It began on the Cisco TAC
Again when the CCIE lab was a two-day affair, and ISP Dial was nonetheless a observe, I used to be a younger engineer on the Cisco Technical Help Middle. My title mentioned Assist Engineer, Voice and Entry Workforce, however the actuality was extra like a firefighter. Each shift introduced Severity 1 tickets from clients whose voice networks had been down, they usually wanted solutions quick. There was no room for guessing. You both knew the know-how inside out, otherwise you had been the individual on the opposite finish of the decision who couldn’t assist.
That urgency pushed me towards the CCIE. Not for the resume line or the wage bump—although these got here later—however as a result of I genuinely wanted to be sharper. The TAC didn’t wait so that you can end a chapter earlier than throwing you a real-world state of affairs. I needed to sustain.
I constructed my very own lab rack from scratch. Sourced routers, gateways, and PBX gear. Spent nights cabling issues collectively, breaking configurations on objective, and fixing them till the troubleshooting grew to become second nature. Once I lastly sat for the CCIE ISP Dial lab in February 2001—unfold over two grueling days—I walked in realizing I’d performed the work. And I handed.
I can’t inform that story with out mentioning Kathe Saccenti, the proctor who greeted me at that lab. In case you’ve been wherever close to the CCIE program, you’ve heard her title. Folks known as her the CCIE Queen, and the title match completely. Kathe wasn’t simply dealing with lab logistics—she had this outstanding means to place nervous candidates relaxed, making you’re feeling like she genuinely rooted for you. She was a legend within the CCIE neighborhood, and everybody who crossed her path remembers the heat she introduced to what’s in any other case probably the most irritating day of your skilled life.
We misplaced Kathe on February 17, 2026, and the CCIE world misplaced certainly one of its most beloved figures. This weblog is, partly, a tribute to her and the numerous candidates she supported over time.
That CCIE ISP Dial quantity modified my trajectory, however I wasn’t performed. Because the collaboration world advanced, I set my sights on the CCIE Collaboration certification. And let me be clear right here—I didn’t go it on my first try. I failed it twice earlier than lastly passing in Might 2005. These two failures stung, however they taught me extra concerning the know-how than any research information ever may. Every time I walked out of that lab realizing precisely the place my gaps had been, I went again and crammed them. In case you’re studying this and also you’ve failed an try, know that you simply’re in good firm. What issues is that you simply get again up and check out once more.
Now, because the CCIE Collaboration Examination Product Supervisor at Be taught with Cisco, I get to form the very certification that formed my profession. And I can inform you from lived expertise: the CCIE continues to be the one most impactful credential you’ll be able to earn on this trade.
Why CCIE Collaboration issues greater than ever
The collaboration panorama has modified dramatically since my ISP Dial days. Organizations are working hybrid environments—on-premises CUCM clusters sitting alongside Webex Calling within the cloud, with Expressway dealing with edge providers and CUBE bridging the PSTN. Add AI-powered options by way of the Webex platform, and also you’ve bought an ecosystem that calls for deep, full-stack experience.
The CCIE Collaboration certification validates precisely that. It proves you’ll be able to design, deploy, function, and optimize these complicated environments—not in idea, however hands-on, below strain, towards the clock.
Corporations are determined for professionals who perceive the complete image. Not simply somebody who can configure a CUCM cluster, and never simply somebody who can handle Webex Management Hub—however somebody who can architect hybrid calling options, combine AI-driven contact facilities, and handle the transition from legacy infrastructure to cloud-native platforms. The roles opening up mirror this shift: Cloud Collaboration Architect, Principal UC Engineer, Multi-Platform Specialist, Digital Office Strategist. These didn’t exist ten years in the past. Now they’re a number of the most sought-after positions in enterprise IT, and the CCIE is the credential that will get you there.
What’s modified within the CCIE Collaboration Lab
We’ve made vital updates to the lab atmosphere to maintain it aligned with the place the trade is heading. I walked by way of all of those adjustments intimately throughout a latest webinar—you’ll be able to watch the complete recording on YouTube right here: CCIE Collaboration Updates & Observe Lab Launch.
However right here’s the abstract of what you want to know:
Platform upgrades: CUCM and SME at the moment are on model 15.0.1, Unity Connection on 15.0.1, Expressway C and E on 15.2.1, and the Catalyst 8000V (your CUBE) is working IOS-XE 17.12.4.
IM & Presence is gone. Immediate messaging providers at the moment are delivered by way of the Webex cloud platform. This mirrors what’s occurring in the actual world—organizations are transferring their collaboration providers to the cloud.
Jabber is out, Webex App is in. The Webex App consumer has changed Jabber, connecting on to the Webex cloud. Once more, this displays the trade shift that’s already effectively underway.
Webex Calling integration. The brand new DOO 3.2 type consists of Webex Calling eventualities, and we’ve launched new Design types to match. In case you haven’t labored with Webex Calling trunks, Native Gateway registration, or Management Hub administration, now’s the time to start out.
