Cisco Additional Online Exams for Validating Knowledge 500-285

Why wait for shipping? The moment your order is confirmed, Getcertkey emails the 500-285 practice questions to your inbox, usually within a minute. You could be working through the 60 questions for the Cisco Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire Intrusion Prevention System exam tonight.

Cisco 500-285 Exam Overview:

Certification Vendor:	Cisco
Exam Name:	Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire Intrusion Prevention System
Exam Number:	500-285
Real Exam Qty:	55-65
Certificate Validity Period:	3 years
Related Certifications:	Cisco Firepower Security Specialist Network Security Specialist
Passing Score:	750-850 / 1000 (scaled)
Exam Price:	$300 USD
Exam Format:	Configuration, Scenario-based, Multiple choice, Drag-and-drop
Exam Duration:	90 minutes
Available Languages:	English
Recommended Training:	Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire IPS (SSFIPS) Official Training Cisco Firepower Management Center Documentation
Exam Registration:	Pearson VUE Registration Cisco Official Exam Page
Sample Questions:
Exam Way:	Online proctored or in-person at Pearson VUE authorized test centers
Pre Condition:	No formal prerequisites; recommended: CCNA Security or equivalent knowledge, hands-on experience with Cisco Firepower/Sourcefire IPS
Official Syllabus URL:	https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/exams/current-list/500-285p.html

Cisco 500-285 Exam Syllabus Topics:

500-285 Exam FAQs for 2026 Candidates

Which certification does the 500-285 exam lead to?

The 500-285 exam is the official Cisco exam behind the Cisco Specialist - Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire IPS certification, validating the skills measured by the Cisco Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire Intrusion Prevention System credential. It sits at the Specialist level of the Cisco certification program. It also connects to Cisco Firepower Security Specialist, Network Security Specialist, so the knowledge you build here carries over to those tracks as well.

How many questions are on the 500-285 exam, and how much time do I get?

The 500-285 exam contains 55-65 questions to be completed within 90 minutes. Before exam day, divide the available time by the question count to work out a comfortable per-question pace, and mark any item that eats into it so you can return later instead of getting stuck. Timed sessions in the Getcertkey test engines make that pacing automatic — run at least two full-length mock exams under the clock so time pressure never becomes the reason you drop points.

What score do I need to pass the 500-285 exam, and what does it cost?

The passing score for the 500-285 exam is 750-850 / 1000 (scaled), and the official registration fee is $300 USD. Retakes are not discounted — every new attempt means paying the full fee again — so it pays to measure yourself before you book. Work through the 60 practice questions on Getcertkey, sit a timed practice test, and schedule your exam only when your scores are consistently comfortable. That simple habit is the cheapest exam strategy there is.

Are there any prerequisites for the 500-285 exam?

No formal prerequisites; recommended: CCNA Security or equivalent knowledge, hands-on experience with Cisco Firepower/Sourcefire IPS Requirements can change when Cisco revises its certification program, so confirm the current eligibility rules on the official exam page before you register.

How do I register for the 500-285 exam?

You can book the Cisco Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire Intrusion Prevention System exam through the official registration channels below:

• Cisco Official Exam Page
• Pearson VUE Registration

As for delivery, the exam is offered in the following format: Online proctored or in-person at Pearson VUE authorized test centers. Choose the option that suits you best when you book your seat.

What official training is recommended for the 500-285 exam?

Cisco recommends the following training resources for the Cisco Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire Intrusion Prevention System exam:

• Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire IPS (SSFIPS) Official Training
• Cisco Firepower Management Center Documentation

Official courses build the foundation; the 60 practice questions from Getcertkey then show you how that knowledge is examined, so the two work best together.

Can I try the 500-285 practice questions before I buy?

Yes. Getcertkey provides a free 500-285 PDF demo so you can review the question style and answer quality before purchasing. Every purchase also includes 365 days of free updates — if Cisco revises the exam during that period, the updated material reaches you at no cost. Once the free-update year ends, you can extend your update service at a 50% discount.

What if I fail the 500-285 exam, and how is my order delivered?

Every Cisco Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire Intrusion Prevention System purchase on Getcertkey is covered by a 100% money-back guarantee with clear conditions: if you take the corresponding exam within 60 days of your purchase and do not pass, you can claim a full refund by submitting a scanned copy of your exam enrollment slip and your official score report as a PDF within two days of the exam date; claims are processed within seven days of submission. The guarantee does not apply to exams taken within three days of purchase, to material that was downloaded but never used in an exam attempt, or to free products and expired orders, and the candidate name must match the payer name. If you would rather not take a refund, you can instead exchange your purchase for two free exam preparation products of equal value and keep the update service on your original product.

Delivery is instant: your download is sent to your email within one minute of payment, with no limit on how many computers you may install the material on. If nothing arrives within two hours, check your spam folder and contact customer service for help.

What topics are covered in the 500-285 exam?

The Cisco Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire Intrusion Prevention System exam blueprint is organized into 7 domains. The first three are:

• FireSIGHT System and NGIPS Overview — 15% of the exam
• Snort Rule Creation and Customization — 10% of the exam
• Correlation Policies and Advanced Features — 10% of the exam

For the complete domain-by-domain breakdown, scroll up to the full exam topics outline above and use it to plan how you distribute your study time.

Cisco Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire Intrusion Prevention System Sample Questions:

Question #1
Suppose an administrator is configuring an IPS policy and attempts to enable intrusion rules that require the operation of the TCP stream preprocessor, but the TCP stream preprocessor is turned off. Which statement is true in this situation?

A. When the administrator enables the rules and then attempts to save the IPS policy, the administrator will be prompted to accept that the TCP stream preprocessor will be turned on for the IPS policy.
B. When the administrator enables the rules and then attempts to save the IPS policy, the administrator will be prompted to accept that the rules that require the TCP stream preprocessor will be turned off for the IPS policy.
C. The administrator will be prevented from changing the rule state of the rules that require the TCP stream preprocessor until the TCP stream preprocessor is enabled.
D. The administrator can save the IPS policy with the TCP stream preprocessor turned off, but the rules requiring its operation will not function properly.

Question #2
Which option describes the two basic components of Sourcefire Snort rules?

A. a rule body that contains packet-matching criteria or options to define where to look for content in a packet, and a rule header to define matching criteria based on where a packet originates, where it is going, and over which protocol
B. preprocessor configurations to define what to do with packets before the detection engine sees them, and detection engine configurations to define exactly how alerting is to take place
C. a rule header to define source, destination, and protocol, and the output configuration to determine which form of output to produce if the rule triggers
D. a rule statement characterized by the message you configure to appear in the alert, and the rule body that contains all of the matching criteria such as source, destination, and protocol

Question #3
Which option is used to implement suppression in the Rule Management user interface?

A. Rule Category
B. Protocol
C. Source
D. Global

Question #4
Stacking allows a primary device to utilize which resources of secondary devices?

A. interfaces, CPUs, memory, and storage
B. CPUs and memory
C. interfaces, CPUs, and memory
D. interfaces and storage

Question #5
Which statement represents detection capabilities of the HTTP preprocessor?

A. You can configure it to normalize image content types.
B. You can configure it to blacklist known bad web servers.
C. You can configure it to whitelist specific servers.
D. You can configure it to normalize cookies in HTTP headers.

Solutions: