Cisco Implementing and Configuring Cisco Identity Services Engine (300‑715 SISE) Practice Exams
About the Cisco 300-715 SISE exam
Exam at a glance
Professional tier. CCNP Security Concentration exam focused exclusively on Cisco Identity Services Engine. 55-65 questions, 90 min, scaled scoring (no published cut score), $300 USD. Valid 3 years (Continuing-Education credits accepted for recertification).
Domain weighting
- Architecture and Deployment — 10%
- Policy Enforcement — 25%
- Web Auth and Guest Services — 15%
- Profiler — 15%
- BYOD — 15%
- Endpoint Compliance — 10%
- Network Access Device Administration — 10%
What SISE actually covers
SISE 300-715 is laser-focused on Cisco ISE. Unlike the 350-701 SCOR Core exam (which spans the entire Cisco security portfolio at a shallower depth), SISE goes deep on one product. You will be tested on persona deployment, policy sets, authorization profiles, RADIUS/TACACS+ integration, profiling probes, posture workflows, guest portals, BYOD onboarding, certificate management, and TrustSec/SGT design — all the way down to specific menu paths and configuration syntax.
Prerequisites
No formal prerequisites, but Cisco recommends 3-5 years of hands-on experience with Cisco ISE, 802.1X, and enterprise NAC. To earn the CCNP Security credential, you must also pass the 350-701 SCOR Core exam within 3 years. Solid CCNA-level networking knowledge (VLANs, routing, switching) is essential — ISE lives at the intersection of network access and identity.
Why take this certification
- Bridges networking and security. ISE is the foundation of Cisco's Zero Trust Workplace architecture. Engineers who can deploy ISE end-to-end are scarce because the product touches RADIUS, certificates, AD/LDAP, switching, wireless, and endpoint posture all at once.
- Concentration credit toward CCNP Security. 300-715 satisfies the Concentration requirement for the CCNP Security track when paired with 350-701 SCOR.
- Real product depth. Unlike vendor-neutral NAC certifications, SISE expects you to know ISE menus, default policy sets, license tiers (Essentials / Advantage / Premier), and operational quirks (PSN load balancing, MnT log retention, patch sequencing).
- Path to Cisco Certified Specialist. Passing 300-715 alone earns the Cisco Certified Specialist – Security Identity Management Implementation badge — useful on its own even before completing the CCNP.
What you'll learn in the 300-715 SISE exam
SISE validates that you can architect, deploy, and operate Cisco ISE across all the personas, policies, and endpoint flows a production NAC deployment requires. The exam is heavily configuration-driven — expect questions that reference specific menu paths, policy ordering, and RADIUS attribute behavior.
ISE deployment models
- Standalone — single node running all personas (PAN + PSN + MnT). Lab and small deployments only.
- Distributed — dedicated Policy Administration Nodes (PAN), Policy Service Nodes (PSN), and Monitoring and Troubleshooting Nodes (MnT). Primary/secondary failover for PAN and MnT; PSN load distribution via RADIUS server-group config on NADs or via load balancers.
- Hybrid deployments — pxGrid Controller persona for ecosystem integration; sizing constraints per license tier.
AAA protocols
- RADIUS — primary protocol for network access. Authorization profiles return VLAN, dACL, ACL name, SGT, URL redirect.
- TACACS+ — device administration for IOS, NX-OS, WLC. Command authorization sets and shell profiles.
- Change of Authorization (CoA) — pushing state changes (re-auth, port bounce, session terminate) from ISE to the NAD mid-session.
802.1X for wired and wireless
- EAP-TLS — certificate-based, strongest, requires PKI.
- PEAP-MSCHAPv2 — tunneled password auth, AD-friendly.
- EAP-FAST — Cisco-developed, PAC-based.
- MAB (MAC Authentication Bypass) — fallback for endpoints that cannot do 802.1X (printers, phones, IoT). Combined with profiling so endpoints get the right authorization without trusting MAC alone.
Profiler and endpoint identity groups
- Probes — DHCP, RADIUS, SNMP Query/Trap, NMAP, NetFlow, DNS, HTTP user-agent, AD probe.
