About a year ago, I was deep into a private cloud expansion project. We were adding capacity to an existing workload domain—nothing exotic, or so I thought. Midway through the expansion, we noticed subtle network drift. Not a full outage, but enough to cause intermittent application latency. ⚠️
The fix wasn’t in a single KB article. It required understanding how VCF ties together SDDC Manager workflows, NSX intent, and lifecycle policies.
Fast forward to early 2026. I’d just passed the 2V0-17.25 VMware Cloud Foundation Administrator exam. And the big question people keep asking me is simple: is it still worth it?
Let’s talk honestly.
Where VCF Really Stands in 2026 (Yes, the Broadcom Era)
There’s been a lot of noise since Broadcom took over VMware. Some of it fair. Some of it pure panic. From where I sit—working on real enterprise private cloud projects—VCF is still very much alive.
Broadcom hasn’t retired the 2V0-17.25 exam. There’s no retirement notice. The exam aligns with VCF 9.0, and Broadcom continues to position VCF as the backbone of enterprise private cloud.
You can see this clearly on the official certification page:
https://www.broadcom.com/support/education/vmware/certification/vcp-vcf-administrator
That’s not accidental.
Broadcom’s Strategy and What It Means on the Ground
Broadcom is laser-focused on:
- Large enterprises
- Predictable, subscription-based platforms
- Integrated stacks over best-of-breed chaos
VCF fits that perfectly.
In my projects, I still see:
- Banks standardizing on VCF
- Manufacturing companies consolidating multiple vSphere clusters into a single VCF platform
- Regulated industries choosing VCF specifically because it’s opinionated
This isn’t theory. This is billable work.
Why Private Cloud Isn’t Going Anywhere
Public cloud is great—until:
- Compliance gets tight
- Latency matters
- Costs stop being “predictable”
Private cloud demand is stable, not explosive—but stable is good for careers. And VCF sits right in that sweet spot.
What the 2V0-17.25 Exam Actually Tests
Let’s clear something up. This exam is not about memorizing commands.
According to the official exam guide PDF:
https://docs.broadcom.com/docs/vmware-cloud-foundation-administrator-exam-guide
The focus is operational and scenario-driven.
Exam Structure and Format
- 60 questions
- Heavy on scenario-based items
- Multiple-choice and multiple-select
- Time pressure is real ⏱️
You’re constantly asked: “What would you do next?”
The Topics That Matter Most
From my experience, these areas dominate:
Deployment and Bring-Up
- Planning VCF bring-up
- Understanding prerequisites
- Knowing why something fails, not just that it fails
Lifecycle and Day-2 Operations
- SDDC Manager workflows
- Patch and upgrade sequencing
- Handling drift (this one hit close to home ✅)
Monitoring and Troubleshooting
- Health checks
- Interpreting alerts
- Knowing when not to touch something
If your vSphere fundamentals are weak, you’ll struggle. I personally revisited core concepts using this guide:
https://vmwarefreedumps.com/how-to-effectively-prepare-for-the-2v0-16-25-exam/
How Hard Is the Exam, Really? My Honest Take
Difficulty-wise? I’d call it moderate to high—but fair.
The questions are written to test understanding. If you’ve deployed VCF even once, many scenarios will feel familiar. If you haven’t, the exam will feel abstract and unforgiving.
My Preparation Path (And the Mistakes I Made)
I didn’t get this perfect on the first try.
Official Resources vs Reality
The official course content is solid—but dense. Early on, I spent too much time passively watching material. That was a mistake.
VCF only clicks when you:
- Break it
- Fix it
- Break it again
Hands-On Labs: Non-Negotiable
Hands-on labs changed everything for me. Once I could see how SDDC Manager decisions ripple across the stack, exam questions made sense.
The Resources That Helped Me Most
Here’s what actually worked for me:
| Resource Type | Why It Helped |
|---|---|
| Official Exam Guide | Set clear boundaries |
| Hands-on Labs | Built intuition |
| Community Articles | Real-world framing |
| Practice Questions | Exposed weak spots |
I spent a lot of time on vmwarefreedumps for free articles and scenario explanations.
I’ll also say this once, and only once: I personally liked the Leads4Pass 2V0-17.25 practice questions
(https://www.leads4pass.com/2v0-17-25.html).
They were updated and the explanations helped me validate my reasoning—not just memorize answers.
For support-oriented perspectives, this article was useful context:
https://vmwarefreedumps.com/pass-2v0-15-25-in-2026-my-hands-on-vcf-support-certification-experience/
My Personal Study Timeline and Exam-Day Experience
- Week 1–2: Read exam guide, identify gaps
- Week 3–5: Labs and real project mapping
- Week 6: Practice questions + review
Exam day felt intense but controlled. I flagged about 12 questions, reviewed them calmly, and passed comfortably. Relief is an understatement 😅.
Does This Certification Actually Help Your Career?
Short answer? Yes—but not magically.
Salary and Role Impact
After certification:
- Recruiter conversations changed tone
- I was asked how I designed VCF, not if I’d used it
- Compensation discussions became easier to justify
No instant promotion—but real leverage.
VCF Admin to Architect—A Realistic Path
This cert doesn’t make you an architect. But it:
- Builds platform-level thinking
- Forces lifecycle awareness
- Prepares you for broader design roles
That’s valuable currency.
VCF vs Public Cloud in 2026: An Admin’s Perspective
This isn’t an either/or world.
Public cloud = speed and elasticity
VCF private cloud = control and predictability
The admins who thrive understand both. VCF knowledge complements public cloud skills—it doesn’t compete with them.
Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Take 2V0-17.25
Good fit if you:
- Work with enterprise infrastructure
- Touch NSX, vSAN, or lifecycle tasks
- Want to move beyond “just vSphere”
Not ideal if you:
- Only do public cloud
- Avoid operational responsibility
- Expect instant ROI without effort ⚠️
My Final Advice If You’re On the Fence
If you’ve never touched VCF, start with fundamentals. If you already work in private cloud, this certification sharpens how you think under pressure.
For me, 2V0-17.25 didn’t just add a badge—it made me calmer during incidents. That’s worth more than a line on LinkedIn.
Conclusion
Looking back, passing the 2V0-17.25 exam in early 2026 was a solid investment. VCF is still relevant, Broadcom is clearly committed, and enterprises continue to fund private cloud initiatives.
This certification won’t replace experience—but it amplifies it.
If you’re serious about VMware, private cloud, and long-term enterprise roles, it’s still worth your time. And if you want more free VMware learning resources, I genuinely recommend exploring https://vmwarefreedumps.com/.
FAQs
1. Is the 2V0-17.25 exam active in 2026?
Yes. As of early 2026, it’s active with no retirement announcement and aligned to VCF 9.0.
2. Do I need real VCF experience to pass?
It’s technically possible without it, but real hands-on experience makes the exam far more manageable.
3. How long should I study?
Most admins I know needed 6–8 weeks with consistent hands-on practice.
4. Is this certification useful outside VMware-only roles?
Yes. It builds private cloud architecture and lifecycle thinking that transfers well.
5. Would I take it again?
Honestly? Yes. For the confidence alone.
