CCNA Cloud: What It Was and What to Learn Today
The CCNA Cloud was a Cisco certification focused on cloud infrastructure, cloud administration, and the networking technologies used to deliver cloud services. It was designed for IT professionals who wanted to build skills in managing and supporting cloud environments.
The certification is now retired. Cisco discontinued the CCNA Cloud program and its associated exams on February 24, 2020. Although it is no longer possible to earn the credential, its subject matter remains useful for understanding how cloud platforms and networks work.
What the CCNA Cloud Covered
The CCNA Cloud curriculum introduced core cloud concepts and the practical tasks involved in operating cloud environments. Topics included:
- Cloud service and deployment models
- Cloud infrastructure and resource provisioning
- Networking concepts used in cloud environments
- Cloud administration and operations
- Automation and orchestration fundamentals
- Security, monitoring, and troubleshooting concepts
The certification required candidates to pass two exams: 210-451 CLDFND (Understanding Cisco Cloud Fundamentals) and 210-455 CLDADM (Introducing Cisco Cloud Administration). Together, they covered both foundational cloud knowledge and administrative skills.
Who Was the Certification For?
CCNA Cloud was aimed at network engineers, systems administrators, cloud support professionals, and IT newcomers interested in cloud technology. It could help learners connect traditional networking knowledge with the infrastructure and services used in cloud environments.
The certification was also relevant to organizations adopting private, public, or hybrid cloud models. Professionals in these settings often need to understand how virtual networks, compute resources, storage, and management tools work together.
Is CCNA Cloud Still Worth Studying?
The credential itself can no longer be earned, so it should not be treated as a current certification goal. However, many of the underlying topics remain important. Cloud networking, virtualization, automation, identity management, and infrastructure monitoring continue to be valuable skills across IT roles.
If you are studying older CCNA Cloud materials, use them as background rather than as a complete guide to today’s platforms. Cloud services and tools have changed significantly, and current knowledge should be built around the technologies and roles you want to pursue.
What to Study Instead
The best next step depends on your career interests. If you want a broad networking foundation, consider Cisco’s current CCNA certification and verify the latest exam requirements on Cisco’s official website. If you are focused on cloud administration or architecture, explore current training and certifications from providers such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud.
For networking professionals interested in programmable infrastructure, automation and software development skills can also be useful. Cisco’s current certification catalog includes options in networking, automation, and software development; check Cisco’s official materials for the latest available paths.
How to Build Relevant Cloud Skills
- Learn networking fundamentals. Study IP addressing, routing, switching, DNS, and firewalls.
- Understand virtualization. Become familiar with virtual machines, virtual networks, and containers.
- Choose a cloud platform. Practice with a provider’s console, command-line tools, and networking services.
- Explore automation. Learn scripting and infrastructure-as-code concepts to manage resources consistently.
- Build hands-on projects. Create a small virtual network, apply security rules, and document how you deployed and tested it.
Conclusion
CCNA Cloud was a Cisco credential for professionals learning cloud infrastructure and administration. While the certification has been retired, its focus on connecting networking skills with cloud operations remains relevant. Today, learners can use those foundational ideas while pursuing current networking or cloud training aligned with their career goals.
5 Tips for Learning CCNA Cloud Concepts After the Certification’s Retirement
- Check whether your CCNA Cloud materials are current; the certification has been retired.
- Review cloud models
- Learn virtualization, storage, and networking basics.
- Practice cloud security and access-control concepts.
- Use hands-on labs to reinforce cloud configuration skills.
Check whether your CCNA Cloud materials are current; the certification has been retired.
Before investing time in CCNA Cloud study materials, check their publication date and compare the content with current resources. Cisco retired the CCNA Cloud certification and its exams in 2020, so older guides may refer to outdated exam requirements, technologies, or services. The concepts can still provide useful background, but use up-to-date training and official certification information when planning your next steps.
Review cloud models
Reviewing cloud models is an important step when learning cloud computing for CCNA Cloud topics. Understand the differences between public, private, and hybrid clouds, as well as service models such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Knowing who manages the infrastructure, applications, and data in each model will help you compare options and understand how cloud services are deployed and operated.
Learn virtualization, storage, and networking basics.
Before diving into cloud platforms, build a solid foundation in virtualization, storage, and networking. Learn how virtual machines and containers share computing resources, how data is stored and accessed, and how IP addresses, routing, DNS, and firewalls connect systems. These fundamentals make cloud services easier to understand and help you troubleshoot problems with confidence.
Practice cloud security and access-control concepts.
Practice cloud security and access-control concepts by learning how identities, roles, permissions, and security policies determine who can access cloud resources. Use a cloud lab or training environment to create users and groups, apply least-privilege permissions, configure network access rules, and review activity logs. These hands-on exercises help reinforce core security principles and show how access controls protect cloud systems from unauthorized use.
Use hands-on labs to reinforce cloud configuration skills.
Hands-on labs are an effective way to reinforce cloud configuration skills because they let you apply concepts in a practical setting. Practice creating virtual networks, configuring access controls, deploying cloud resources, and troubleshooting common issues in a sandbox or training environment. Repeating these tasks helps build confidence and makes it easier to understand how cloud components work together.