Exam Overview

The 300-745 SDSI exam is a professional-level concentration and specialist certification exam in the CCNP Security path. Passing earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Designing Cisco Security Infrastructure certification and satisfies an applicable concentration exam requirement. Cisco currently lists SDSI v1.0 as an active CCNP Security concentration exam.

• Exam Code: 300-745 SDSI v1.0
• Level: Professional-level concentration and Specialist certification exam
• Duration: 90 minutes. Available language(s): English and Japanese.
• Passing Score: Not officially disclosed by Cisco (commonly estimated at ~825 out of 1000).
• Grading and Results: Cisco uses pass/fail grading and states that results are available online within 48 hours.

Exam Structure

The 300-745 SDSI exam follows four weighted domains covering secure infrastructure, applications, risk, events and requirements, and artificial intelligence, automation and DevSecOps.

• Question Types: Not officially disclosed by the certification provider.
• Number of Questions: Not officially disclosed by the certification provider.
• Hands-On Questions: Not officially disclosed by the certification provider.

Exam Policies

Before completing SDSI exam registration, review Cisco certification policies, Pearson VUE identification rules, the Cisco candidate agreement, and the appointment terms. Cisco currently lists SDSI v1.0 as an active CCNP Security concentration exam.

• Rescheduling: Online Proctored exams can be rescheduled up to 30 minutes before check-in. Test Center exams can be rescheduled up to 48 hours before the scheduled appointment.
• Cancellation: Online Proctored exams can be cancelled up to 30 minutes before check-in. Test Center exams can be cancelled up to 48 hours before the scheduled appointment.
• Retake Policy: After failing a Professional- or Specialist-level written exam, wait five calendar days, beginning the next day, before retaking it. After passing, wait at least 180 days before taking the identical exam number again.
• Retake Fee: A retake normally requires the full SDSI exam fee unless a valid safeguard, voucher, or promotion provides different terms.

Certification Validity and Renewal Options

Passing the 300-745 SDSI exam earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Designing Cisco Security Infrastructure certification and starts Cisco's active certification cycle.

• Validity: Cisco Specialist certifications remain active for three years from the date earned.
• Renewal Options: Renew by earning 40 Continuing Education credits or completing an eligible Cisco exam pathway under the current recertification policy.

Exam Fee

• Base Fee: The official SDSI exam fee is USD 300, excluding applicable taxes. Eligible Cisco Learning Credits may be redeemed during scheduling.
• Taxes: Local taxes, currency conversion, and regional checkout rules may affect the final SDSI certification cost. The payable amount is shown during registration.
• Example (India): Candidates in India are subject to 18% GST, bringing the total exam fee to USD 354 (USD 300 + USD 54 GST).

Prerequisites

Cisco publishes no formal prerequisite for the 300-745 SDSI exam. To earn CCNP Security, candidates must pass the 350-701 SCOR core exam and one eligible concentration exam.

• Candidates should understand enterprise security architecture, endpoints, identity, email, hybrid work, IoT, SaaS, multicloud applications, VPN and tunneling, management and control planes, firewall architectures, application security, risk frameworks, compliance, incident response, AI, automation, infrastructure as code, and DevSecOps.
• Preparation should combine the official SDSI syllabus with practical experience designing, implementing, operating, monitoring, or troubleshooting the technologies represented in the current blueprint.
• Cisco's official learning resources are recommended preparation for the 300-745 SDSI exam, but completing a specific course is not an exam prerequisite.

Exam Topics

The official SDSI syllabus v1.0 covers the following weighted domains:

