Cisco 350-401 Implementing Cisco Enterprise Network Core Technologies (ENCOR) Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 10 Q181-200

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Question 181:

Which technology allows enterprises to implement policy-based segmentation, ensuring that security policies follow users and devices across both wired and wireless networks?

A) VLAN
B) Cisco ISE with Security Group Tags (SGTs)
C) RIP
D) GRE Tunnel

Answer:

B) Cisco ISE with Security Group Tags (SGTs)

Explanation:

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) with Security Group Tags (SGTs) is a critical solution for implementing policy-based segmentation in enterprise networks. Traditional network segmentation often relies on static VLANs, which cannot dynamically adapt to user mobility or changes in device roles. SGTs provide a scalable and flexible approach by assigning logical tags to users, devices, or workloads, which define their access rights and network privileges. When a device authenticates through ISE, using mechanisms such as 802.1X, MAC Authentication Bypass (MAB), or web-based authentication, it receives an SGT corresponding to its role, type, or security posture. These tags are propagated throughout the network and enforced by switches, routers, and wireless controllers, ensuring consistent policy application across both wired and wireless segments. Dynamic policy enforcement allows SGTs to follow users and devices as they move between access points or switch ports, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration and reducing administrative overhead. Integration with Cisco SD-Access further enhances this capability, creating a fabric-based network where policies are centrally managed and automatically enforced at the edge. This fabric ensures that sensitive resources are protected and that users can access only the applications and services permitted by their role or group. Endpoint posture assessment is also integrated, allowing devices to be evaluated for compliance with security policies before granting network access. Devices that fail compliance checks can be redirected to remediation networks or quarantined, reducing the risk of network breaches. Compared to VLANs, which provide only static segmentation, or RIP, which is a routing protocol unrelated to policy enforcement, SGTs provide real-time, identity-based segmentation. GRE tunnels encapsulate traffic but do not provide multi-tenant or policy-based segmentation. Operationally, using Cisco ISE with SGTs enables enterprises to implement micro-segmentation, secure IoT devices, enforce role-based access, and ensure compliance across all locations. It provides full visibility into network activity, simplifies troubleshooting, and enhances the overall security posture. The ability to dynamically adjust policies based on user behavior or device compliance ensures that enterprise networks are both flexible and secure, meeting the demands of modern mobile and distributed workforces.

Question 182:

Which feature in enterprise wireless networks allows fast, seamless roaming between access points to maintain uninterrupted connectivity for mobile users?

A) 802.11r Fast Roaming
B) DHCP Snooping
C) VLAN Trunking
D) Port Security

Answer:

A) 802.11r Fast Roaming

Explanation:

802.11r Fast Roaming is an IEEE standard designed to enhance the mobility experience in enterprise wireless networks by enabling seamless handoffs between access points. In traditional Wi-Fi networks, roaming between APs requires a full re-authentication process, which introduces latency and may disrupt real-time applications such as VoIP or video conferencing. 802.11r addresses this challenge by allowing devices to pre-authenticate with neighboring access points before the actual handoff occurs. The client device and the new AP exchange security credentials and keys in advance, significantly reducing handoff latency to a few milliseconds. This ensures continuous connectivity without interruptions, even in high-density environments like offices, hospitals, and industrial sites where users frequently move between APs. Fast roaming integrates with WPA2/WPA3 Enterprise security, supporting 802.1X authentication and centralized policy enforcement. Policies defined through Cisco ISE or wireless controllers are consistently applied during roaming, maintaining security and access control. 802.11r also works in conjunction with 802.11k (neighbor reports) and 802.11v (network-assisted roaming) to provide additional optimization. 802.11k helps client devices select the best AP to connect to based on signal strength and load, while 802.11v provides network information to assist clients in making roaming decisions. Compared to DHCP Snooping, VLAN Trunking, or Port Security, 802.11r directly addresses seamless mobility and fast handoffs, ensuring uninterrupted service for mobile users. Operationally, fast roaming reduces dropped sessions, enhances user experience, and supports latency-sensitive applications without requiring manual network configuration changes. It is particularly important for large enterprise campuses with dense wireless deployments, ensuring reliable connectivity for all devices while maintaining high security and consistent network performance. By reducing the impact of mobility on applications and providing a predictable roaming experience, 802.11r is essential for modern enterprise wireless networks.

