This prep targets exam 402 Cloud Solutions, which leads to the F5 Certified Solutions Expert, Cloud title. The exam expects you to start from a business need, build a cloud solution that brings several F5 products together, and then make the case for its value. We work through realistic architecture cases: applications split between on-premises and public cloud, multi-region availability and automated deployment. The plan is adjusted after a short conversation about your cloud experience and certifications. Teams from one organization can use their own cloud migration project as the running case study, which makes the preparation directly useful at work as well as for the exam.
Gather the business requirements of a cloud project and turn them into technical ones
Design a cloud solution that integrates several F5 components
Optimize the architecture for availability, performance and security
Present and justify a solution's value to business stakeholders
Place BIG-IP LTM and BIG-IP DNS in hybrid and multicloud environments
Handle long, scenario-based questions within the time limit
Program
From business need to technical requirement
Gathering and prioritizing needs
Cloud provider and application constraints
Cloud architecture with F5
BIG-IP LTM and DNS in public cloud and hybrid designs
High availability, scaling and global traffic distribution
Automation and cloud tooling integration
Integration and optimization
Assembling several components into one coherent solution
Cost, performance and security trade-offs
Value proposition and practice
Framing and defending a solution's value
Case studies and discussed questions
Prerequisites
Valid certifications required by F5: F5-CA, BIG-IP; F5-CTS, BIG-IP LTM; F5-CTS, BIG-IP DNS
Direct experience with public cloud infrastructure
Comfort reading technical English, since the exam is in English
Target audience
Network and application architects deploying F5 in the cloud
Engineers at cloud service providers and integrators
LTM and DNS specialists aiming for expert level
Consultants who advise clients on moving F5-based applications to the cloud
The exam
There is no F5 exam “501”: F5's cloud certification is exam 402 Cloud Solutions. It runs 105 minutes, costs US$180 and is taken in English at a proctored Pearson VUE center; the passing score is 245. It tests your ability to link business needs to technical requirements, integrate several components into an optimized cloud solution and explain its value. Registration requires valid F5-CA, F5-CTS LTM and F5-CTS DNS certifications. Passing earns the F5-CSE, Cloud title, valid for two years. F5 publishes a detailed exam blueprint.
Preparation tips
Download the 402 blueprint and rank each objective by how comfortable you are
Sketch full architectures from a brief, then have them reviewed
Brush up on BIG-IP DNS: global traffic distribution often appears in cloud scenarios
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is there an F5 501 exam?
No. F5 has never had an exam 501. Cloud expertise is validated by exam 402 Cloud Solutions.
What are the prerequisites for 402?
Valid F5-CA, BIG-IP, F5-CTS LTM and F5-CTS DNS certifications. No ASM or APM title is needed.
How does it differ from exam 401?
401 is about security solutions and 402 about cloud solutions. The prerequisites and resulting titles differ.
How much does exam 402 cost?
US$180 per attempt, for a 105-minute exam.
Which formats can I choose?
Live online, in person in Casablanca or on-site at your organization, in French or English.