700-750 Cisco Small and Medium Business Engineer (SMBE) Questions and Answers

Video surveillance technology is undergoing a transformation similar to that of business telephone systems. Just as business telephones have evolved from traditional landlines to VoIP and unified communications, video surveillance is shifting from standalone, analog systems to integrated, digital solutions. This transformation is driven by advancements in AI, cloud computing, and IoT, which are enabling more intelligent, connected, and versatile surveillance systems123.References := 123

https://www.ifsecglobal.com/advertorial/five-trends-in-video-surveillance-to-watch-in-2024/

Cisco Umbrella provides secure internet access by acting as a cloud-delivered security service. It offers protection against threats on the internet wherever users go. With Umbrella, IT administrators can ensure that company policies are enforced, and users are protected from malicious sites and content. It’s designed to provide the first line of defense against threats on the internet by blocking unwanted content before it reaches the network or endpoints12.

References := 1: Cisco Secure Access - Secure Internet Access - Cisco 2: Introducing Cisco Secure Access - Cisco Blog

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:Cisco’s SMB strategy is tailored to address the unique needs of small and medium businesses, focusing on empowering their IT capabilities, supporting modern work trends, and aligning with broader business goals. The primary focuses include:

C. Enabling IT teams:Cisco empowers SMB IT teams—often small or nonexistent—with intuitive tools like Meraki’s cloud dashboard and DNA Spaces, simplifying network management and troubleshooting. This enables even limited staff to maintain robust IT operations, a core pillar of Cisco’s SMB approach.

D. Reducing environmental impact:Sustainability is increasingly part of Cisco’s strategy, with energy-efficient hardware (e.g., Catalyst switches) and cloud solutions reducing on-premises footprints. SMBs benefit from lower power costs and align with green initiatives, a focus Cisco promotes across its portfolio.

E. Empowering remote collaboration:With tools like Webex and Meraki, Cisco enables SMBs to support remote and hybrid workforces, enhancing collaboration and connectivity. This is a key focus as SMBs adapt to distributed teams, as seen in customer stories like REWE Group Austria.

A. Migrating all services to cloud:While Cisco leverages cloud solutions (e.g., Meraki, Umbrella), it doesn’t mandate full cloud migration; on-premises and hybrid options remain, making this not a primary focus but a flexible component.

B. Enhancing digital and physical security:Cisco excels in digital security (e.g., Umbrella, Secure Firewall), but physical security (e.g., surveillance) is handled by separate divisions (like Meraki cameras) and isn’t a unified SMB strategy focus—digital security alone is the priority.

C, D, and E reflect Cisco’s strategic priorities for SMBs, balancing IT empowerment, sustainability, and modern work enablement.

References:Cisco’s SMB Strategy overview (cisco.com/go/smb) and sustainability reports (cisco.com/go/sustainability) underscore IT enablement, environmental impact, and collaboration as key focuses, aligned with 700-750 SMBE exam objectives on SMB priorities and solutions.

Cisco is leveling the playing field between virtual and in-person workers by providing an inclusive collaboration suite. This suite includes technologies and tools that support work from anywhere, which is essential for a hybrid workforce. The suite enables employees to participate fully, regardless of their location, language preference, personality type, or familiarity with technology. By focusing on inclusivity and connectedness, Cisco ensures that all employees, whether remote or in-person, have equal opportunities to engage and contribute to their teams1. References := Cisco Global Hybrid Work Study 2022

The Meraki Dashboard is designed to provide a centralized management platform for various Cisco devices, including Meraki and Catalyst devices. The integration of Catalyst devices with the Meraki Dashboard allows for simplified management and monitoring, offering a unified view of the network. This integration enables IT administrators to oversee their network infrastructure, including switches and wireless access points, through the Meraki Dashboard’s intuitive interface12.

References:

•Detailed information about the Meraki Dashboard and its capabilities1.

•Documentation on adding and removing devices from the Meraki Dashboard3.