Question 183:

Which protocol is recommended for intra-enterprise routing due to its hierarchical design, fast convergence, and support for both IPv4 and IPv6?

A) RIP
B) OSPF
C) BGP
D) EIGRP

Answer:

B) OSPF

Explanation:

Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is a link-state routing protocol widely adopted in enterprise networks because of its hierarchical design, rapid convergence, and compatibility with both IPv4 and IPv6. OSPF divides the network into areas to provide a scalable architecture. Area 0, known as the backbone area, connects all other areas and facilitates inter-area routing. This design minimizes routing overhead, confines topology changes to the affected area, and ensures predictable and loop-free routing. Each OSPF router maintains a link-state database (LSDB) containing the network topology, which is identical across all routers in the same area. Using the Shortest Path First (SPF) algorithm, each router computes the shortest path tree for all destinations, resulting in optimal routing. OSPF converges quickly because only routers affected by topology changes need to recompute the SPF tree, unlike distance-vector protocols such as RIP, which rely on periodic updates and are prone to slow convergence and routing loops. OSPF supports summarization at area boundaries to reduce routing table size, simplify network management, and improve scalability. OSPFv2 provides IPv4 routing, while OSPFv3 extends support to IPv6 without altering the fundamental link-state mechanism. Security is also integrated, with authentication methods like MD5 or SHA, ensuring that only authorized routers can participate in routing, preventing malicious route injections. EIGRP provides fast convergence but is Cisco-proprietary, limiting interoperability in multi-vendor networks. BGP is designed for inter-domain routing and is not optimized for intra-enterprise fast convergence. RIP is limited in hop count and convergence speed, making it unsuitable for large enterprise environments. Operationally, OSPF enables enterprises to implement stable, scalable, and predictable networks. Its hierarchical architecture, fast convergence, route summarization, and dual-stack support make it ideal for large campus, data center, and WAN deployments, ensuring efficient resource utilization, simplified troubleshooting, and high reliability.

Question 184:

Which WAN technology provides secure multi-tenant connectivity, deterministic paths for traffic, and support for Quality of Service across enterprise sites?

A) DSL
B) MPLS VPN
C) Metro Ethernet
D) Frame Relay

Answer:

B) MPLS VPN

Explanation:

MPLS VPN is a widely deployed WAN technology in enterprise networks that provides secure, multi-tenant connectivity while offering deterministic paths and Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees. MPLS uses label switching to forward packets efficiently through the network based on pre-assigned labels rather than traditional IP routing. This approach reduces processing overhead, improves forwarding speed, and allows network administrators to define explicit paths for specific traffic types, which is essential for latency-sensitive applications like VoIP, video conferencing, and cloud services. Multi-tenant environments are supported through Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) instances, which maintain separate routing tables for each customer or business unit. VRFs allow overlapping IP address spaces without compromising traffic isolation, ensuring that tenants remain securely segmented. MPLS VPN also supports QoS, enabling enterprises to prioritize mission-critical traffic while ensuring lower-priority traffic is delivered efficiently. Operational advantages include predictable performance, simplified troubleshooting, and reduced risk of congestion or packet loss. In comparison, DSL offers limited bandwidth and lacks native traffic engineering or multi-tenant support. Metro Ethernet provides high-speed connectivity but lacks native QoS and multi-tenant isolation capabilities. Frame Relay is an older technology with limited QoS and scalability. MPLS VPN can also be integrated with SD-WAN solutions to combine MPLS and broadband connections for enhanced redundancy, performance optimization, and cost-effectiveness. Overall, MPLS VPN provides enterprises with scalable, secure, and performance-guaranteed WAN connectivity across geographically dispersed sites, making it ideal for modern enterprise WAN architectures.

