200-301 domain - 10% of the exam

Automation and Programmability

Automation and Programmability is 10% of the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA 200-301) exam. These are the objectives it covers, each with practice questions, with every answer explained.

Objectives in this domain

Sample question from this domain

Free sampleAutomation and Programmabilitymedium

An enterprise replaces its on-premises wireless controllers with a cloud-based management platform whose dashboard is hosted by the vendor and reached through a browser, while the access points and switches stay on site. The operations team wants to know which characteristics genuinely follow from adopting this cloud-managed model rather than traditional on-site management. Which three statements correctly describe the cloud-based approach? Select THREE.

  • AConfiguration and monitoring happen through a vendor-hosted dashboard reached over the internet, with no management software run in the local data centre. Correct
  • BUser data frames between on-site endpoints must travel up to the cloud dashboard and back before they can be forwarded to their destination.
  • CSoftware updates and new features for the management plane are delivered by the provider, reducing the upgrade burden carried by the in-house team. Correct
  • DOn-site devices keep no local management connectivity of any kind, so a brief internet outage immediately erases their running configuration.
  • EMultiple distributed sites can be administered together from one hosted console instead of managing each location's appliances separately. Correct
Recognise that cloud-based network management hosts the management plane as an internet-reached service while production data continues to be forwarded locally on site. Cloud-based management moves the management plane to a vendor-hosted dashboard reached over the internet, so the provider handles updates and the team administers many sites from one console; the on-site devices still switch user data locally and retain their pushed configuration during a dashboard outage, which is why management reachability and data forwarding are separate concerns.

Why A is correct: A defining trait of cloud management is that the controller or dashboard runs as a hosted service the customer reaches over the internet, so no local management appliance is operated.

Why B is wrong: It sounds plausible that a cloud platform handles everything, but the cloud carries management and telemetry while production data is still switched locally on site.

Why C is correct: Because the provider operates the hosted management plane, it rolls out platform updates and features centrally, sparing the customer from patching local management servers.

Why D is wrong: An outage blocks dashboard changes, but devices retain their pushed configuration and keep forwarding, so the claim that an outage erases configuration is false.

Why E is correct: A central hosted console gives single-pane oversight across many sites, which is a direct benefit cloud management offers over per-site on-premises controllers.

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See also the 200-301 cert hub, the study guide, and the cheat sheet.

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