The thread connecting all these adjustments is obvious: Cisco’s collaboration portfolio is transferring towards cloud-native, AI-enhanced platforms. The Webex suite now consists of AI-powered assembly summaries, clever noise elimination, real-time translation, and good contact heart options that merely didn’t exist a number of years in the past. The examination displays this actuality. In case you’re nonetheless considering of CCIE Collaboration as purely an on-prem voice certification, it’s time to replace that psychological mannequin. Right now’s CCIE Collaboration skilled must be fluent throughout the complete stack—from conventional CUCM infrastructure to Webex cloud providers and the AI capabilities constructed into them.
Breaking down the Lab: Design and DOO
The lab examination has two distinct modules that require totally different preparation methods.
The Design (DES) module
Consider this module as a design engineer within the PPDIO lifecycle. You’re offered with a buyer state of affairs—full with emails, necessities paperwork, and background data—and you want to make architectural choices.
A number of issues that journey individuals up: you can not return to earlier questions. When you reply and transfer ahead, that’s it. So learn every thing fastidiously. Each design merchandise carries its reply with it—your job is to seek out it within the context offered.
How you can put together for Design:
That is the place documentation turns into your greatest pal. The assets that provides you with the strongest basis are the Cisco Collaboration Most popular Structure (PA) guides, Answer Reference Community Design (SRND) documentation, and Cisco Validated Designs (CVDs). These aren’t simply research materials—they’re the precise engineering references that Cisco makes use of for actual deployments.
The design matters you must deal with embrace:
- Redundancy throughout CUCM, SME, CUC, Expressway clustering, and CUBE
- Resiliency methods, together with SRST, Media Path Optimization, and Webex SGW
- Scalability choices: centralized vs. distributed, Native Gateway choices
- SSO, listing integration, and consumer provisioning throughout cloud and on-prem
- Bandwidth administration: QoS, CAC, community sizing
- Safety: end-to-end encryption, toll fraud prevention, gadget hardening
- Migration methods between UCM, Webex Calling DI, and multi-tenant
- Webex Contact Middle: name queuing, supervisor capabilities, licensing
- Video conferencing: Edge Video Mesh, CMS capabilities
- Automation: API, SOAP, AXL for bulk operations
I additionally strongly suggest watching Cisco Dwell periods that go deep into design patterns and real-world architectures that immediately map to what you’ll see within the examination.
The DOO (Deploy, Function, Optimize) module
That is the hands-on portion—4 hours of configuring, troubleshooting, and optimizing a reside collaboration atmosphere. That is the place your lab time pays off.
The DOO module now consists of Webex Calling integration duties. Meaning you’ll be working with Webex Management Hub administration, Native Gateway (CUBE) registration to the Webex cloud, trunk configuration, and hybrid name routing. In case you’re used to pure on-prem CUCM work, it is a vital shift, and also you want hands-on time with these applied sciences.
Cracking DOO: Observe labs and AI as your research companion
CCIE Collaboration Observe Labs
Right here’s one thing I want existed after I was making ready for my CCIE: official apply labs that mirror the precise examination atmosphere. We’ve constructed precisely that.
The CCIE Collaboration Observe Labs supply a 4-hour session on a topology that replicates the DOO module setup. You get full administrative entry to all unified communications gadgets built-in with the Webex Cloud—CUCM, SME, Unity Connection, Expressway, CUBE, and Webex Management Hub. Fundamental community connectivity is pre-configured between endpoints, so you’ll be able to bounce straight into constructing and testing configurations.
This can be a Carry Your Personal Lab (BYOL) atmosphere. There are not any inflexible, step-by-step directions telling you what to configure. As a substitute, you get the infrastructure, the documentation, and the liberty to design your individual name flows, take a look at integration eventualities, and break issues on objective. Elective apply duties can be found if you’d like structured workouts, however the actual worth is within the open-ended exploration.
Sensible recommendation:
- E book not less than 3–5 apply lab periods earlier than scheduling your lab examination.
- Every session is 4 hours and prices $50—a small funding in comparison with what’s at stake.
- Work on getting your process completion time down to fifteen–20 minutes per commonplace configuration. Pace issues in a timed examination.
- Observe the complete stack: CUCM to Unity, CUCM to Expressway, on-prem to Webex cloud. The examination assessments multi-system integration.
- Use the periods to construct your troubleshooting instincts. When one thing breaks, resist the urge to wipe the config and begin over. Diagnose it the way in which you’d must within the examination.
Utilizing AI as a research companion
This wasn’t obtainable even a few years in the past, and it’s a game-changer for CCIE preparation.
AI assistants may also help you research smarter. Use them to interrupt down complicated matters, quiz your self on configuration syntax, or stroll by way of troubleshooting eventualities. Caught on how CUBE trunk registration works with Webex Calling? Ask your AI assistant to clarify the TLS handshake, the SIP REGISTER circulate, or the function of the Cisco Trusted Root Bundle. Then go validate what you realized in your apply lab.
