Cisco V2.0 Changes 2027

On May 20, 2026, Cisco officially announced the biggest update to the CCNA exam in years. The new CCNA v2.0 (200-301) exam goes live on February 3, 2027, and it brings major changes — a brand-new AI section, a significant shift toward troubleshooting, and a long list of removed topics that will save current students serious study time.

In this post, I’ll walk you through exactly what’s gone, what’s new, what’s changed, and how to prepare for the new exam. I’ve also created a free downloadable comparison spreadsheet (Excel and PDF) so you can see the v1.1 vs v2.0 changes side by side. Grab it at the end of this post.

CCNA v2.0: The Headline Changes

Here are the four things you most need to know:

• New exam topics published: May 20, 2026 (view the official Cisco v2.0 blueprint)
• New exam goes live: February 3, 2027
• Current exam (CCNA v1.1) remains valid: Until February 2027
• Major focus shifts: Brand new AI section, much more troubleshooting, lots of foundational theory removed

The exam itself is still 120 minutes and still earns you the CCNA certification on a pass. Cisco has reduced the number of major sections from six to five, restructured the weightings, and pushed the curriculum much closer to the day-to-day reality of modern network engineering.

Cisco has shared its own perspective on the changes in two excellent reads, both worth your time:

• Steps to the Future: The Modern CCNA (Cisco Learning Network blog)
• Evolving the CCNA in the Age of AI (Cisco Learning Network podcast)

CCNA v1.1 vs CCNA v2.0: Weightings Compared

The shift is significant. Networking fundamentals and switching now make up 50% of the entire exam (up from 40%) — Cisco is doubling down on core skills. The old “Automation and Programmability” section is gone as a standalone domain, with the relevant content (Ansible, SNMP, syslog, AI) absorbed into the new section 5.0.

What’s Gone in CCNA v2.0

This is good news for current students: much of the theory you used to have to memorize has been removed. If you’re studying for the 2.0 exam right now, you can stop worrying about these topics.

Network Fundamentals Theory Removed

• Role and function of specific network devices (routers, L2/L3 switches, NGFW/IPS, controllers, endpoints, servers, PoE)
• Topology architectures (two-tier, three-tier, spine-leaf, WAN, SOHO, on-prem/cloud)
• Comparing physical cabling types (single-mode vs multimode fiber, copper)
• TCP vs UDP comparisons
• Detailed IPv6 address types (global, unique local, link-local, anycast, multicast)
• Switching concepts (MAC learning/aging, frame flooding, MAC table)

Wireless Topics Heavily Cut

• Cisco Wireless Architectures and AP modes
• WLAN physical infrastructure connections (AP, WLC, LAG)
• Wireless LAN GUI configuration (creation, security, QoS profiles)
• Wireless security protocols (WPA, WPA2, WPA3) and WPA2 PSK in GUI

IP Services Removed

• NTP (client/server configuration)
• QoS — PHB, classification, marking, queuing, policing, shaping
• TFTP/FTP capabilities (replaced by SFTP/SCP)

Security Fundamentals Trimmed

• Key security concepts (threats, vulnerabilities, exploits)
• Security program elements (user awareness, training, physical access)
• Local password device access control
• Password policy elements (complexity, MFA)
• AAA concepts comparison (authentication vs authorization vs accounting)

Automation and Programmability — Mostly Gone

• Traditional vs controller-based networking
• Controller-based architecture details (overlay, underlay, fabric, northbound/southbound APIs)
• REST-based APIs (CRUD, HTTP verbs, JSON data structure)
• Terraform

If you’ve been dreading any of the above, breathe a sigh of relief. They’re gone in v2.0.

What’s NEW in CCNA v2.0

New Section: 5.0 AI, Network Ops and Management (10%)

This is the headline change. Cisco has introduced an entirely new exam section focused on AI in network operations. You’ll need to understand:

• Agentic AI in network operations — what it is and how it’s used
• Prompt engineering for generative AI — selecting prompts considering data classification, output format, persona, and instructions
• Network management approaches — device-based, cloud-based, controller-based, automation-based, and Infrastructure as Code
• SNMP (kept from v1.1)
• Ansible for configuration management (kept from v1.1)
• Syslog message content, severity levels, and facilities (kept from v1.1)

The exam description now explicitly states: “As part of the exam, you may be required to evaluate output and recommendations from agentic AI and digital network assistants to support network operations and troubleshooting activities.”

Cisco is signaling clearly that the future network engineer works alongside AI, not in spite of it.