Question 185:

Which wireless standard provides high throughput in the 5 GHz band, supports multi-user MIMO, and is optimized for high-density enterprise environments?

A) 802.11b
B) 802.11g
C) 802.11n
D) 802.11ac

Answer:

D) 802.11ac

Explanation:

802.11ac, also known as Wi-Fi 5, is a wireless standard designed to provide high performance, reliability, and efficiency in enterprise environments. Operating in the 5 GHz band, it benefits from reduced interference compared to the crowded 2.4 GHz spectrum, enabling higher throughput and more consistent connectivity. One of the key features of 802.11ac is support for Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO), which allows an access point to transmit to multiple client devices simultaneously. This significantly reduces contention, improves overall network efficiency, and provides predictable performance for high-density deployments such as corporate offices, auditoriums, and large campus environments. 802.11ac supports wider channel bandwidths, up to 160 MHz, and higher-order modulation (256-QAM), which enhances data rates and allows latency-sensitive applications like VoIP, video streaming, and cloud collaboration to perform reliably. Beamforming is used to focus radio signals toward individual devices, improving coverage, signal quality, and connection stability. Integration with wireless controllers enables features such as seamless roaming, QoS enforcement, and security policy application, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and optimal performance for mobile devices. In comparison, 802.11b and 802.11g operate in the 2.4 GHz band with lower throughput and are more susceptible to interference. 802.11n supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz but lacks MU-MIMO and provides lower overall performance compared to 802.11ac. Operationally, 802.11ac allows enterprises to deploy high-density wireless networks with high throughput, low latency, and consistent user experience, supporting a growing number of mobile devices, IoT endpoints, and bandwidth-intensive applications. Its combination of MU-MIMO, high modulation rates, beamforming, and efficient spectrum use makes 802.11ac the preferred standard for enterprise wireless networks requiring high performance and reliability.

Question 186:

Which protocol allows enterprise networks to carry multiple Layer 2 segments over a Layer 3 infrastructure while supporting tenant isolation and scalability?

A) VLAN
B) GRE Tunnel
C) VXLAN with BGP EVPN
D) Spanning Tree Protocol

Answer:

C) VXLAN with BGP EVPN

Explanation:

VXLAN with BGP EVPN is a modern enterprise networking solution that enables scalable Layer 2 connectivity over a Layer 3 infrastructure. Traditional VLANs are limited to 4096 IDs, which constrains scalability in large data centers and multi-tenant networks. VXLAN overcomes this limitation by using a 24-bit VXLAN Network Identifier (VNI), which allows for over 16 million unique Layer 2 segments. BGP EVPN provides the control plane for VXLAN, advertising MAC-to-VTEP (VXLAN Tunnel Endpoint) mappings across the network, eliminating reliance on flood-and-learn mechanisms for unknown unicast traffic. This approach provides deterministic forwarding, reduces unnecessary broadcast traffic, and enables active-active multi-homing for redundancy and load balancing. The encapsulation of VXLAN traffic in UDP allows it to traverse existing Layer 3 infrastructure without requiring changes to underlying routing protocols. Multi-tenant isolation is achieved by assigning unique VNIs to each tenant, ensuring that traffic remains segregated and secure. Security and operational efficiency are further enhanced by integrating VXLAN EVPN with SDN solutions like Cisco ACI or SD-Access, which allow centralized policy enforcement, automated provisioning, and simplified management. GRE tunnels, while capable of encapsulating Layer 2 or Layer 3 traffic, are limited to point-to-point connections, lack tenant-aware control planes, and are not efficient for large-scale deployment. Spanning Tree Protocol provides loop prevention in Layer 2 networks but does not offer scalability, segmentation, or overlay capabilities. VLANs provide simple segmentation but are constrained in number and cannot dynamically extend across large Layer 3 networks. VXLAN with BGP EVPN also supports workload mobility, allowing virtual machines or applications to move between servers or data centers without requiring reconfiguration of network policies. By integrating with orchestration platforms, VXLAN EVPN enables automatic propagation of network policies and segmentation rules, reducing manual intervention and operational errors. Overall, VXLAN with BGP EVPN addresses the limitations of traditional Layer 2 designs, offering scalability, tenant isolation, high availability, and simplified operations in enterprise and multi-tenant environments.