I’ve seen candidates use AI to generate apply eventualities, create flashcards for command syntax, and even simulate design discussions the place the AI performs the function of a buyer with particular necessities. It’s not a substitute for hands-on apply, however it’s an extremely efficient complement—particularly for reinforcing ideas between lab periods.
The mix of AI-assisted research for deep understanding plus apply labs for hands-on execution is, in my expertise, probably the most environment friendly preparation technique obtainable right now for the DOO module.
Examination-day methods that really work
I’ve watched lots of of candidates undergo this course of, and those who go constantly share a number of habits.
For the DOO module:
- Learn the complete module earlier than you contact a keyboard. Perceive each process, then prioritize by level worth and issue.
- Don’t get caught. Give your self a 10-minute rule—when you’re not making progress on a process after 10 minutes, transfer on and are available again later. Construct your confidence with wins early.
- Save configurations continuously. You obtain credit score just for working options. A final-minute change that breaks one thing can value you factors you’d already earned.
- Plan for regression testing. Go away time on the finish to confirm that every thing nonetheless works end-to-end.
- Use the scratch paper. Monitor which duties you’ve accomplished, which you’ve skipped, and what number of factors are on the desk.
- You don’t want 100%. Goal 80–90% and allocate your time accordingly.
For the Design module:
- Learn each useful resource fastidiously earlier than answering. The context is every thing.
- Keep in mind, you’ll be able to’t return. Triple-read every query earlier than committing.
- Suppose like a design engineer within the PPDIO lifecycle, not like somebody taking a multiple-choice take a look at.
- Partial scoring exists on the merchandise stage, so even when you’re not 100% assured, make your greatest choice.
And don’t underestimate the bodily aspect. The lab is a marathon. Construct your stamina with progressively longer apply periods. Get correct sleep on the three nights earlier than. Carry water and permitted snacks. Eat an actual lunch through the break. This stuff sound trivial till you’re 5 hours in and your mind begins to fog.
Your useful resource guidelines
I’ve put collectively the assets that provides you with the strongest preparation. Don’t attempt to devour every thing—be strategic about the place you spend your time.
Begin right here:
- CCIE Collaboration v3.1 Sensible Examination Launch Notes – perceive what’s modified
- CCIE Collaboration v3.1 Sensible Examination Subjects (Blueprint) – your research roadmap
- CCIE Collaboration v3.1 Sensible Examination Studying Matrix – maps matters to assets
For Design preparation:
For DOO preparation:
Keep linked:
Be part of the CCIE Collaboration Neighborhood—don’t research alone
One factor I’ve realized over 25 years on this trade: the individuals who succeed don’t do it in isolation. The CCIE journey is tough sufficient with out making an attempt to determine every thing out by yourself.
I need to personally encourage you to affix the Cisco CCIE Collaboration Community on the Cisco Studying Community. This isn’t simply one other discussion board to lurk in—it’s a spot the place candidates from world wide share what’s working for them, ask questions on tough matters, and help one another by way of the preparation course of. I’m energetic there myself, and so are many different licensed engineers and examination stakeholders.
However right here’s my ask: don’t simply devour—contribute. Submit about your preparation expertise. Share what assets helped you. Ask the questions you assume are too primary—likelihood is, fifty different individuals have the identical query and haven’t requested but. Whenever you get caught on a configuration or a design idea, put it on the market. And while you’ve figured one thing out, pay it ahead by serving to another person.
The worldwide CCIE Collaboration neighborhood will get stronger each time somebody shares their data. Whether or not you’re simply beginning your preparation otherwise you’re per week away out of your lab date, your perspective has worth. Be part of the research group, take part within the discussions, and let’s construct this neighborhood collectively.
The CCIE modified my life. It will probably change yours.
The examination is totally different right now than it was in my ISP Dial days. It’s advanced with the know-how—cloud-native architectures, AI-powered Webex platforms, hybrid calling environments, and clever contact facilities. However the core of what makes the CCIE worthwhile hasn’t modified: it proves you are able to do the work, not simply discuss it. And as Cisco continues to push into AI-driven collaboration—assume real-time assembly intelligence, automated workflows, predictive analytics for community high quality—the professionals who maintain this certification would be the ones main these implementations. This isn’t only a credential for right now; it’s a strategic funding in the place this trade is heading.
You have got assets obtainable to you that I may solely dream of after I was making ready. Observe labs that replicate the examination atmosphere. AI instruments that may speed up your studying. A neighborhood of candidates and authorized engineers who share data freely. The trail has by no means been clearer.
So guide that first apply lab session. Pull up the examination blueprint. Begin placing within the hours. The CCIE Collaboration certification is ready for you—and belief me, what’s on the opposite aspect is price each late night time and each irritating lab session.
See you within the CCIE Neighborhood.