Other Major Additions and Expansions

• 1.2 — Hypervisors, virtual machines, and containers (more focused than the old virtualization section)
• 1.5 — Wireless principles now include band/channel selection and the causes of interference
• 1.6 — Troubleshooting wired and wireless client connectivity on Windows, MacOS, and Linux
• 2.2 — Layer 2 port attributes for modern edge devices (IoT, VoIP phones, virtualized hosts, network appliances)
• 2.4 — Troubleshooting using packet capture output (now explicitly mentioned)
• 3.3 — OSPFv3 for IPv6 added alongside OSPFv2 (v1.1 only required OSPFv2)
• 3.4 — Specific HSRP and VRRP operational interpretation (old version was generic “first hop redundancy”)
• 4.1 — Local usernames + AAA client (TACACS+ / RADIUS) for device management
• 4.2 — SFTP/SCP for secure file transfer (replaces TFTP/FTP)
• 4.4 — Diagnosing DNS records (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, NS, PTR)
• 4.7 — Expanded Layer 2 security: Storm control and RA guard added to the existing port security topics

What’s CHANGED in CCNA v2.0

Several topics from v1.1 are still in v2.0, but the wording, focus, or depth has shifted. The biggest change is direction: from “explain/describe” to “troubleshoot/configure”. Cisco wants engineers who can fix problems, not just talk about them.

How to Prepare for the AI Section in CCNA v2.0

This is the area most students will worry about. Don’t. The good news is that Cisco isn’t expecting you to be an AI researcher — they want you to understand how AI fits into network operations. Here’s a practical approach:

• Understand agentic AI vs generative AI. Generative AI creates content (text, code, summaries). Agentic AI can take actions on your behalf, like running show commands and interpreting results. Both are now used in network operations tools.
• Learn the components of a good AI prompt. Cisco specifically mentions: data classification, output format, persona, and instructions. A good prompt for a network engineer looks like: “Act as a senior network engineer (persona). Analyze this OSPF debug output (data). List any neighbor adjacency issues (instructions) in a numbered list (output format).”
• Get familiar with AI-assisted network tools. Cisco’s own Catalyst Center and DNA Center now include AI/ML features. ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are all worth practicing on for network troubleshooting scenarios.
• Practice interpreting AI output critically. The exam may show you AI-generated recommendations and ask whether they’re correct. AI gets things wrong. Knowing when to trust it (and when not to) is the skill being tested.
• Understand Infrastructure as Code (IaC). Cisco lists it as one of the network management approaches. Tools like Ansible are explicitly tested.

Your Plan: Pass CCNA Before February 3, 2027

If you’re studying now, my strong advice is the same as Cisco’s: keep going and pass the current v1.1 exam before February 2027. Here’s why:

• The current 200-301 v1.1 is still valid until February 2027
• Once you pass, your CCNA is good for three years — so you’ll have a recognized CCNA until 2030, even if you pass on the last day
• You’ll bank your certification while everyone else is still figuring out the new blueprint
• All the core skills (subnetting, OSPF, switching, routing, ACLs) transfer to v2.0 anyway

If you’re starting from scratch right now and realistically won’t be exam-ready until late 2027, you’ll likely be studying for v2.0. Either way, the foundations are the same.

Recommended Books for the CCNA

I’ve written several CCNA and IT certification books, all available on Amazon. They cover everything from the curriculum to focused study methodologies:

• 101 Labs – Cisco CCNA — Over 100 hands-on labs mapped to the CCNA exam topics, with full step-by-step instructions and screenshots
• CCNA in 60 Days — A proven structured study plan with day-by-day reading, labs, and review schedule
• CCNA Simplified — All the theory and protocols broken down into beginner-friendly language
• IP Subnetting: Zero to Guru — Master subnetting in days, with practice questions and shortcut methods

Recommended Study Resources at 101Labs and HowToNetwork

To pass the CCNA — current or future version — you need three things: theory, hands-on practice, and exam practice. Here’s where to get all three:

• HowToNetwork — CCNA Study Guides — Free study guides, theory lessons, and explanations for every CCNA topic
• 101Labs — Hands-On CCNA Labs — 100+ step-by-step labs you can follow along with on Packet Tracer or real Cisco kit
• 101Labs — Practice Exams and PBQs — Realistic exam-style questions and performance-based questions (PBQs) that mirror what you’ll see on test day
• Live Cisco Equipment — 101Labs members get 24/7 access to live Cisco routers and switches you can configure remotely. Nothing matches real equipment for confidence-building before the exam.

Download the Free CCNA v1.1 vs v2.0 Comparison Spreadsheet

I’ve put together a detailed side-by-side comparison of every CCNA exam topic — what’s gone, what’s new, what’s changed — plus a list of labs you should drill, recommended books, and resources for each section.

It’s free to download in both Excel and PDF formats. No email required, no signup, just click and download.

📥 Download Excel version (.xlsx)

📥 Download PDF version

Ready to Pass the CCNA?

The CCNA is still one of the most respected certifications in IT, and that won’t change in 2027. With the v2.0 update, Cisco is making the exam more practical, more relevant, and more focused on the skills employers actually want. If anything, the new CCNA will be more valuable on a CV than the old one.

If you’re serious about passing — current version or new — 101Labs has the hands-on labs, practice exams, and live Cisco equipment you need.

Join 101Labs from $20/month →