Question 187:

Which Cisco solution provides centralized identity management, dynamic policy enforcement, and endpoint compliance checks across both wired and wireless networks?

A) Cisco DNA Center
B) Cisco ISE
C) NetFlow
D) Prime Infrastructure

Answer:

B) Cisco ISE

Explanation:

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a core security solution for enterprise networks, providing centralized identity management, dynamic policy enforcement, and endpoint compliance verification. It functions as a AAA server supporting authentication, authorization, and accounting for users, devices, and endpoints. Devices authenticate using 802.1X, MAC Authentication Bypass, or web authentication, after which policies are applied based on attributes such as user role, device type, location, and security posture. Endpoint compliance checks allow ISE to assess devices for antivirus presence, OS patches, firewall status, and encryption before granting network access. Non-compliant devices may be redirected to remediation VLANs or quarantined. ISE integrates with Security Group Tags (SGTs), allowing dynamic policy enforcement across both wired and wireless networks. As users or devices move, their access policies follow, ensuring consistent enforcement. Integration with SD-Access or other policy-driven fabrics enables automated enforcement and reduces manual configuration. Unlike Cisco DNA Center, which focuses on network automation, assurance, and analytics, ISE specializes in identity-based access and policy enforcement. NetFlow provides traffic visibility but not policy enforcement, and Prime Infrastructure focuses on monitoring and device management rather than dynamic access control. Operationally, Cisco ISE provides visibility, compliance, and security enforcement at scale. It simplifies management by centralizing policy definitions, reduces operational overhead, and ensures consistent enforcement across multiple locations and device types. By dynamically enforcing policies based on identity and device posture, ISE strengthens security while enabling mobility and flexible network access. This capability is critical for enterprises implementing BYOD, IoT, and mobile workforce strategies.

Question 188:

Which routing protocol is best suited for intra-enterprise networks requiring hierarchical design, fast convergence, and dual-stack support for IPv4 and IPv6?

A) RIP
B) OSPF
C) BGP
D) EIGRP

Answer:

B) OSPF

Explanation:

Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) is a link-state routing protocol designed for intra-enterprise networks that require hierarchical scalability, fast convergence, and dual-stack support for IPv4 and IPv6. OSPF divides networks into areas to optimize resource utilization and reduce routing overhead. Area 0 serves as the backbone, connecting all other areas to facilitate inter-area routing. Routers maintain a Link-State Database (LSDB) representing the network topology, which is identical across all routers in an area. The Shortest Path First (SPF) algorithm calculates the optimal paths, providing loop-free and deterministic routing. OSPF converges quickly because only routers affected by topology changes recompute their SPF tree, unlike distance-vector protocols that rely on periodic updates. Summarization at area boundaries reduces routing table size and simplifies network management, making OSPF suitable for large campuses, WANs, and data centers. Security is enforced using authentication mechanisms such as MD5 or SHA to prevent unauthorized route updates. OSPFv2 supports IPv4, and OSPFv3 extends the protocol to IPv6, enabling dual-stack deployment without changing the fundamental routing process. EIGRP, while fast converging, is Cisco-proprietary and may present interoperability challenges in multi-vendor environments. BGP is intended for inter-domain routing and is not optimized for fast intra-enterprise convergence. RIP is limited in hop count and convergence speed, making it unsuitable for modern enterprise networks. Operationally, OSPF provides scalable, reliable, and predictable routing. Its hierarchical structure, summarization capability, fast convergence, and dual-stack support make it ideal for enterprises requiring efficient resource utilization, simplified troubleshooting, and high network availability. OSPF ensures deterministic routing and supports policy-based routing, load balancing, and route filtering, further enhancing its suitability for complex enterprise topologies.

Question 189:

Which WAN technology provides multi-tenant isolation, traffic engineering, and Quality of Service guarantees across distributed enterprise sites?

