VMware推出了新的“VMware认证专家-私有云安全管理员（VCP-VCF Admin）”认证，专为负责使用VMware vDefend保护VMware Cloud Foundation（VCF）环境的IT专业人士设计。该认证验证了在私有云环境中应用分布式防火墙、高级威胁防御、安全智能和零信任架构的能力。获得认证需要完成培训课程并通过考试，考试时长90分钟，包含75道题，通过分数为70%，考试费用为250美元。考试提供详细的成绩报告，帮助考生了解自己的优势和需要改进的方面。

🛡️VCP-VCF Admin认证旨在验证IT专业人员使用VMware vDefend保护私有云环境的能力，涵盖分布式防火墙、高级威胁防御、安全智能和零信任架构。

🎓要获得该认证，需完成“VMware vDefend Security for VCF 5.x Administrator”培训课程，并具备使用VMware vDefend的实践经验。

📝认证考试包括75道多选题，考试时长90分钟，通过分数70%，考试费用为250美元。考试内容涵盖广泛，包括防火墙架构、横向保护、安全自动化、IDPS和威胁防御、网络检测和响应等。

📊考试结束后，考生可以获得详细的成绩报告，按考试大纲中的部分进行细分，帮助考生了解自己的强项和需要改进的方面，例如作者在防火墙架构方面得分为75%，横向保护得分为100%，安全自动化得分为50%。

💡考试准备建议：认真复习NSX 4.x培训材料，即使vDefend是VCF中NSX安全功能的更新品牌。仔细研究官方考试指南中的样题，有助于了解VMware的出题方式和重点。

What does the certification cover?

The VCP – Private Cloud Security Administrator validates your ability to secure a private cloud environment using:

distributed and gateway firewalls

advanced threat prevention

security intelligence

zero-trust architecture with VMware vDefend

How to earn the certification

The certification path includes two steps:

Step 1: Gain experience and complete training

Take the VMware vDefend Security for VCF 5.x Administrator training course

Gain hands-on experience with VMware vDefend in real-world scenarios

Step 2: Pass the certification exam

Exam title: VMware vDefend Security for VCF 5.x Administrator (6V0-21.25)

Duration: 90 minutes

Number of questions: 75

Passing score: 70%

Format: multiple-choice and multiple-select

Language: English

Price: $250 USD

Exam registration: available through the VMware certification portal

My experience

I took the exam last Friday and successfully passed it. It was a tough exam, featuring a number of nuanced and tricky questions that tested both theoretical knowledge and practical insight. Proper preparation is key — if you're planning to take the exam, I strongly recommend reviewing the NSX 4.x training again, even though “vDefend” is now the updated branding for NSX security features within VCF.

Also worth noting: the description on the Credly badge for this certification currently suggests that attending the training course alone is sufficient to earn the badge. This is incorrect — passing the certification exam is required. Furthermore, the training is only available to VMware partners and paying customers, making self-study and hands-on lab experience even more critical.

What’s new: Detailed Score Report

Another recent and useful addition is the provisional examination score report, which breaks down your performance per domain, based on the sections listed in the official exam guide. This provides valuable insight into your strengths and areas for improvement.

For example, my section scores included:

VMware vDefend Firewall Architecture: 75%

Lateral Protection with vDefend: 100%

Security Automation: 50%

IDPS & Threat Prevention: 83%

Network Detection and Response (NTA/NDR): 78%

This detailed feedback makes the exam not just a validation but also a learning opportunity — helping professionals identify which NSX security components may need further study or practice. The Exam Guide contains the full list.

It’s also highly recommended to study the sample questions provided in the official exam guide very carefully — some of them (or very similar variants) may appear on the actual exam. Reviewing these questions can give you a clear idea of how VMware frames its scenarios and where the focus areas lie.