The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has approved various Cisco Certifications for individuals required to be compliant with DoD Directive 8570.01-M.

Cisco DoD Approved Certifications

DoD 8570 compliance and recognition

This program is retiring in 2025

The DoD 8570 Compliance and Recognition program is scheduled to sunset in 2025. Candidates are encouraged to transition to DoD Directive 8140.

Cisco certifications compliant with DoD Directive 8570

Showcase your skills and meet your military career aspirations with a Cisco Certification. Not only does earning an approved certification recognize your talents and expand your IT knowledge, it also brings you into compliance with DoD Directive 8570. Fulfill your current needs and secure your military IT career with a globally recognized certification from Cisco.


What you need to know

DoD approval of Cisco certifications

The United States Department of Defense (DoD) has approved various Cisco Certifications for individuals required to be compliant with DoD Directive 8570.01-M. DoD Directive 8570 provides guidance and procedures for the training, certification, and management of all DoD employees performing information assurance functions in their line of duty. These individuals are required to carry an approved certification for their particular job role and classification.

Information assurance tech (IAT) levels

Information Assurance Tech (IAT) has three levels, each requiring certifications of increasing complexity. Personnel performing IA functions must obtain one of the certifications required for their position to fulfill the IA baseline certification requirement. Higher level certifications also fulfill the requirements of lower-level certifications.

Cisco Certifications approved for DoD 8570

The following information and certifications are specific to DoD Directive 8570 requirements. DoD Directive 8570 will remain in effect until mid-2025, at which point it will be replaced by DoD Directive 8140.

 CertificationExamDescription
IAT Level I, IAT Level II *CCNA200-301 CCNAThis associate level certification validates fundamental skills in networking, IP services, security, and automation and programmability.
IAT Level IIICCNP Security350-701 SCOR
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Concentration exam of your choice
Comprised of a core exam and a concentration exam of your choice, CCNP Security allows you to prove your skills with security solutions while remaining DoD Directive 8570 compliant.
CSSP Analyst, CSSP Incident ReporterCyberOps Associate200-201 CBROPSThis associate level certification validates the day-to-day tactical knowledge and skills that Security Operations Center (SOC) teams need to detect and respond to cybersecurity threats.

CCNA Security waiver

The DoD has recently signed a waiver allowing all active CCNA Security certification holders to be classified at the same IAT level as the CCNA certification.

Frequently asked questions

The goal of these DoD directives is to drive IA personnel to meet training and certification requirements related to their job functions.  The policy requires Information Assurance technicians and managers to be trained and certified to a DoD baseline requirement.  Please review the Directive’s manual to validate the certifications mandated by the program.

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology statement on DoD directive 8140.01 Cybersecurity Workforce Management, DoD 8140:

  • Reissues and renumbers DoD 8570 to update and expand established DoD policies and assigned responsibilities for managing the DoD cyberspace workforce.
  • Authorizes the establishment of a DoD cyberspace workforce management council to ensure that the requirements of this directive are met.
  • Unifies the overall cyberspace workforce and establishes specific elements to align, manage and standardize work roles, baseline qualifications and training requirements.

With the introduction of the NIST 800-181 Cybersecurity Framework and the DoD Defense Cybersecurity Framework, the granular detail each work role includes around Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs).  These KSAs include more detail than the previous mapping from the 8570.

Yes, Cisco will be applying to get other certifications approved under the DCFW work roles.

As of February 24, 2020, Cisco has sunset the CCNA Security certification.  Existing CCNA Security certified individuals were granted a CCNA certification as result of our new program mapping.  DoD announced in December of 2021, that the CCNA could be used to maintain IAT I and II certification requirements for all those who held a CCNA Security certification.

Part of the Defense Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, Cisco must maintain all certifications aligned to DoD Directive 8140.

To earn a CCNP Security, you pass two exams: a core exam (350-201 SCOR) and a security concentration exam of your choice. And now every exam in the CCNP Security program earns an individual Specialist certification, so you get recognized for your accomplishments along the way.

Explore CCNP Security

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