A) DSL
B) MPLS VPN
C) Metro Ethernet
D) Frame Relay

Answer:

B) MPLS VPN

Explanation:

MPLS VPN is a WAN technology extensively used in enterprise networks to provide secure, multi-tenant connectivity, deterministic routing, and Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees. MPLS forwards packets based on labels rather than traditional IP addresses, which reduces processing overhead and allows predictable forwarding paths. VRFs (Virtual Routing and Forwarding) enable multiple tenants to share the same MPLS network while maintaining complete routing and traffic separation. This isolation allows enterprises to deploy multiple business units or customers over the same physical infrastructure without risk of traffic leakage. Traffic engineering is supported through explicit path definitions and label-switched paths, enabling network administrators to optimize latency, jitter, and bandwidth allocation for mission-critical applications like VoIP, video, and cloud services. QoS mechanisms allow prioritization of specific traffic types to meet service-level objectives. DSL offers limited bandwidth and lacks robust multi-tenant support, Metro Ethernet provides high-speed connectivity but lacks traffic engineering and multi-tenant segmentation, and Frame Relay is legacy technology with limited QoS and scalability. MPLS VPN can also be integrated with SD-WAN overlays to combine private MPLS links with Internet circuits, ensuring redundancy, optimized routing, and cost savings. Operationally, MPLS VPN provides predictable, high-performance connectivity for geographically dispersed enterprise sites, reduces congestion, enhances reliability, and simplifies management by centralizing policies and segmentation. This combination of multi-tenant support, traffic engineering, and QoS guarantees makes MPLS VPN the optimal solution for enterprise WAN networks requiring high performance and security.

Question 190:

Which wireless standard operates in the 5 GHz band, supports multi-user MIMO, and is optimized for high-density enterprise environments?

A) 802.11b
B) 802.11g
C) 802.11n
D) 802.11ac

Answer:

D) 802.11ac

Explanation:

802.11ac, also called Wi-Fi 5, is a wireless standard designed to provide high throughput, efficiency, and reliable performance in enterprise environments. Operating exclusively in the 5 GHz band, it benefits from less interference and more available channels than the 2.4 GHz band. A key feature is Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO), which allows access points to communicate simultaneously with multiple devices, improving throughput and reducing contention in high-density environments. 802.11ac also supports wider channel bandwidths (up to 160 MHz) and higher-order modulation (256-QAM), enabling significantly higher data rates than previous standards. Beamforming focuses RF energy toward specific clients, enhancing coverage, signal quality, and connection reliability. Integration with wireless controllers allows for seamless roaming, consistent policy enforcement, and QoS management, ensuring uninterrupted service for mobile devices and latency-sensitive applications like VoIP or video conferencing. Compared to 802.11b or 802.11g, which operate in the 2.4 GHz band with lower throughput, or 802.11n, which lacks MU-MIMO and offers lower performance, 802.11ac provides superior performance, scalability, and efficiency. Operationally, 802.11ac supports high-density deployments, mobile users, and IoT devices while maintaining reliability and predictable performance. Its combination of MU-MIMO, high modulation, beamforming, and spectrum efficiency makes it the preferred standard for enterprise wireless networks requiring high throughput and resilience.

Question 191:

Which technology enables enterprises to create scalable Layer 2 overlays over a Layer 3 infrastructure, providing tenant isolation and workload mobility?

A) VLAN
B) GRE Tunnel
C) VXLAN with BGP EVPN
D) STP

Answer:

C) VXLAN with BGP EVPN

Explanation:

