Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) (350-401) Exam Objectives

350-401 exam domains and weightings

The 350-401 exam is split into 6 domains. The percentage next to each is the share of the exam it accounts for — study time is best spent proportionally.

1.0Architecture

15%

67 practice questions in this domain

1.1Explain the different design principles used in an enterprise network (2-tier/3-tier/fabric/cloud design, HA techniques like redundancy/FHRP/SSO)
1.2Explain the working principles of the Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN solution (control/data plane elements, benefits and limitations)
1.3Explain the working principles of the Cisco SD-Access solution (control/data plane elements, traditional campus interop)
1.4Interpret QoS configurations

2.0Virtualization

10%

46 practice questions in this domain

2.1Describe device virtualization technologies (hypervisor type 1/2, virtual machine, virtual switching)
2.2Configure and verify data path virtualization technologies (VRF, GRE and IPsec tunneling)
2.3Describe network virtualization concepts (LISP, VXLAN)

3.0Infrastructure

30%

135 practice questions in this domain

3.1Layer 2 (802.1q trunking troubleshooting, EtherChannel troubleshooting, RSTP/MST + root guard/BPDU guard)
3.2Layer 3 (EIGRP vs OSPF concepts, OSPFv2/v3 config, eBGP between directly connected neighbors, policy-based routing)
3.3IP Services (NTP/PTP, NAT/PAT, FHRP such as HSRP/VRRP, multicast protocols)

4.0Network Assurance

10%

45 practice questions in this domain

4.1Diagnose network problems using debugs, conditional debugs, traceroute, ping, SNMP, syslog
4.2Configure and verify Flexible NetFlow
4.3Configure SPAN/RSPAN/ERSPAN
4.4Configure and verify IPSLA
4.5Describe how Cisco Catalyst Center is used for network configuration, monitoring, and management (traditional and AI-powered workflows)
4.6Configure and verify NETCONF and RESTCONF

5.0Security

20%

90 practice questions in this domain

5.1Configure and verify device access control (lines/local user authentication, AAA authentication and authorization)
5.2Configure and verify infrastructure security features (ACLs, CoPP)
5.3Describe REST API security
5.4Describe the components of network security design (threat defense, endpoint security, NGFW, TrustSec and MACsec)

6.0Automation and Artificial Intelligence

15%

67 practice questions in this domain

6.1Interpret basic Python components and scripts
6.2Construct valid JSON-encoded files
6.3Describe the high-level principles and benefits of a data modeling language, such as YANG
6.4Describe APIs for Cisco Catalyst Center and SD-WAN Manager
6.5Interpret REST API response codes and results in payload using Cisco Catalyst Center and RESTCONF
6.6Construct an EEM applet to automate configuration, troubleshooting, or data collection
6.7Compare agent vs. agentless orchestration tools

How to prepare for Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR)

Most candidates fail 350-401 not because they didn't know the material, but because they couldn't tell which material they were weakest on. Reading the objectives end to end treats every domain as equally important — the exam doesn't. On 350-401, Infrastructure alone is 30% of your score.

CertPilot AI works the other way around. It tracks your accuracy per domain, weights each domain by its real exam share, and pulls most of each practice session from wherever you're currently weakest. The result is a single readiness score — at 90% you're in the range where candidates typically pass, so you book the exam on evidence instead of a hunch.

Every question comes with an AI explanation of why the right answer is right and why each distractor is wrong. The Exam Decoder goes further and breaks down how to read a question — the qualifiers, the scenario framing, and the trap options — which is the skill that separates a 740 from a 825.

Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) (350-401) FAQ

How many questions are on the Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) (350-401) exam?

The 350-401 exam has up to 100 questions and you get 120 minutes to complete it.

What score do you need to pass Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR)?

Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) requires a scaled score of 825. Scaled scoring means the raw number of correct answers is adjusted for the difficulty of the specific question set you were served, so there is no fixed percentage that guarantees a pass.

What domains does the 350-401 exam cover?

Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) is divided into 6 domains: Architecture (15%), Virtualization (10%), Infrastructure (30%), Network Assurance (10%), Security (20%), Automation and Artificial Intelligence (15%). The heaviest weighted domain is Infrastructure at 30% of the exam.

How do I know when I'm ready to book the 350-401 exam?

CertPilot AI calculates a readiness score by weighting your accuracy in each domain by that domain's share of the real exam, then scaling it by how many questions you've actually answered — so a domain you've barely touched can't inflate the number. At 90% you're in the range where candidates typically pass.

How much does the 350-401 exam cost?

The Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) exam voucher typically costs around $400 USD. Pricing varies by region and vendors periodically adjust it, so confirm on the official vendor site before booking.

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