Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide (2026)

Cisco Certified Network Associate Study Guide 2026 – Pass on Your First Attempt

This Cisco Certified Network Associate study guide covers all exam domains, key concepts, and real exam-style scenarios to help you pass on your first attempt. Learn what topics matter most, avoid common mistakes, and follow a structured plan based on the official exam blueprint.

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What should you study for the Cisco Certified Network Associate exam?

To pass the Cisco Certified Network Associate certification exam, you should focus on:

  • Network Fundamentals: Covers OSI and TCP/IP models, Ethernet switching, IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, subnetting, and wireless fundamentals.
  • Network Access: Covers VLANs, inter-VLAN routing, EtherChannel, STP, and wireless LAN architecture.
  • IP Connectivity: Covers IP routing concepts, static routing, OSPF, and first-hop redundancy protocols.
  • IP Services: Covers NAT, DHCP, NTP, DNS, SNMP, Syslog, TFTP, and QoS fundamentals.
  • Security Fundamentals: Covers key security concepts, access control lists, Layer 2 security, and VPN fundamentals.
  • Automation and Programmability: Covers SDN concepts, REST APIs, data formats, and configuration management tools.

The exam tests your ability to apply concepts in real scenarios, not just memorize definitions.

Cisco Certified Network Associate Exam Syllabus and Topics

The Cisco Certified Network Associate exam is divided into 6 domains. Each domain tests specific skills and contributes to your overall score.

Network Fundamentals

Covers OSI and TCP/IP models, Ethernet switching, IPv4 and IPv6 addressing, subnetting, and wireless fundamentals.

20%
Weight
22
Questions
200
Marks

Networking Models

  • OSI model: 7 layers, encapsulation, and PDU names
  • TCP/IP model: 4 layers and comparison with OSI
  • Functions of each layer and common protocols per layer
  • Encapsulation and de-encapsulation process

Physical and Data Link Concepts

  • Ethernet frame structure: MAC addresses, FCS, and MTU
  • Half-duplex vs full-duplex and collision domains
  • Network topologies: star, mesh, bus, and hybrid
  • Cabling: UTP categories, SFP, multimode vs single-mode fibre

IPv4 Addressing and Subnetting

  • IPv4 address classes and private address ranges (RFC 1918)
  • CIDR notation and subnet mask calculation
  • VLSM: variable-length subnet masking
  • Calculating network address, broadcast, and usable host ranges

IPv6 Fundamentals

  • IPv6 address format: 128-bit hex notation and abbreviation rules
  • IPv6 address types: unicast, multicast, anycast, link-local, global
  • EUI-64 interface ID generation
  • IPv6 neighbour discovery protocol (NDP) and SLAAC

Network Access

Covers VLANs, inter-VLAN routing, EtherChannel, STP, and wireless LAN architecture.

20%
Weight
22
Questions
200
Marks

VLAN and Trunking

  • VLAN concepts and configuration on Cisco IOS
  • 802.1Q trunking: native VLAN, allowed VLANs
  • Inter-VLAN routing: Router-on-a-Stick and Layer 3 switch SVI
  • Voice VLAN configuration

EtherChannel and STP

  • EtherChannel: LACP and PAgP negotiation protocols
  • Spanning Tree Protocol: STP, RSTP (802.1w) and port roles
  • Root bridge election: bridge priority and MAC address tiebreak
  • Portfast and BPDU Guard for access ports

Wireless Architectures

  • Autonomous AP vs lightweight AP (centralised controller architecture)
  • WLC: wireless LAN controller deployment modes
  • 802.11 standards: a/b/g/n/ac/ax (Wi-Fi 6) and frequency bands
  • SSID, BSSID, association, and authentication process

IP Connectivity

Covers IP routing concepts, static routing, OSPF, and first-hop redundancy protocols.

