The Cisco 300-430 is a standard certification exam that helps candidates validate their knowledge of wireless networks and their implementation. What is more, it will lead you to the prestigious certification, known as the Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise Wireless Implementation. In addition, if you combine this test with the core 350-401 exam, you’ll thus procure the CCNP Enterprise designation.

Targeted Candidates

This exam is designed for the candidates who have knowledge of wireless network execution that includes multicast, QoS, FlexConnect, the security process of client connectivity, and high-level services of locations. The 300-430 evaluation also tests the skills of individuals in controlling as well as the hardening of devices. So, overall, the examinees must have basic knowledge of these concepts to apply for the actual exam.

What Is 300-430 Test?

The Cisco 300-430 exam is 90 minutes long and it is presented in Japanese and English. To register for the test, the candidates have to pay $300 and can schedule it in person or online. The in-person evaluations are taken in the nearest test centers or you can sit for 300-430 online being anywhere in a secure environment with a good internet connection. Finally, the 300-430 exam is administered by Pearson VUE.

What Are Domains Covered in Cisco 300-430 Exam?

The candidates have to master the following domains to perform well in the real exam. Each domain has several objectives that have to be clear to the candidates to ace 300-430 easily. Thus, here’s what to master:

• FlexConnect 15%;
• Multicast 10%;
• Location Services 10%;
• QoS on a Wireless Network 10%;
• Wireless Client Connectivity Security 20%;
• Hardening of Devices 10%;
• Monitoring 15%;
• High-Tier Services of Locations 10%.

The first domain focuses on FlexConnect. It helps the candidates to validate their knowledge of executing FlexConnect elements known as operating modes together with switching. It also includes deploying the capabilities of FlexConnect, its groups, roaming as well as splitting the process of tunneling as well as the procedure of fault tolerance. Moreover, this topic discusses the image of Smart AP upgrade, the central switching that is VLAN-based, and Flex ACL. Finally, you will also be tested on implementing Office Extend in the real exam.

The second tested area discusses multicast. In particular, it covers the concepts related to implementing multicast components, describing the effect of multicast on wireless networks and executing Multicast Direct. In addition, you must have knowledge about putting into operation the mDNS and multicast on the WLAN.

The third topic explains location services. In more detail, it includes deploying the MSE along with CMX on the network that is wireless. The candidate must then have skills in implementing the location services that involve varied interferers, clients, Rogue APs, RFID tags, and client tracking.

The fourth objective mainly determines the candidate's knowledge of QoS based on a wireless network. Here, the candidates should have skills in implementing QoS schemes according to the requirements including wired to wireless mapping. In addition, it talks about implementing AVC and Fastlane as well as QoS for wireless clients.

The fifth scope emphasizes wireless client connectivity security and deals with the information about configuring the profiling of clients in accordance with WLC and ISE. Besides, the applicants must know how to implement the guest & BYOD that includes LWA utilizing ISE and WLC, the provisioning of certificates on the peculiar controller, and using ISE for the provisioning of native supplicants. Moreover, such a topic also discusses implementing 802.1X & AAA on diversified architectures that are wireless as well as ISE. Lastly, you will come across questions on deploying the Identity-Based Networking process on varied architectures that are also majorly wireless.

The sixth part covers the hardening of devices. It, in particular, involves implementing access controls of devices that include the TACACS+ and RADIUS. Also, you will be tested on putting into practice CPU ACLs on the controller and the authentication of access points.

The seventh section accentuates monitoring. Thus, it gives the candidate an opportunity to manage the rogues & alarms (APs and clients). It also includes utilizing reports on PI and the DNA center of Cisco, managing the RF interferers, and troubleshooting client connectivity.

The eighth portion defines the high-tier services of locations. Particularly, it deals with implementing CMX components that include detecting and locating analytics as well as presence services. After that, the candidates must have knowledge about implementing wIPS utilizing MSE, troubleshooting CMX high availability, and implementing location-aware guest services utilizing Facebook Wi-Fi and customer portal. Besides, troubleshooting location accuracy utilizing Cisco Hyperlocation is also part of the main exam syllabus.

What Are Career Opportunities Available for Cisco Certified Specialists?

The Cisco specialists are currently in huge demand in the market and get unlimited opportunities in the IT industry. As you remember, once you pass the 300-430 exam alone, you will be awarded the Cisco Certified Specialist - Enterprise Wireless Implementation certification. As a consequence, you will be offered highly-paid jobs and will be able to work in these roles:

• Wireless Network Specialist;
• Network Systems Engineer;
• System Administrator, Computer/Network.

When we look at the yearly compensation of the Cisco specialists, the annual income of the Wireless Network Specialist is almost $63k as revealed by Glassdoor. Then, the salary of a Network Systems Engineer is around $78k per year while the System Administrator in Computing/Networking gets about $62k per annum as mentioned by PayScale. It’s noteworthy that if with 300-430 you strain to clear the 350-401 exam as well, you’ll earn the CCNP Enterprise that will also boost your wages. In a nutshell, opting for such a certificate will get you annually around $97k per year as PayScale claims and will qualify you for the positions of a Network Engineer, Senior Network Engineer, Network Architect, and the like.

Certification Path

After achieving the CCNP Enterprise designation, you can apply for two expert-level certifications by Cisco to augment your knowledge further. Thus, you can procure either the CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure or the CCIE Enterprise Wireless certifications or both.