Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE) identifies those with expert-level knowledge and skills in Infrastructure Design. CCDE is parallel to CCIE in terms of difficulty, and expertise. It emphasizes network design principles and theory and recognizes expertise of designers that have the knowledge to assess network business requirements and can translate them into technical specifications to be incorporated into successful designs.
Value of the CCDE
As part of Cisco's solutions approach to network design, there is a clear need to identify and recognize architectural expertise which will be used to support global customers' increasingly complex networks by effectively translating business strategies into evolutionary technical strategies.
A "solutions" approach is intended to be broad, scaling multiple technology areas and possibly utilizing multiple vendors' equipment. The CCDE needs to know more than just design, but how to make design tradeoffs to bring value to the advanced technologies, particularly in the areas of Unified Communications, Security, and Performance.
The solutions approach also successfully incorporates customer business requirements such as folding in acquired networks and expanding networks to offer new services to their customers, while achieving desired returns on investment. A CCDE needs to know how to integrate these requirements "seamlessly" into the existing infrastructure without disruption, with existing hardware/software and within multiple vendor environments. The Design Experts need to not only participate in the implementation plan but have the competency to develop the implementation plan.
Find out More About CCDE
Find out the latest information on CCDE and access the CCDE programs page
Download the new CCDE At a Glance Brochure
(PDF - 507KB)
- Launch the new CCDE Programs page
Download the new CCDE Powertpoint Overview
(PPT - 1.7MB)
About the CCDE Exams
This new expert level, infrastructure design certification is modeled after the industry leading CCIE program with a qualification and subsequent practical exam. Currently, the qualification exam is available worldwide at any Pearson VUE testing center. The CCDE qualification exam recertifies your existing CCIE certification. The practical exam is still in development and is expected to be released later this year.
Click here
to sign up for the new CCDE Written Exam
CCDE Requirements:
Passing the following exams:
- Advanced Design Theory and Principles, 2 hour, multi-choice Qualification exam available at Pearson VUE
- 8-hour Scenario based Practical exam (CCDE PRACTICAL, available late Fall 2008)
A CCDE candidate will be assessed on the following:
- Gather and clarify network functional specifications.
- Develop network designs to meet functional specifications.
- Develop an implementation plan.
- Convey design decisions and the rationale for the design decisions.
For further information and assistance please visit the CCDE FAQS or contact the Customer Support team.
