The 500-285 exam, officially known as Cisco Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire Intrusion Prevention System, is the Cisco test that leads to the Additional Online Exams for Validating Knowledge certification at the Specialist level. Passing it validates the skills employers expect from a certified professional. It is also associated with related credentials such as Cisco Certified Network Specialist.

The 500-285 exam contains 55–65 questions, and you have 90 minutes to complete them. Work out your per-question pace before test day, and flag slow items instead of stalling on them — time pressure, not knowledge, sinks many first attempts. Timed mock exams in the GuideTorrent test engines are the most reliable way to build that rhythm.

The passing score for the 500-285 exam is Approximately 750–850 (out of 1000, variable), and the official registration fee is Approximately USD 300. If you miss the mark, a retake means paying the full fee again, so book your seat only when you are ready. A practical benchmark: score consistently above the passing line on timed practice tests before scheduling the real exam.

None formally documented (Cisco learning recommended)

Yes. A free PDF demo of the Cisco Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire Intrusion Prevention System questions is available, so you can check the question style and answer quality before you pay. Every purchase also includes 365 days of free updates, and if the product expires you can renew the update service at a 50% discount from your member zone.

If you take the corresponding 500-285 exam within 60 days of purchase and do not pass, you can apply for a full refund under the 100% Money Back Guarantee: submit a scan of your enrollment slip and your official Score Report (PDF) within 2 days of the exam date, and the claim is processed within 7 days. Attempts made within 3 days of purchase, downloads without an actual exam attempt, free materials, and expired orders are not eligible, and the candidate name must match the payer name. Prefer new material instead of a refund? You can exchange your purchase for two free products of equal value and keep the update service on your original product. As for delivery, the files are available for instant download and are also emailed to you within one minute of payment — if nothing arrives within 2 hours, contact customer service. There is no limit on how many computers you can install the product on.

The official Cisco Securing Cisco Networks with Sourcefire Intrusion Prevention System outline is organized into 12 domains. The first three are:

• Advanced IPS Policy Configuration
• Network-Based Malware Detection
• Device Management

See the complete exam topics section above for the full outline and the weighting of every domain.