The Cisco 300-720 exam validates your ability to secure email infrastructure using Cisco Email Security Appliance (ESA). This certification is part of the Cisco Certified Network Professional and Cisco Certified Network Professional Security paths, designed for network professionals who deploy and manage email security in enterprise environments. This page provides a structured study roadmap, covering the exam syllabus, question formats, and practical preparation strategies to help you succeed.
Use this topic map to guide your study for Cisco 300-720 (Securing Email with Cisco Email Security Appliance) within the Cisco Certified Network Professional and Cisco Certified Network Professional Security path.
The 300-720 exam uses multiple question types to assess both conceptual knowledge and decision-making in real-world email security scenarios. Questions progress in difficulty and require practical reasoning beyond simple recall.
Questions emphasize practical application and reward candidates who understand not just what features exist, but when and how to use them effectively.
An effective study plan maps each syllabus topic to weekly goals and includes hands-on practice with configuration tasks. Allocate time proportionally: email authentication and content filtering typically carry more exam weight than foundational administration. Combine reading, labs, and practice questions to reinforce learning across all domains.
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Email Authentication and Encryption (topic 5) and Content and Message Filters (topic 3) typically account for a larger portion of exam questions. These domains directly impact organizational compliance and threat prevention, so Cisco emphasizes them heavily. Allocate extra study time to SPF, DKIM, DMARC configuration and content policy design to maximize your score.
In practice, they form an integrated pipeline. First, you configure ESA Administration (topic 1) to establish the platform. Then LDAP and SMTP Sessions (topic 4) integrate the appliance with your directory and mail servers. Spam Control (topic 2) and Content Filters (topic 3) inspect incoming messages in parallel. Email Authentication (topic 5) verifies sender legitimacy, and finally System Quarantines (topic 6) handle suspicious messages. Understanding these connections helps you design cohesive policies rather than isolated rules.
Hands-on experience is valuable but not required to pass. However, candidates who have configured ESA policies, set up LDAP bindings, and tested quarantine workflows typically score higher and feel more confident. If possible, access a lab environment or demo appliance to practice at least one configuration from each topic. If labs are unavailable, detailed scenario-based practice questions can substitute, but they are less effective than direct experience.
Many candidates confuse DKIM signing with DMARC enforcement and choose incorrect remediation steps. Others underestimate the complexity of content filter logic and miss edge cases in scenario questions. A frequent error is not understanding the difference between quarantine policies and delivery methods, leading to wrong configuration choices. Review practice question explanations carefully and pay close attention to subtle wording in scenario descriptions.
In your final week, focus on weak topics identified during practice tests rather than re-reading strong areas. Complete one full-length timed mock exam to assess pacing and identify remaining gaps. Spend 2-3 days reviewing scenario-based questions and their explanations, paying special attention to why incorrect answers are wrong. On the day before the exam, do a light review of key definitions and avoid cramming new material, which increases anxiety without improving retention.
Refer to the exhibit.
Refer to the exhibit. An engineer is trying to connect to a Cisco ESA using SSH and has been unsuccessful. Upon further inspection, the engineer notices that there is a loss of connectivity to the neighboring switch.
Which connection method should be used to determine the configuration issue?
Serial connection is a method that should be used to determine the configuration issue when there is a loss of connectivity to the neighboring switch. Serial connection allows the engineer to access the Cisco ESA console port using a serial cable and a terminal emulator, such as PuTTY or HyperTerminal, without relying on the network connectivity.
The other options are not valid methods to determine the configuration issue when there is a loss of connectivity to the neighboring switch, because they require network connectivity to work.
Which Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense visibility and remediation mode is only available when using Cisco Secure Email Gateway as the message source?
According to theCisco Secure Email Threat Defense User Guide, the No Authentication option is only available if you are using a Cisco Secure Email Gateway (SEG) as your message source.This option allows visibility only, no remediation1.
The other options are not valid because:
A . Basic Authentication is not a visibility and remediation mode for Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense.It is a method of authenticating users with a username and password2.
C . Microsoft 365 Authentication is a visibility and remediation mode that allows you to use Microsoft 365 credentials to access Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense. It has two sub-options: Read/Write and Read.This mode is available for both Microsoft 365 and Gateway message sources1.
D . Cisco Security Cloud Sign On is not a visibility and remediation mode for Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense.It is a service that manages user authentication for Cisco security products, including Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense3.
Which two statements about configuring message filters within the Cisco ESA are true? (Choose two.)
Message filters can only be applied to the ESA via command line. So, you will need command line access to the ESA.
Log into the ESA via command line.
Run the following highlighted commands to apply the message filter to the ESA:
ironport.example.com> filters
Choose the operation you want to perform:
- NEW - Create a new filter.
- IMPORT - Import a filter script from a file.
[]> NEW
Enter filter script. Enter '.' on its own line to end.
large_spam_no_attachment:
if ((body-size > 2097152) AND NOT (attachment-size > 0)) {
quarantine('large_spam');
log-entry('*****This is a large message with no attachments*****');
}
.
1 filters added.
Refer to the exhibit.
Refer to the exhibits. What must be done to enforce end user authentication before accessing quarantine?
Changing the end user quarantine access setting from None authentication to Mailbox is the correct way to enforce end user authentication before accessing quarantine. This setting requires the end users to enter their email address and password in order to access their personal quarantine on the Cisco ESA.
The other options are not valid ways to enforce end user authentication before accessing quarantine, because they do not affect the end user quarantine access setting.
Refer to the exhibit.
Refer to the exhibit. How does a Cisco Secure Email Gateway handle an email that is identified both as spam positive and outbreak positive by outbreak filters?