VXLAN with BGP EVPN is a modern enterprise solution that allows organizations to build scalable Layer 2 overlays over a Layer 3 infrastructure. Traditional VLANs are limited by a maximum of 4096 IDs, which is insufficient for large multi-tenant data centers or cloud environments. VXLAN expands this capability by using a 24-bit VXLAN Network Identifier (VNI), providing over 16 million possible segments, making it suitable for large-scale deployments. BGP EVPN acts as the control plane, advertising MAC-to-VTEP mappings across the network, reducing flooding and allowing deterministic forwarding. This architecture enables active-active multi-homing, providing redundancy and load balancing without manual intervention. Tenant isolation is maintained by assigning unique VNIs to each tenant, ensuring that traffic is segregated and secure. VXLAN encapsulates Ethernet frames in UDP, allowing them to traverse existing Layer 3 networks without any modifications to the underlay. Integrating VXLAN EVPN with SDN solutions like Cisco ACI or SD-Access simplifies management, automates provisioning, and enforces consistent security policies across all workloads. Unlike GRE tunnels, which are point-to-point and lack multi-tenant support, or Spanning Tree Protocol, which prevents loops but does not support overlays, VXLAN EVPN provides both scalability and operational flexibility. It also enables workload mobility, allowing virtual machines or applications to move across physical locations without changing IP addresses or policies. Operationally, VXLAN EVPN reduces administrative complexity, enhances network resiliency, supports multi-tenancy, and allows enterprises to efficiently scale their infrastructure to meet evolving business demands. Its combination of scalability, segmentation, and dynamic policy enforcement makes it the preferred solution for modern enterprise and data center networks.

Question 192:

Which Cisco solution provides centralized identity-based access control, dynamic policy enforcement, and endpoint compliance checks across wired and wireless networks?

A) Cisco DNA Center
B) Cisco ISE
C) NetFlow
D) Prime Infrastructure

Answer:

B) Cisco ISE

Explanation:

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a centralized solution that provides identity-based access control, dynamic policy enforcement, and endpoint compliance verification across both wired and wireless networks. It acts as a AAA server, supporting authentication, authorization, and accounting for users and devices. Devices can authenticate via 802.1X, MAC Authentication Bypass, or web-based authentication portals. Once authenticated, policies are enforced based on user role, device type, security posture, or location. Endpoint compliance checks allow the network to evaluate devices for security requirements such as antivirus status, OS patching, firewall configuration, and encryption before granting access. Devices failing compliance can be quarantined or redirected for remediation. Cisco ISE integrates with Security Group Tags (SGTs) to enforce dynamic policies that follow users and devices as they move across the network, ensuring consistent access control. When combined with SD-Access or policy-driven fabrics, ISE automates policy propagation and reduces the potential for misconfiguration. Unlike Cisco DNA Center, which focuses primarily on network automation, monitoring, and assurance, ISE specializes in identity-based security. NetFlow provides network traffic visibility but does not enforce policies, and Prime Infrastructure is focused on device management and monitoring rather than dynamic access control. Operationally, Cisco ISE enhances security posture, reduces administrative overhead, provides full visibility into network activity, and enables compliance enforcement at scale. It supports BYOD and IoT deployments, ensuring devices adhere to corporate security policies, and allows centralized management of access rules, making it indispensable for modern enterprise networks.

Question 193:

Which routing protocol is ideal for large enterprise networks requiring hierarchical structure, fast convergence, and support for both IPv4 and IPv6?

A) RIP
B) OSPF
C) EIGRP
D) BGP

Answer:

B) OSPF

Explanation:

OSPF is a link-state routing protocol widely used in large enterprise networks because of its hierarchical design, rapid convergence, and support for both IPv4 and IPv6. OSPF divides networks into areas to optimize routing efficiency, reduce topology-related overhead, and improve scalability. Area 0 acts as the backbone connecting all other areas, ensuring proper inter-area routing. Each router maintains a link-state database (LSDB) that reflects the network topology, identical across all routers in the same area. The SPF algorithm computes the shortest path tree, ensuring loop-free, deterministic routing. When network changes occur, only routers affected by the topology change recalculate their SPF tree, resulting in fast convergence. Route summarization at area boundaries minimizes routing table sizes and simplifies configuration. Security is maintained using authentication methods like MD5 or SHA, preventing unauthorized route updates. OSPFv2 supports IPv4 while OSPFv3 extends support to IPv6 without requiring major protocol changes. EIGRP provides fast convergence but is Cisco-proprietary, limiting interoperability in multi-vendor environments. BGP is designed for inter-domain routing and is not optimized for rapid intra-enterprise convergence. RIP is limited in scalability and convergence speed, making it unsuitable for modern enterprises. Operationally, OSPF provides a predictable, scalable, and robust routing framework. Its hierarchical structure reduces SPF recalculations, improves stability, and facilitates efficient network design. Dual-stack support allows seamless integration of IPv6 alongside IPv4, ensuring future-proofing of enterprise networks. OSPF also supports traffic engineering, load balancing, and route filtering, enhancing network performance and operational flexibility. These characteristics make OSPF the ideal choice for intra-enterprise routing in large, complex networks requiring reliability, efficiency, and scalability.