25%
Weight
28
Questions
250
Marks

IP Routing Concepts

  • Routing table components: network, mask, next-hop, AD, metric
  • Longest prefix match in routing decisions
  • Administrative distance values for different routing sources
  • Connected, static, and dynamic routing

Static Routing

  • IPv4 and IPv6 static route configuration
  • Default static routes (0.0.0.0/0) and gateway of last resort
  • Floating static routes using higher administrative distance
  • Recursive vs directly connected next-hop

OSPFv2 Single-Area

  • OSPF concepts: areas, LSA types, DR/BDR election
  • OSPF neighbour states: Down, Init, 2-Way, Exstart, Exchange, Loading, Full
  • OSPFv2 configuration: network statement, wildcard masks, passive-interface
  • OSPF path selection using cost metric (reference bandwidth)

First Hop Redundancy Protocols

  • HSRP: active/standby router, virtual IP and MAC, preemption
  • VRRP and GLBP concepts and comparison with HSRP
  • FHRP configuration and verification commands

IP Services

Covers NAT, DHCP, NTP, DNS, SNMP, Syslog, TFTP, and QoS fundamentals.

10%
Weight
11
Questions
100
Marks

NAT and DHCP

  • NAT types: static, dynamic, and PAT (overload)
  • NAT configuration: inside local, inside global, outside local, outside global
  • DHCP: DORA process, DHCP relay agent, scope configuration
  • DHCPv6 stateful vs stateless

Network Management Protocols

  • NTP: stratum levels, NTP client/server/peer configuration
  • Syslog: severity levels 0–7 and logging destinations
  • SNMP v2c and v3 concepts: MIB, OID, community strings, traps
  • DNS resolution process and forward/reverse lookups

QoS Fundamentals

  • QoS need: congestion, delay, jitter, packet loss
  • QoS models: best effort, IntServ, DiffServ
  • Marking: DSCP and CoS values
  • Queuing mechanisms: FIFO, CBWFQ, LLQ

Security Fundamentals

Covers key security concepts, access control lists, Layer 2 security, and VPN fundamentals.

15%
Weight
17
Questions
150
Marks

Security Threats and Controls

  • Common threats: phishing, DoS/DDoS, man-in-the-middle, password attacks
  • CIA triad: confidentiality, integrity, availability
  • AAA framework: authentication, authorisation, accounting
  • Multi-factor authentication and password management best practices

Access Control Lists

  • Standard ACL: match on source IP only, applied close to destination
  • Extended ACL: match on source, destination, protocol, port
  • Named vs numbered ACLs and wildcard mask logic
  • ACL placement: inbound vs outbound on interface

Layer 2 Security

  • Port security: maximum MAC addresses, violation modes (shutdown, restrict, protect)
  • DHCP snooping: trusted vs untrusted ports
  • Dynamic ARP inspection (DAI) and IP source guard
  • 802.1X port-based authentication

VPN Fundamentals

  • VPN types: site-to-site IPSec and remote access SSL/TLS
  • IPSec framework: IKE, AH, ESP, and encryption algorithms
  • GRE tunnel basics and use cases

Automation and Programmability

Covers SDN concepts, REST APIs, data formats, and configuration management tools.

10%
Weight
11
Questions
100
Marks

SDN and Controller-Based Networking

  • Traditional vs controller-based network architectures
  • Cisco DNA Center vs traditional campus management
  • Separation of control plane and data plane in SDN
  • Northbound and southbound APIs in SDN controllers

APIs and Data Formats

  • REST API: HTTP verbs (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, PATCH) and CRUD operations
  • JSON and XML data encoding formats and parsing
  • NETCONF and RESTCONF protocols for network device management
  • YANG data models for network configuration

Configuration Management Tools

  • Ansible: agentless, YAML playbooks, push model
  • Puppet: agent-based, Ruby DSL, pull model
  • Chef: agent-based, pull model
  • Infrastructure as Code (IaC) concepts for network automation
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Learning Progress

Network Fundamentals 85%
Network Access 92%

Practice Test Scores

95%
Latest Score
Above passing threshold

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