- Profiling policies — certainty factors, parent/child hierarchy, conditional policy application.
- Custom profiles for IoT/OT — building conditions on TCP/UDP open ports, OUI, DHCP class identifier.
- Endpoint identity groups feeding authorization rules.
Posture (endpoint compliance)
- Compliance modules — AnyConnect/Cisco Secure Client posture module checks AV, AS, firewall, disk encryption, patches, registry, process, file, USB.
- Posture conditions — combined into requirements, then policies. Stateful periodic re-assessment.
- Remediation — auto/manual; message-text, URL-redirect, anti-malware-definition-update, WSUS, anti-spyware-definition-update.
- Compliance vs non-compliant vs unknown states drive different authorization results.
Guest services
- Sponsored guest — internal sponsor portal creates accounts.
- Self-registered guest — guest fills form, optional sponsor approval.
- Hotspot — AUP acceptance only, no credentials.
- Central Web Auth (CWA) flow — initial MAB, redirect to portal, CoA back to full network access.
BYOD onboarding
- Dual-SSID — open SSID for onboarding, switch to secure SSID after provisioning.
- Single-SSID — same SSID, EAP-TLS used after onboarding completes.
- My Devices Portal — user-managed device list with lost/stolen blacklisting.
- Internal CA issues per-device certificates during onboarding.
Certificate management
- Internal CA vs external CA (enterprise PKI, public CA) — when to use which.
- System certificates per node (Admin, EAP, Portal, pxGrid).
- SCEP and EST enrollment profiles for BYOD device certificates.
- Certificate template selection in authentication policies (EAP-TLS).
TrustSec and SGT design
- Security Group Tags (SGT) — identity-based segmentation, decoupled from IP/VLAN.
- SGT assignment — dynamic (via ISE authorization) or static (IP-to-SGT bindings).
- SGT propagation — inline tagging vs SXP (SGT Exchange Protocol).
- SGACL (Security Group ACLs) and policy matrix.
Integrations
- Active Directory — join domain, identity store sequences, password change notifications.
- LDAP — alternative directory.
- External certificate providers — SCEP, MDM (Intune, Workspace ONE) attribute-based authorization.
- pxGrid — publishes session/profile data to ecosystem partners (Firepower/FTD, Stealthwatch/Secure Network Analytics, third-party SIEM/SOAR, MDM).
How the practice exams help
Every free question and every premium exam mirrors Cisco's scenario style — configuration snippets, policy ordering, troubleshooting symptoms — with explanations that cover why each option is right or wrong. You learn the operational reasoning that simlets test, not just trivia.
How to prepare for the 300-715 SISE exam
SISE is a hands-on exam. Reading alone will not get you across the line — you need to drive an ISE console end-to-end. Recommended approach:
- Review the official exam topics (week 1). Read the Cisco 300-715 SISE exam topics page and map every bullet to a known resource. The six-domain blueprint is the source of truth — every question maps to one of its sub-bullets.
- Build lab time (weeks 2-9). Use Cisco dCloud ISE demo content. Walk through every wizard: initial setup, basic policy sets, sponsor/guest portal, BYOD, posture, TrustSec. The free dCloud ISE labs cover most of the SISE blueprint at no cost beyond a Cisco.com account.
- Read the Cisco Press SISE guide (weeks 3-6, in parallel with lab). The CCNP Security Identity Management SISE 300-715 Official Cert Guide tracks the blueprint closely. Pair each chapter with the corresponding dCloud lab task. Skim YouTube ISE deep-dives from Cisco Live for the specific topics you find dry on paper.
- Practice exams + weak-area review (weeks 10-14). Take full-length timed practice exams. Use detailed explanations to identify which of the six domains needs more lab time. Aim for consistent 85%+ before scheduling. Re-do dCloud labs for any topic where you scored under 70%.
- Final review and exam (week 15-16). Re-read the official exam topics one final time and check every bullet against your notes. Schedule the exam through Pearson VUE.
Recommended timeline
12-16 weeks of focused study (8-12 hours per week) for engineers with CCNA-level networking and some ISE exposure. Allow 16-20 weeks if you're new to ISE.
