how to make design tradeoffs, write design justifications, and create implementation plans.

• Automation and future trends: Covers modern design trends like infrastructure as code and automation.

It gives credibility: CCDE is one of Cisco’s top-tier design certifications, proving you’re qualified to make high‑level architectural decisions.

It’s business + technology: The exam tests not only technical knowledge but also your ability to understand business drivers, cost models, and strategic alignment.

Prepares you for real-world design challenges: You learn how to make design tradeoffs, write design justifications, and create implementation plans.

Automation and future trends: Covers modern design trends like infrastructure as code and automation.