RansNet Certified Associate (RCA) — Study Guide¶
The RansNet Certified Associate (RCA) exam validates fundamental knowledge of the RansNet platform: the product portfolio, key features, platform architecture, and what differentiates RansNet solutions. It is the entry tier of the RansNet Certification Program and a prerequisite for RCP.
Exam Format¶
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 20 multiple-choice questions, randomly drawn from a larger pool |
| Duration | 20 minutes |
| Passing score | 60% (12 of 20) |
| Navigation | One question at a time — you cannot go back to previous questions |
| Answer order | Randomized per candidate |
| Delivery | Online, closed-book, by emailed invitation |
| Validity | 2 years |
Tip
Budget roughly one minute per question. Because you cannot return to earlier questions, answer each one before moving on — an unanswered question scores zero.
Exam Domains and Weights¶
The exam draws a fixed number of questions from each domain, so every candidate is tested across the full platform:
| # | Domain | Weight | Questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Products & Platform Overview | 15% | 3 |
| 2 | mfusion Security & Administration | 10% | 2 |
| 3 | Monitoring & Reporting | 10% | 2 |
| 4 | Cellular / WWAN | 10% | 2 |
| 5 | Routing & SD-WAN | 15% | 3 |
| 6 | Security & Hotspot | 10% | 2 |
| 7 | Product Portfolio & Hardware | 15% | 3 |
| 8 | Platform Differentiators | 15% | 3 |
Reading List by Domain¶
1. Products & Platform Overview
- Product Overview — solution families, product roles, and how the portfolio fits together
- mfusion Features — what the orchestrator does and its deployment models
2. mfusion Security & Administration
- mfusion Secure Architecture — device-to-cloud communication, multi-tenancy and RBAC, audit/operation/change logs, data privacy
- mfusion Admin — SMTP and platform administration
3. Monitoring & Reporting
- Device Monitoring — monitoring capabilities and structure
- Monitoring Dashboard and its tabs: Wireless, Netflow, Mobile, IoT
- Monitoring Reports — scheduled reporting and delivery requirements
4. Cellular / WWAN
- Wireless WAN (WWAN) — modem configurations, SIM failover behavior, provider selection, signal quality reference
- Tracking Features — WWAN/SIM tracking and failover
5. Routing & SD-WAN
- Static Routing — including Routing Fundamentals (route selection, administrative distance)
- VPN Protocols and VPN Topology
- Multi-WAN and Traffic Steering
6. Security & Hotspot
- Web Filtering — cloud DNS category filtering
- Security Logging — syslog clients and collectors
- Portal Login Guide — the guest login flow
- Highly Available Hotspot Gateways — HSG HA concepts
7. Product Portfolio & Hardware
- Product Overview — study every product section in detail: branch router series and variants, CMG gateways, mlog Collector, HSG tiers, UAP-520, Smart Energy series, and antenna accessories
8. Platform Differentiators
- mfusion Secure Architecture — data privacy and device identity
- mfusion Features — zero-touch provisioning, multi-tenancy, deployment models
- The product pages on www.ransnet.com — the platform story, mesh VPN, licensing model, and deployment flexibility
Preparation Advice¶
- Read actively, not passively — the exam tests understanding of how features behave (e.g., what happens during a SIM failover, which routes win), not memorized page titles
- Pay attention to comparison tables — product variant tables and behavior comparisons in the docs are frequent question sources
- Understand the "why" — differentiator questions ask what makes an approach different, not just what it is called
Good luck — and remember the goal is not the certificate, but being able to answer these questions in front of a customer.