Question 194:

Which WAN technology provides multi-tenant isolation, traffic engineering, and guaranteed Quality of Service across geographically dispersed enterprise sites?

A) DSL
B) MPLS VPN
C) Metro Ethernet
D) Frame Relay

Answer:

B) MPLS VPN

Explanation:

MPLS VPN is a WAN technology commonly used by enterprises to provide secure, multi-tenant connectivity with traffic engineering and Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees. MPLS forwards packets based on labels instead of IP addresses, allowing deterministic routing and efficient bandwidth utilization. VRFs (Virtual Routing and Forwarding) provide multi-tenant segmentation by maintaining separate routing tables for each tenant, supporting overlapping IP address spaces while ensuring traffic isolation. Traffic engineering allows network administrators to define explicit paths and allocate bandwidth for latency-sensitive applications such as VoIP, video conferencing, and cloud services. QoS guarantees ensure that critical applications receive sufficient resources while lower-priority traffic is handled appropriately. DSL provides limited bandwidth and lacks multi-tenant capabilities or robust QoS. Metro Ethernet offers high-speed connectivity but does not provide native multi-tenant isolation or traffic engineering features. Frame Relay is a legacy technology with limited scalability and QoS support. MPLS VPN can also integrate with SD-WAN architectures, combining MPLS with broadband connections to optimize cost, performance, and redundancy. Operationally, MPLS VPN delivers predictable performance, enhances reliability, simplifies troubleshooting, and supports enterprise scalability. Enterprises can deploy geographically distributed sites with confidence that multi-tenant networks remain isolated, application performance is optimized, and network resources are efficiently utilized. The combination of traffic engineering, multi-tenant support, and QoS guarantees makes MPLS VPN the preferred WAN technology for modern enterprise environments requiring secure and reliable connectivity.

Question 195:

Which wireless standard operates in the 5 GHz band, supports MU-MIMO, and is optimized for high-density enterprise environments?

A) 802.11b
B) 802.11g
C) 802.11n
D) 802.11ac

Answer:

D) 802.11ac

Explanation:

802.11ac, known as Wi-Fi 5, is a wireless standard designed to provide high throughput, efficiency, and reliable connectivity for high-density enterprise deployments. Operating in the 5 GHz band, it benefits from less interference and more available non-overlapping channels compared to the 2.4 GHz band. One of its key features is Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO), which allows an access point to transmit data to multiple clients simultaneously, significantly improving network efficiency and reducing contention in environments with many connected devices. 802.11ac supports wider channel bandwidths (up to 160 MHz) and higher-order modulation (256-QAM), enabling faster data rates and enhanced support for bandwidth-intensive applications like video conferencing, cloud collaboration, and VoIP. Beamforming technology focuses the wireless signal toward client devices, improving signal quality, coverage, and reliability. Enterprise wireless controllers manage SSIDs, security policies, QoS, and seamless roaming, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for mobile devices and latency-sensitive applications. Compared to 802.11b or 802.11g, which operate in the 2.4 GHz band with lower throughput and higher interference, or 802.11n, which lacks MU-MIMO and provides lower performance, 802.11ac delivers superior scalability, efficiency, and overall performance. Operationally, 802.11ac enables enterprises to deploy dense wireless networks capable of supporting mobile users, IoT devices, and bandwidth-intensive applications, while maintaining predictable performance, low latency, and high reliability. Its combination of MU-MIMO, beamforming, wide channel bandwidths, and spectrum efficiency makes it the ideal wireless standard for modern enterprise environments.

