This guide covers all major objectives for the Cisco ENCOR certification exam, providing a structured learning path from foundational concepts to advanced enterprise networking topics.
This guide works best as a loop: read a chapter, test yourself with practice questions, look up unfamiliar terms in the glossary, then move to the next chapter.
18 chapters covering every exam objective. Each chapter includes key concepts, exam tips, common traps, comparison tables, and a 5-question quiz at the end.
Start Chapter 1Free timed and untimed practice with instant feedback and full explanations. Pick 10–120 questions per session. Filter by domain to drill your weak areas.
Go to practice testEvery 350-401 ENCORterm defined and searchable. Use it when a chapter mentions a concept you haven't seen before or want a quick refresher on.
Browse glossaryExam blueprint, domain weights, passing score, duration, cost, and registration links. Start here if you're new to this certification.
View exam guideNetwork Architecture Fundamentals
Objective 1.1 · Explain the role of network devices and the three-tier hierarchical network design model
Spine-Leaf and Software-Defined Network Architectures
Objective 1.2 · Describe spine-leaf architecture and SDN architectures (controller-based, overlay, underlay)
VLANs and Spanning Tree Protocol Concepts
Objective 2.1 · Describe VLAN, trunking, and STP concepts including RSTP and MST
EtherChannel and Advanced Switching Technologies
Objective 2.2 · Configure and verify EtherChannel and Layer 2 switching features
EIGRP: Basics and Advanced Configuration
Objective 3.1 · Configure and verify EIGRP (classic and named mode) for IPv4 and IPv6
OSPFv2 and OSPFv3 Implementation
Objective 3.2 · Configure and verify OSPFv2 and OSPFv3 (including adjacencies, network types, and areas)
BGP Fundamentals and Path Selection
Objective 3.3 · Describe BGP concepts including peering, attributes, and path selection
Route Redistribution and Filtering
Objective 3.4 · Configure and verify redistribution between routing protocols and route filtering using prefix-lists and route-maps
Network Access Control and AAA
Objective 4.1 · Describe and configure AAA, 802.1X, and MAB for network access control
ACLs and Infrastructure Security Features
Objective 4.2 · Describe and configure ACLs, CoPP, and control plane security
VPN and Cryptography Concepts
Objective 4.3 · Describe VPN types (IPsec, DMVPN, FlexVPN) and basic cryptography concepts
Wireless Fundamentals and 802.11 Standards
Objective 5.1 · Describe wireless principles, RF basics, and 802.11 standards
Wireless Deployment Models and Security
Objective 5.2 · Describe wireless deployment models (autonomous, centralized, cloud) and wireless security (WPA2, WPA3)
IP Services: DHCP, NAT, and DNS
Objective 6.1 · Configure and verify DHCP, NAT, and DNS services
QoS and Network Performance Management
Objective 6.2 · Configure and verify QoS (classification, marking, queuing) and basic performance monitoring
Network Automation and Programmability
Objective 7.1 · Describe automation tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef), APIs (REST, NETCONF, RESTCONF), and JSON/YAML formats
SDN Controllers and Cisco ACI
Objective 7.2 · Describe SDN controllers (APIC-EM, Cisco SD-WAN) and Cisco ACI fundamentals
Network Monitoring and Troubleshooting Tools
Objective 6.3 · Describe and use network monitoring tools (SNMP, syslog, NetFlow, IP SLA) and basic troubleshooting methodologies
Free 350-401 ENCOR practice questions with full explanations. Test what you learn chapter by chapter.
350-401 ENCOR Practice Questions