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 Heart. My title stated Assist Engineer, Voice and Entry Crew, however the actuality was extra like a firefighter. Each shift introduced Severity 1 tickets from prospects whose voice networks had been down, they usually wanted solutions quick. There was no room for guessing. You both knew the expertise inside out, otherwise you had been the particular person 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. After I lastly sat for the CCIE ISP Dial lab in February 2001—unfold over two grueling days—I walked in realizing I’d finished 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 the event you’ve been wherever close to the CCIE program, you’ve heard her title. Individuals known as her the CCIE Queen, and the title match completely. Kathe wasn’t simply dealing with lab logistics—she had this outstanding capacity to place nervous candidates relaxed, making you are feeling like she genuinely rooted for you. She was a legend within the CCIE group, and everybody who crossed her path remembers the heat she introduced to what’s in any other case probably the most aggravating day of your skilled life.
We misplaced Kathe on February 17, 2026, and the CCIE world misplaced one in all its most beloved figures. This weblog is, partly, a tribute to her and the numerous candidates she supported through the years.
That CCIE ISP Dial quantity modified my trajectory, however I wasn’t finished. Because the collaboration world developed, I set my sights on the CCIE Collaboration certification. And let me be clear right here—I didn’t move 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 expertise than any research information ever might. Every time I walked out of that lab realizing precisely the place my gaps had been, I went again and stuffed them. In the event you’re studying this and also you’ve failed an try, know that you just’re in good firm. What issues is that you just get again up and take a look at once more.
Now, because the CCIE Collaboration Examination Product Supervisor at Study with Cisco, I get to form the very certification that formed my profession. And I can let you know from lived expertise: the CCIE remains to be the one most impactful credential you may 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 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 may design, deploy, function, and optimize these advanced environments—not in idea, however hands-on, underneath stress, towards the clock.
Firms are determined for professionals who perceive the total 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 important updates to the lab setting to maintain it aligned with the place the trade is heading. I walked by all of those adjustments intimately throughout a current webinar—you may watch the total recording on YouTube right here: CCIE Collaboration Updates & Apply Lab Launch.
However right here’s the abstract of what it’s essential 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. Instantaneous messaging providers at the moment are delivered by the Webex cloud platform. This mirrors what’s occurring in the actual world—organizations are shifting 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 nicely underway.
Webex Calling integration. The brand new DOO 3.2 type consists of Webex Calling situations, and we’ve launched new Design kinds to match. In the event 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 evident: Cisco’s collaboration portfolio is shifting towards cloud-native, AI-enhanced platforms. The Webex suite now consists of AI-powered assembly summaries, clever noise removing, real-time translation, and good contact middle options that merely didn’t exist just a few years in the past. The examination displays this actuality. In the event you’re nonetheless considering of CCIE Collaboration as purely an on-prem voice certification, it’s time to replace that psychological mannequin. At present’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 completely different preparation methods.
The Design (DES) module
Consider this module as a design engineer within the PPDIO lifecycle. You’re introduced with a buyer state of affairs—full with emails, necessities paperwork, and background info—and it’s essential to make architectural selections.
A couple of issues that journey individuals up: you can not return to earlier questions. When you reply and transfer ahead, that’s it. So learn the whole lot rigorously. Each design merchandise carries its reply with it—your job is to seek out it within the context offered.
The best way to put together for Design:
That is the place documentation turns into your finest pal. The sources that provides you with the strongest basis are the Cisco Collaboration Most popular Structure (PA) guides, Resolution 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 it’s best to deal with embody:
- Redundancy throughout CUCM, SME, CUC, Expressway clustering, and CUBE
- Resiliency methods, together with SRST, Media Path Optimization, and Webex SGW
- Scalability selections: 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 Heart: name queuing, supervisor capabilities, licensing
- Video conferencing: Edge Video Mesh, CMS capabilities
- Automation: API, SOAP, AXL for bulk operations
I additionally strongly advocate watching Cisco Reside classes that go deep into design patterns and real-world architectures that instantly 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 setting. That is the place your lab time pays off.
The DOO module now consists of Webex Calling integration duties. Which means you’ll be working with Webex Management Hub administration, Native Gateway (CUBE) registration to the Webex cloud, trunk configuration, and hybrid name routing. In the event you’re used to pure on-prem CUCM work, this can be a important shift, and also you want hands-on time with these applied sciences.