•Blog post discussing the onboarding of Cisco Catalyst Switches in the Meraki Dashboard2. =========================

Cisco Duo is a security solution that provides two-factor authentication, which is crucial for protecting sensitive information such as healthcare patient data. Duo’s two-factor authentication ensures that only authorized users can access patient information, thereby maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of the data. This is especially important in healthcare settings where patient information is highly sensitive and must be protected from unauthorized access and potential cyber threats.

References := Cisco Healthcare: Digital Healthcare Solutions - Cisco, Cisco Healthcare Security Perspectives: Protect Your Patients, Your Practice, Yourself, Securing Medical Devices and Patient Data from Cyberattacks.

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:Ensuring application performance is critical for SMBs to maintain productivity and customer satisfaction, and Cisco offers several products tailored to this need:

A. Cisco AppDynamics:This application performance monitoring (APM) tool provides real-time visibility into application behavior, identifying bottlenecks and optimizing performance across cloud, hybrid, or on-premises environments. For SMBs, its insights into user experience and app health are essential, especially for business-critical apps like e-commerce platforms or collaboration tools.

B. Cisco Catalyst:The Catalyst series (e.g., Catalyst 9000 switches) enhances network performance, which directly impacts application delivery. Features like Quality of Service (QoS) and SD-WAN capabilities ensure applications run smoothly by prioritizing traffic and reducing latency, a must for SMBs with limited bandwidth.

C. Cisco HyperFlex:This hyperconverged infrastructure solution combines compute, storage, and networking to support applications with high performance and scalability. For SMBs runningvirtualized apps or needing simplified IT, HyperFlex ensures consistent performance, as seen in deployments for retail or healthcare SMBs.

D. Cisco Talos:Talos is Cisco’s threat intelligence organization, not a product for application performance. It supports security, not direct app optimization.

E. Cisco Nexus:While Nexus switches excel in data center performance, they’re overkill for most SMBs, which typically don’t operate large-scale data centers and focus on simpler networking needs met by Catalyst.

A, B, and C are the most relevant Cisco products for SMBs to ensure application performance across monitoring, networking, and infrastructure.

References:Cisco’s “Application Performance for SMBs” resources (cisco.com/go/smb) and product pages for AppDynamics, Catalyst, and HyperFlex (cisco.com) emphasize their roles, aligned with the 700-750 SMBE exam objectives on optimizing SMB IT environments.

Meraki Cameras are part of Cisco’s cloud-managed solutions that enhance remote SMB workspaces by providing security and connectivity. These cameras can be integrated into the network for monitoring and security purposes, offering a flexible and scalable solution that supports the needs of remote workers1.References := 1

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/solutions/small-business/secure-remote-workers.html

Cisco is focusing on long-term value, solutions, and relationships to change its sales approach. This shift is driven by the need to move away from a product-centric view to a more customer-centric approach, emphasizing the long-term benefits and solutions that meet specific customer needs. Building and maintaining strong relationships with customers is also a key aspect of this new approach, as it allows for a deeper understanding of customer challenges and the development of trust. This strategy aligns with the broader industry trend towards service and solution-oriented sales models.References :=

https://www.businessinsider.com/cisco-is-changing-a-key-role-on-its-sales-team-2021-10

Cross-selling refers to the practice of selling additional products or services to an existing customer. In the context of Cisco Small and Medium Business Engineer, when an account manager sells a security solution that integrates with the customer’s current Cisco networking solution, it is considered cross-selling. This is because the security solution is complementary to the products the customer already uses, thereby providing an integrated and enhanced experience. Cross-selling is a strategic approach to provide customers with additional value, often leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty123. References :=

Cisco Umbrella is a crucial component of the Secure SMB experience, particularly in enabling people within an organization to work safely, regardless of their location. Umbrella provides a cloud-delivered security service that protects users from malicious internet destinations whether they are on or off the network. It operates by enforcing security at the DNS layer, which is the first step in internet connectivity. Umbrella's strength lies in its ability to block requests to malicious destinations before a connection is even established, offering proactive security that is both effective and easy to deploy. For SMBs, this means enhanced protection against threats like malware, phishing, and ransomware without the complexity of traditional security solutions. By securing internet access across all devices and locations, Umbrella plays a pivotal role in enabling secure and efficient remote work, making it an essential product for the Secure SMB experience.

