About 300-735 Exam
Why Cisco 300-735 Is Still a Smart Choice in 2025
Professionals working in cybersecurity today face rapidly changing expectations. One of the most critical shifts is the industry-wide move toward automation-first security strategies. This change is not theoretical it’s being implemented in real security teams that are increasingly relying on scripts, APIs, and orchestration tools to stay efficient. The Cisco 300-735 exam aligns directly with this shift, offering a certification that proves you’re capable of automating Cisco security environments using real programming skills.
Cisco continues to be a major player in enterprise infrastructure. Their certifications remain highly recognized by hiring managers and IT leaders, not only because of the brand itself, but because Cisco ensures its exams are closely tied to current real-world technical needs. The 300-735 focuses on exactly what tech professionals need right now: automating Cisco platforms through APIs, Python scripting, and managing scalable security solutions.
What separates this certification is its balanced approach. It doesn’t cater only to developers or security architects. Instead, it’s built for a wider set of professionals including network engineers, security operations specialists, and sysadmins who may not have formal programming experience but understand the importance of automation in modern IT. It offers a direct path to level up without starting from scratch.
The Skills You’ll Actually Use After Passing
This certification does not waste your time with outdated theory or concepts that don’t translate into daily work. The Cisco 300-735 exam covers tools and platforms that are being used across companies today. Once passed, professionals can confidently work with automation tools such as RESTful APIs, Cisco Firepower, Cisco Umbrella, ISE, and SecureX for threat response.
You’ll get hands-on with Python scripting, especially when interacting with APIs. Expect to learn how to automate firewall policy changes, pull and analyze event data, and automate repetitive security tasks that would normally require manual input. These are not isolated skills they’re core parts of modern security operations.
Most importantly, these skills are transferable across different environments. Once you’re familiar with the structure of REST APIs, JSON, and scripting logic, you can apply this same knowledge to tools beyond Cisco. This portability increases your flexibility in the job market and strengthens your position when switching tools or organizations.
Is the Cisco 300-735 Exam Hard?
From a preparation standpoint, the Cisco 300-735 exam is moderately difficult. It is not intended for complete beginners. Candidates who succeed typically have a foundation in Cisco networking and security technologies along with a basic to intermediate knowledge of Python. Without these, the learning curve can be steep.
However, the exam is completely manageable for those who approach it with structured preparation. The real challenge lies in merging two domains: security engineering and automation programming. While it’s not necessary to write complex algorithms, you will need to understand how to build scripts that interact with Cisco systems and extract meaningful data or perform actions. This hybrid nature of the exam technical plus programming is where many struggle if they don’t dedicate enough time to practical labs.
The questions are scenario-based and will test your ability to think like a professional solving real-time issues. It’s not about reciting facts; it’s about applying your knowledge to situations Cisco systems might present in live networks. Understanding the behavior of scripts, parsing data from APIs, and configuring automated workflows will all show up on test day.
Where This Cert Can Take You
Earning the Cisco 300-735 certification is not just a resume-booster it’s a strategic move in your career. Those who pass often move into high-impact roles such as Security Automation Engineer, Network Security Analyst, or DevSecOps Specialist. These positions are in demand because companies want engineers who can do more than monitor systems they want people who can build and automate scalable security solutions.
The salary potential associated with these roles is solid. In the United States, professionals in these positions often earn between $95,000 and $145,000 per year. These figures depend on experience, company size, and geographic region, but this certification definitely opens doors to well-paid, future-proof positions.
Even outside the U.S., the global market recognizes this cert due to Cisco’s widespread adoption in corporate infrastructure. Employers often value certifications that prove hands-on skills and current knowledge, and the 300-735 covers both. For tech professionals looking to shift away from routine admin work and toward script-driven automation tasks, this is a cert that delivers real value.
What Cisco Wants You to Know for the Exam
The Cisco 300-735 exam is focused on real-world implementations. Its official name, “Automating and Programming Cisco Security Solutions,” reflects what the exam expects from you: the ability to apply programming to Cisco’s security platforms and tools.
The exam blueprint breaks down into several major content areas. The Security APIs section is all about making API calls, extracting and processing data, and handling responses. You’ll be expected to know how to read API documentation and build scripts that communicate with Cisco security products.
Next comes Firepower Automation, which involves scripting tasks like configuring firewall policies or retrieving intrusion data. Cisco ISE (Identity Services Engine) also has a big role in the exam you’ll need to understand how to automate identity management processes and integrate ISE with other platforms using APIs.
Web and Cloud Security topics focus on using tools like Cisco Umbrella and secure web gateways. You’ll get tested on how to pull reports, manage policies, and automate cloud-based protection workflows.
The Threat Response domain deals with SecureX and other platforms that combine telemetry from multiple sources. You’ll be assessed on your ability to automate threat investigation and incident response using these tools.
Cisco doesn’t stick to one format. You’ll face multiple-choice questions, drag-and-drop items, and possibly simulation-style problems. It’s essential to be comfortable not just reading scripts, but understanding their output and how to tweak them for specific tasks.
Getting Ready Without Burning Out
Preparing for the Cisco 300-735 exam requires a clear and balanced approach. Candidates often feel overwhelmed by the blend of security protocols and programming, but the key is to split your focus and set a schedule that doesn’t lead to burnout.
Start with Cisco’s official study materials. They offer the most accurate insight into what the exam expects. If you’re not confident with Python, take time to learn the basics loops, functions, dictionaries, and making API requests using requests library. These are the building blocks for scripting against Cisco APIs.
Equally important is hands-on practice. Reading theory isn’t enough. You need to use real Cisco systems or labs, where you can create API tokens, test commands, and analyze responses. The goal is to make these tasks second nature so you’re not scrambling during the test.
Plan your schedule in short blocks. Studying for 60 to 90 minutes per day over four to six weeks is enough for most working professionals. Avoid cramming. Instead, focus on understanding each domain, one at a time. Rotate between reading docs, watching videos, and running actual scripts in a test environment.
Don’t ignore system logs, packet captures, and configuration files. These are often used in case-based questions to evaluate your ability to diagnose issues and find solutions. Learning how to read these logs and interpret them is an underrated but essential part of the prep.
Ike Mckee (verified owner) –
The option to study on the go in PDF format was a significant benefit for me. Huge thanks for this initiative…