Cracking DOO: Apply labs and AI as your research companion
CCIE Collaboration Apply Labs
Right here’s one thing I want existed after I was making ready for my CCIE: official observe labs that mirror the precise examination setting. We’ve constructed precisely that.
The CCIE Collaboration Apply Labs provide 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 may soar straight into constructing and testing configurations.
It is a Convey Your Personal Lab (BYOL) setting. 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 personal name flows, take a look at integration situations, and break issues on objective. Non-compulsory observe 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 observe lab classes 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 activity completion time down to fifteen–20 minutes per normal configuration. Velocity issues in a timed examination.
- Apply the total stack: CUCM to Unity, CUCM to Expressway, on-prem to Webex cloud. The examination checks multi-system integration.
- Use the classes 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 need to within the examination.
Utilizing AI as a research companion
This wasn’t accessible 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 advanced matters, quiz your self on configuration syntax, or stroll by troubleshooting situations. 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 position of the Cisco Trusted Root Bundle. Then go validate what you discovered in your observe lab.
I’ve seen candidates use AI to generate observe situations, create flashcards for command syntax, and even simulate design discussions the place the AI performs the position of a buyer with particular necessities. It’s not a alternative for hands-on observe, but it surely’s an extremely efficient complement—particularly for reinforcing ideas between lab classes.
The mixture of AI-assisted research for deep understanding plus observe labs for hands-on execution is, in my expertise, probably the most environment friendly preparation technique accessible immediately for the DOO module.
Examination-day methods that really work
I’ve watched a whole lot of candidates undergo this course of, and those who move persistently share just a few habits.
For the DOO module:
- Learn the complete module earlier than you contact a keyboard. Perceive each activity, then prioritize by level worth and problem.
- Don’t get caught. Give your self a 10-minute rule—if you happen to’re not making progress on a activity after 10 minutes, transfer on and are available again later. Construct your confidence with wins early.
- Save configurations always. You obtain credit score just for working options. A final-minute change that breaks one thing can price you factors you’d already earned.
- Plan for regression testing. Go away time on the finish to confirm that the whole lot 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 rigorously earlier than answering. The context is the whole lot.
- Keep in mind, you may’t return. Triple-read every query earlier than committing.
- Assume 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 if you happen to’re not 100% assured, make your finest choice.
And don’t underestimate the bodily aspect. The lab is a marathon. Construct your stamina with progressively longer observe classes. Get correct sleep on the three nights earlier than. Convey water and authorised snacks. Eat an actual lunch in the course of the break. These items sound trivial till you’re 5 hours in and your mind begins to fog.
Your useful resource guidelines
I’ve put collectively the sources that provides you with the strongest preparation. Don’t attempt to eat the whole lot—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 Matters (Blueprint) – your research roadmap
- CCIE Collaboration v3.1 Sensible Examination Studying Matrix – maps matters to sources
For Design preparation:
For DOO preparation:
Keep related:
Be a part of the CCIE Collaboration Group—don’t research alone
One factor I’ve discovered over 25 years on this trade: the individuals who succeed don’t do it in isolation. The CCIE journey is difficult sufficient with out making an attempt to determine the whole lot 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 difficult matters, and help one another by the preparation course of. I’m lively there myself, and so are many different licensed engineers and examination stakeholders.
However right here’s my ask: don’t simply eat—contribute. Submit about your preparation expertise. Share what sources helped you. Ask the questions you suppose are too primary—likelihood is, fifty different individuals have the identical query and haven’t requested but. Once 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 group will get stronger each time somebody shares their data. Whether or not you’re simply beginning your preparation otherwise you’re every week away out of your lab date, your perspective has worth. Be a part of the research group, take part within the discussions, and let’s construct this group collectively.
The CCIE modified my life. It may possibly change yours.
The examination is completely different immediately than it was in my ISP Dial days. It’s developed with the expertise—cloud-native architectures, AI-powered Webex platforms, hybrid calling environments, and clever contact facilities. However the core of what makes the CCIE invaluable 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—suppose 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 immediately; it’s a strategic funding in the place this trade is heading.
You’ve gotten sources accessible to you that I might solely dream of after I was making ready. Apply labs that replicate the examination setting. AI instruments that may speed up your studying. A group of candidates and licensed engineers who share data freely. The trail has by no means been clearer.
So e book that first observe 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 value each late night time and each irritating lab session.
See you within the CCIE Group.
