ITExamsTopics Updates CCNP Security Prep as Cisco Rolls Out SCOR v2.0, the Biggest Security Certification Revamp in Six Years 

ByBNW Staff

Cisco just rolled out the biggest update to its Security certification portfolio in over six years, and if you’re preparing for CCNP Security Certification, this is one update you can’t afford to skip. The change touches the core exam, one of the concentration exams, and even how VPN skills get tested going forward, so it’s worth understanding exactly what shifted before you sit down to study.

On August 27, 2026, the Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies exam (350-701), better known as SCOR, officially moved to version 2.0. This isn’t a small refresh. It’s a full rebuild of the exam blueprint, and it changes what you need to study starting right now. Cisco hosted a live session in mid-August to walk candidates through the changes, and the volume of questions that came in from the community is a good sign of just how many people this update affects.

What Actually Changed in SCOR v2.0 (350-701)

SCOR v1.0 launched back in February 2020 and only received one minor update in the six and a half years since. That’s a long time in security. The old blueprint reflected the security landscape of 2020, back before cloud-delivered security tools were the default, before SSE existed as a category, and long before AI-driven threats became part of everyday security operations.

SCOR v2.0 brings the exam up to speed with how security is actually practiced today. Here’s what the new blueprint focuses on:

  • Cloud-delivered security
  • Security Service Edge (SSE)
  • AI-era infrastructure and threats
  • Modern VPN and access architecture

If you’ve been studying from older SCOR v1.1 material, treat this as new content, not a light update. The domains have been reshuffled, the weighting has changed, and entire topic areas that didn’t exist on the old exam are now part of the blueprint.

Cisco SVPN 300-730 Retirement: Where the VPN Content Went

The Implementing Secure Solutions with Virtual Private Networks exam, known as SVPN, has been retired. The last day to test on it was August 26, 2026.

The good news is that VPN topics haven’t disappeared. They’ve simply moved into two places:

  • SCOR now covers VPN fundamentals as part of the core exam
  • Securing Networks with Cisco Firewalls (SNCF) covers VPN configuration on FTD firewalls

So if VPN skills were your focus, you’ll still be tested on them, just in a different exam structure.

Does This Affect CCIE Security or Recertification?

If you’re eyeing CCIE Security down the line, SCOR remains the qualifying exam for the practical lab, and it follows its own separate update cycle. A SCOR v2.0 release doesn’t automatically trigger changes to the lab exam, though Cisco has confirmed an AI-focused module is planned for the practical exam as separate, ongoing work.

Recertification works differently than most candidates assume. Continuing Education (CE) credits renew a certification you already hold, they don’t extend the window you have to pass a second exam and earn a new certification. If you’re mid-journey between your core and concentration exam, that three-year clock is fixed from your exam date and isn’t affected by CE credits either way.

Cisco 300-740: SCAZT Is Now SSCA

The concentration formerly known as SCAZT has been renamed to SSCA. The exam number and title haven’t changed, but the scope is now sharper. SSCA is focused specifically on SSE and secure access for users and endpoints, rather than trying to cover both cloud connectivity and security operations in one exam.

Do You Need to Restart Your SCOR 350-701 Prep?

Not necessarily, and this is the part most candidates get wrong.

If you already passed SCOR under the old version, that pass still counts. Cisco has confirmed that exams passed before the transition remain valid and still combine with a concentration exam to earn your CCNP Security. Nobody loses progress they’ve already made.

That said, if you’re starting fresh or picking your prep back up now, you’re working against the new blueprint whether you like it or not. The sooner your study material reflects SCOR v2.0, the less time you waste on outdated content.

How to Prepare for SCOR v2.0 the Right Way

Cisco U. is releasing its official SCOR v2.0 (350-701) training in September 2026, with instructor-led training following in late September. A practice exam is also expected on Cisco U. by the end of the year. But training releases alone don’t tell you where your personal gaps are, and waiting for every official resource to land before you start studying isn’t realistic if you’re on a timeline.

That’s where a topic-wise approach makes the difference. Instead of working through the entire blueprint as one long block, breaking SCOR v2.0 down by domain lets you see exactly where you’re strong and where you need more time, whether that’s cloud security, SSE, or the newer AI-infrastructure content. This matters even more with a blueprint this new, since most candidates are starting from a similar baseline and the gap between a strong pass and a failed attempt often comes down to how efficiently study time was spent.

At ITExamsTopics, our SCOR v2.0 content is organized this way. Each domain comes with scenario-based Q&A mapped directly to the updated blueprint, so you can study the areas that are genuinely new to you instead of re-reading material you already know. For anyone transitioning from SCOR v1.1 material, this also makes it easier to spot exactly which domains changed enough to warrant fresh study time.

FAQs About SCOR v2.0 (350-701)

  1. What is the SCOR 350-701 exam?

SCOR stands for Implementing and Operating Cisco Security Core Technologies. It’s the core exam required for CCNP Security, and it covers the foundational security knowledge Cisco expects every security professional to have.

  1. When did SCOR v2.0 go live?

SCOR v2.0 became the active exam version on August 27, 2026. Anyone testing on or after that date is tested against the new blueprint.

  1. Is my old SCOR pass still valid?

Yes. If you passed SCOR under the previous version, that pass still counts and still combines with a concentration exam to earn your CCNP Security. Cisco has confirmed the transition doesn’t invalidate exams you’ve already passed.

  1. What topics does SCOR v2.0 add that weren’t on the old exam?

The updated blueprint puts more weight on cloud-delivered security, Security Service Edge (SSE), and AI-era infrastructure and threats, areas that weren’t part of the original 2020 blueprint.

  1. Where did the SVPN exam content go?

SVPN (300-730) has been retired. Its VPN content is now split between SCOR, which covers VPN fundamentals, and SNCF, which covers VPN configuration on FTD firewalls.