References: Cisco Umbrella

Cisco Webex is the product that enables video conferencing and communication. It is designed to provide a conferencing experience that rivals in-person collaboration, with features such as real-time translations, meeting recordings, and a secure platform for remote work. Webex offers an all-in-one app to call, meet, message, and get work done, supporting a hybrid work environment with enterprise-grade security.References :=

https://www.cisco.com/c/en_in/solutions/collaboration/video-collaboration/index.html

To be truly smart, SMBs need to optimize customer and employee experiences by providing an environment that meets modern expectations. This involves leveraging technology to create a seamless, efficient, and responsive experience for both customers and employees. A smart SMB utilizes integrated solutions that enhance collaboration, productivity, and security, enabling the business to adapt quickly to market changes and customer needs. By focusing on the user experience, SMBs can drive innovation and growth, ensuring they remain competitive in a rapidly evolving business landscape1. References :=

•Cisco Smart Services for Small and Medium Business2.

•Investing in your success scaling SMB sales like never before1. =========================

Cisco’s purpose is centered around creating a more inclusive future for all. This is reflected in their commitment to leveraging technology to address societal challenges, close the digital divide, and promote equality and social justice. Cisco actively works towards a sustainable and regenerative planet, emphasizing the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion within and beyond the company. Their purpose goes beyond profit maximization or market dominance; it is about using their resources and influence to make a positive impact on society and the environment. References := Cisco’s Purpose

Comprehensive and Detailed In-Depth Explanation:When adopting Cisco hybrid workforce solutions (e.g., Cisco Meraki, Webex, Umbrella), SMBs must evaluate several critical aspects to ensure successful implementation and operation in a hybrid work environment:

B. Scalability of solutions:SMBs need solutions that can grow with their business. Cisco hybrid workforce solutions like Meraki are designed to scale easily—adding new devices or locations via the cloud dashboard—making this a key consideration for SMBs anticipating expansion or fluctuating workforce sizes.

D. Security of data and applications:Protecting sensitive data and applications is paramount in hybrid setups where employees access systems remotely. Cisco solutions like Umbrella (DNS security) and Duo (multi-factor authentication) address this by ensuring secure access and safeguarding against threats, a top priority for SMBs with limited security resources.

E. Speed of internet connections:Hybrid workforces rely heavily on reliable, fast internet for seamless collaboration and productivity. Cisco’s networking solutions (e.g., Meraki SD-WAN) optimize bandwidth and performance, making internet speed a critical factor SMBs must assess to support tools like Webex or cloud-managed networks.

A. Employee location preferences:While understanding where employees work is useful, it’s not a primary technical consideration for adopting solutions; it’s more of an HR or operational input rather than a Cisco solution focus.

C. Price of Cisco stock:This is irrelevant to adopting hybrid workforce solutions, as it pertains to Cisco’s corporate valuation, not the functionality or deployment of its products.

B, D, and E directly tie to the technical and operational success of Cisco’s hybrid workforce offerings for SMBs.

References:Cisco’s “Hybrid Work Solutions for SMBs” resources (cisco.com/go/smb) and Meraki documentation emphasize scalability, security, and network performance as key adoption factors, aligned with the 700-750 SMBE exam focus on hybrid workforce enablement.

Duo is the product designed to enable secure authentication in a hybrid workforce. It provides a zero-trust security model that verifies every user and device, ensuring trusted access across all environments. This is particularly important for hybrid work settings where employees are logging in from various locations, and the threat landscape is more diverse. Duo helps create a secure, consistent environment that extends from the office to remote workers by authenticating identities before granting access to corporate networks and apps12.