• Secure Infrastructure - 30%: Endpoint, identity and email protection; hybrid workers, IoT, SaaS and multicloud applications; VPN and tunneling selection; management and control-plane security; and traditional, next-generation, web-application, distributed, eBPF, and host firewalls.
• Applications - 25%: Selecting firewalls, SSL offload and decryption, DLP, and endpoint controls from application and flow data; securing cloud-native applications, microservices, containers, and serverless systems; and addressing generative AI, machine learning, and quantum-computing impacts.
• Risk, Events, and Requirements - 30%: SOC incident-handling and response tools, risk-driven design changes, post-incident redesign, MITRE CAPEC, NIST SP 800-37, Cisco SAFE, and matching regulatory and industry compliance requirements to scenarios.
• Artificial Intelligence, Automation, and DevSecOps - 15%: AI functions in infrastructure security, API tooling, infrastructure as code, monitoring, container scanning, telemetry, alerting, SOAR, and secure next steps in automated deployment workflows and pipelines.
• Design Orientation: SDSI evaluates selecting and modifying architecture from business, technical, risk, incident, and compliance requirements rather than concentrating on a single Cisco product.
• Emerging-Technology Scope: The blueprint explicitly includes generative AI, machine learning, quantum-computing implications, eBPF, automation, and DevSecOps security decisions.

Intended Audience

The 300-745 SDSI exam is designed for professionals who design, implement, operate, monitor, or support modern security environments, including:

• Security Architects
• Senior Security Engineers
• Security Design Consultants
• Cloud and Application Security Architects
• DevSecOps Engineers
• Security Program Engineers
• CCNP Security Candidates

Career Opportunities

Passing the 300-745 SDSI exam supports specialist roles aligned with the knowledge and practical skills in the current blueprint, including:

• Enterprise Security Architect
• Security Infrastructure Designer
• Cloud Security Architect
• Application Security Architect
• DevSecOps Security Engineer
• Cybersecurity Solutions Consultant

Average Salary (Approximate)

Cisco does not publish salary data for SDSI credential holders. The ranges below use current employment-market estimates for Security Engineers or closely related cybersecurity roles. Salaries vary by experience, employer, location, job role, and industry.

• U.S.: Approximately USD 63,109-219,755 per year for Security Engineers (Indeed, July 2026).
• India: Approximately INR 445,000-1,360,750 per year for Cyber Security Engineers (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• United Kingdom: Approximately GBP 40,146-88,821 per year for Security Engineers (Glassdoor, July 2026).
• UAE: Approximately AED 83,724-192,192 per year for Network Security Engineers in Dubai, annualized from Glassdoor's published monthly range (July 2026).

Exam Delivery Options

During SDSI exam registration, candidates can review the delivery methods available for the 300-745 appointment and their location.

• Pearson VUE Test Center - Take the exam in a proctored environment at an authorized Pearson VUE test center, subject to local availability.
• Online Proctored Exam (OnVUE) - Cisco written certification exams, including 300-745, can be taken online, subject to country availability, system requirements, and the appointment options shown during scheduling.
• Online Exam Rules: Run the required system test, use an approved computer with webcam and microphone, present acceptable identification, maintain a clear private workspace, and remain under live-proctor supervision.
• Test Center Rules: Arrive according to the appointment instructions, bring the required identification, store prohibited items, accept Cisco's candidate agreement, and follow all check-in and proctor directions.

Exam Registration

Follow these steps to complete SDSI exam registration:

• Open Cisco's official exam scheduling portal and sign in with the Cisco account linked to the certification profile.
• Select the 300-745 SDSI exam and choose an available Pearson VUE test center or OnVUE online-proctored appointment, where offered.
• Confirm the exam version, language, date, time, delivery method, identification requirements, and booking terms. Cisco currently lists SDSI v1.0 as an active CCNP Security concentration exam.
• Pay the SDSI exam fee, apply an eligible voucher, or redeem Cisco Learning Credits, then save the appointment confirmation.

After Passing the Exam

After passing the 300-745 SDSI exam, review the pass/fail result and certification record in Cisco CertMetrics.

• Passing earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Designing Cisco Security Infrastructure certification and satisfies an applicable concentration exam requirement.
• Use Cisco CertMetrics to access exam history, score reports, certificates, transcripts, certification logos, and the credential's expiration information.
• To earn CCNP Security, also pass the current 350-701 SCOR core exam within Cisco's applicable written-exam validity window.

Why the 300-745 SDSI Exam Is Worth It

• Earns the Cisco Certified Specialist - Designing Cisco Security Infrastructure certification
• Satisfies an applicable concentration exam requirement
• Validates current Cisco security expertise
• Demonstrates focused knowledge aligned with the official SDSI syllabus