SolarWinds SCP-NPM PDF Exam Questions 2025

Why This Certification Is a Must-Have for Network Professionals in 2025

Network performance is a top priority for IT teams because when a network slows down or fails, businesses lose money, customers, and productivity. Every second of downtime costs organizations thousands, if not millions, of dollars, and slow network performance can lead to frustrated users, security vulnerabilities, and operational disruptions.

This is why network performance monitoring (NPM) is a critical skill in modern IT. Companies need professionals who can keep their networks running efficiently, detect issues before they escalate, and ensure that systems remain available and secure.

SolarWinds is a global leader in network performance monitoring solutions, and their SCP-NPM certification is designed to validate expertise in network monitoring, troubleshooting, and optimization using the SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM).

Why SolarWinds NPM Matters in Modern IT Environments

The SolarWinds Network Performance Monitor (NPM) is one of the most widely used network monitoring tools in enterprises, government agencies, and managed IT service providers. It provides real-time visibility into network performance, detects bottlenecks and failures, and helps IT teams prevent issues before they cause downtime.

Getting SCP-NPM certified proves that you know how to:

• Monitor network health and identify performance issues
• Troubleshoot network failures before they impact business operations
• Optimize bandwidth usage to prevent congestion and slowdowns
• Analyze network traffic to detect security risks and suspicious activity
• Configure SolarWinds NPM for real-time alerts and automated troubleshooting

If you work in network administration, IT operations, security analysis, or cloud networking, this certification helps prove your skills and makes you a strong candidate for high-paying network management roles.

Why Network Monitoring Skills Are More Important Than Ever

Networks Are More Complex Than Ever

Years ago, IT networks were simpler. You had a few routers, switches, and servers, and as long as they were up, everything ran smoothly. That’s no longer the case.

Today, networks are distributed across multiple locations, cloud providers, and hybrid environments. Businesses use a mix of on-premise infrastructure, private clouds, and public cloud services, making network monitoring far more complicated than before.

With networks growing in size and complexity, IT teams need complete visibility into performance, security risks, and bandwidth usage. That’s where SolarWinds NPM comes in—it monitors and optimizes network traffic across multiple locations and cloud services.

Businesses Need Experts Who Can Keep Networks Running

Companies are actively hiring network professionals who can:

• Monitor and analyze network performance to prevent outages and slowdowns
• Identify security threats and block suspicious network activity
• Troubleshoot connectivity issues across local and cloud networks
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and data security standards
• Optimize bandwidth usage so applications and services run efficiently

By earning the SCP-NPM certification, you prove that you have hands-on expertise in all these areas. In a competitive IT job market, this makes you a valuable asset to any organization.

Who Should Get This Certification?

Network Administrators

If you manage routers, switches, firewalls, and monitoring tools, this cert validates your ability to optimize network performance, detect failures, and prevent downtime.

Cloud Engineers

Networking in AWS, Azure, and hybrid cloud environments is not the same as managing an on-prem network. Companies need engineers who can monitor and troubleshoot cloud-based networks alongside traditional infrastructure.

Security Professionals

Cybercriminals frequently exploit network vulnerabilities. This cert proves you know how to monitor network activity, detect security threats, and respond to network-based attacks before they cause major damage.

IT Managers & DevOps Engineers

If you oversee IT operations, cloud deployments, or automation, this certification helps demonstrate your understanding of network health, performance optimization, and security best practices.

Breaking Down the SCP-NPM Exam – Everything You Need to Know

Key Topics Covered in the Exam

This exam is designed to test real-world skills, not just knowledge of SolarWinds software.

• Network Performance Monitoring Basics – Best practices for network health analysis and performance tracking
• Configuring & Optimizing SolarWinds NPM – Setting up, customizing, and fine-tuning the tool for maximum efficiency
• Network Fault Detection & Troubleshooting – Diagnosing and fixing latency, connectivity failures, and outages
• Network Traffic Analysis & Bandwidth Monitoring – Understanding traffic flows, usage trends, and congestion points
• Alerting, Automation & Reporting – Creating alerts, automated responses, and detailed performance reports
• Security Monitoring & Compliance – Identifying network anomalies, security violations, and compliance risks

Exam Format & Difficulty

• 60 multiple-choice and scenario-based questions
• 90-minute duration
• Available online & in test centers
• Moderate difficulty – Easier for candidates with hands-on experience

Exam Cost & Availability

• Exam cost: $199-$249 (varies by location)
• Available online or at certified test centers

How to Prepare for the SCP-NPM Exam Without Wasting Time

Is SolarWinds Official Training Useful?

SolarWinds provides official training courses, but they can be expensive. Some candidates find them useful, while others prefer self-study using books, online courses, and practice exams.

Best Books, Guides & Online Resources

There are many online resources claiming to prepare you for the exam, but some are outdated. Make sure to use current materials that align with the latest exam topics.

Hands-On Practice is Key

Since this exam is heavily focused on real-world scenarios, setting up SolarWinds NPM in a test environment will help you understand how to configure alerts, generate reports, and monitor network performance effectively.

The Importance of Practice Tests & Mock Exams

Taking mock exams helps you:

• Get comfortable with the exam format
• Identify weak areas before the actual test
• Improve time management so you don’t run out of time