Official resources
Start with the official 300-715 exam topics and the Cisco ISE Administrator and Configuration Guides. Cisco dCloud hosts free ISE demo environments, and the Cisco Press SISE 300-715 Official Cert Guide is the most blueprint-aligned book on the market.
Frequently asked questions
Are these actual 300-715 exam questions?
No. All Nex Arc Cisco 300-715 (SISE) practice questions are original content based on Cisco's published exam blueprint, official documentation, and real-world ISE deployment scenarios across every topic the exam covers. We do not offer brain dumps, leaked questions, or actual exam content. Using or distributing real exam questions violates Cisco's certification agreement and can result in certification revocation.
How many questions are in the Cisco 300-715 exam?
The Cisco 300-715 SISE exam consists of approximately 55-65 questions delivered in 90 minutes. Question formats include multiple choice (single and multiple response), drag-and-drop, and scenario-based items covering ISE deployment, policy enforcement, web auth, profiling, BYOD, and posture.
What is the 300-715 passing score?
Cisco uses a scaled scoring model from 300 to 1000. Cisco does not officially publish a fixed passing score, but historically concentration exams require approximately 825/1000. Harder questions count more than easier ones — focus on understanding why answers are correct, not just memorizing them.
How do I access the full 300-715 practice exam?
Click the Buy Now button in the sidebar to purchase the complete Cisco 300-715 SISE course. After payment, you'll have instant access to 17 practice exams with detailed explanations and lifetime access.
What are the prerequisites for the 300-715 exam?
Cisco does not require formal prerequisites for 300-715. However, to earn the CCNP Security credential you must also pass the 350-701 SCOR Core exam within 3 years. Cisco recommends 3-5 years of hands-on experience with Cisco ISE, RADIUS, 802.1X, and enterprise network access control.
How long is the Cisco 300-715 / CCNP Security certification valid?
Cisco certifications are valid for 3 years from the pass date. Unlike many vendors, Cisco offers Continuing Education (CE) credits as a recertification option in addition to re-taking exams. CCNP holders need 80 CE credits, 40 CE credits + one Specialist exam, or one Professional/Expert exam to recertify before the 3-year expiration.
What does the 300-715 exam cost and can I retake it if I fail?
The Cisco 300-715 SISE exam costs $300 USD (price varies by country). The exam is delivered through Pearson VUE at testing centers or via online proctoring. If you fail, Cisco requires a 5-day waiting period before retaking. There is no limit on total attempts, but each retake requires a new $300 payment. Practice thoroughly to minimize retake costs.
Which Cisco ISE topics are most heavily tested on 300-715?
Based on the six exam domains, the most heavily-tested topics are: Policy Enforcement (25%) — authorization policies, RADIUS attributes, downloadable ACLs, change of authorization; Architecture and Deployment (20%) — standalone vs distributed (PAN/PSN/MnT personas), licensing tiers, backup and patching; Profiler (15%) — endpoint identity groups, profiling probes (DHCP, RADIUS, SNMP, NMAP, NetFlow), Endpoint Analytics; Web Auth and Guest Services (15%) — central web auth, sponsored vs self-registered vs hotspot portals, certificate selection; Endpoint Compliance (15%) — posture conditions, AnyConnect/Secure Client compliance module, remediation; BYOD (10%) — onboarding flows, dual-SSID vs single-SSID, internal CA certificate issuance.
How does 300-715 differ from the 350-701 SCOR Core exam?
350-701 SCOR is the CCNP Security Core exam — it covers a broad range of Cisco security technologies (Firepower, Stealthwatch, Umbrella, Secure Endpoint, ISE, Email/Web Security, network programmability) at a high level. 300-715 SISE is a Concentration exam focused exclusively on Cisco ISE — deeper coverage of policy sets, profiling, posture, BYOD, TrustSec, and pxGrid. Both are 90-minute exams costing $300 each. To earn CCNP Security, you must pass 350-701 + any one Concentration (SISE, SNCF, SESA, SWSA, SAUI, or SAUTO).
Can I retake the 300-715 exam if I fail?
Yes. Cisco requires a 5-day waiting period between attempts. You pay the full $300 exam fee for each retake. There is no limit on total attempts.