Question 196:

Which technology enables large enterprise networks to extend Layer 2 connectivity across a Layer 3 infrastructure while supporting multi-tenant isolation and workload mobility?

A) VLAN
B) GRE Tunnel
C) VXLAN with BGP EVPN
D) Spanning Tree Protocol

Answer:

C) VXLAN with BGP EVPN

Explanation:

VXLAN with BGP EVPN is a solution designed to provide scalable Layer 2 overlay networks on top of a Layer 3 infrastructure, allowing enterprises to overcome the limitations of traditional VLANs. VLANs are limited to 4096 identifiers, which constrains scalability in multi-tenant and large-scale data center networks. VXLAN introduces a 24-bit VXLAN Network Identifier (VNI), supporting over 16 million unique segments, which allows for greater scalability and tenant isolation. BGP EVPN serves as the control plane, advertising MAC-to-VTEP (VXLAN Tunnel Endpoint) mappings across the network, which eliminates the need for unknown unicast flooding and ensures deterministic forwarding. This also supports active-active multi-homing, improving redundancy and load balancing. Tenant isolation is achieved by assigning unique VNIs to each tenant, ensuring secure segregation of traffic. VXLAN encapsulates Ethernet frames in UDP packets, enabling them to traverse existing Layer 3 networks without modifications. Integration with Cisco SD-Access or ACI allows centralized policy enforcement, automated provisioning, and consistent security policies, reducing administrative overhead. GRE tunnels are point-to-point and lack multi-tenant support, while Spanning Tree Protocol prevents loops but does not provide overlay capabilities. VXLAN EVPN also supports workload mobility, allowing virtual machines or applications to move across servers or data centers without requiring readdressing or manual policy adjustments. Operationally, VXLAN EVPN enables enterprises to achieve high scalability, improved resiliency, simplified management, and secure multi-tenant network segmentation. It is widely used in modern data centers and cloud environments to provide flexible, scalable, and highly available network infrastructure.

Question 197:

Which Cisco solution provides centralized policy-based access control, identity management, and endpoint compliance for both wired and wireless enterprise networks?

A) Cisco DNA Center
B) Cisco ISE
C) NetFlow
D) Prime Infrastructure

Answer:

B) Cisco ISE

Explanation:

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) is a centralized solution for identity-based access control and endpoint compliance enforcement. It serves as a AAA server, handling authentication, authorization, and accounting for users, devices, and endpoints. Authentication methods include 802.1X, MAC Authentication Bypass (MAB), and web-based authentication portals. ISE evaluates devices against security posture policies, checking antivirus status, operating system patching, encryption, and firewall configuration before allowing network access. Non-compliant devices can be quarantined or redirected to remediation networks. Integration with Security Group Tags (SGTs) allows dynamic policy enforcement, ensuring that user or device policies follow them across both wired and wireless networks. When deployed with SD-Access, ISE automates policy propagation, simplifying management and reducing the risk of misconfiguration. Unlike Cisco DNA Center, which focuses on network automation and assurance, ISE specializes in security policy enforcement. NetFlow provides network visibility but does not enforce policies, and Prime Infrastructure handles monitoring and device management rather than dynamic access control. Operationally, ISE enhances enterprise security by centralizing policy management, enabling micro-segmentation, supporting BYOD and IoT devices, and providing comprehensive auditing and compliance reporting. Dynamic enforcement ensures that access policies are consistently applied as devices move across the network, reducing administrative overhead and increasing security resilience. ISE also supports multi-tenancy, integrating with cloud services and endpoint compliance frameworks, making it essential for modern enterprise network deployments that require high security and operational efficiency.

Question 198:

Which routing protocol is recommended for intra-enterprise networks requiring hierarchical design, fast convergence, and dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 support?

A) RIP
B) OSPF
C) EIGRP
D) BGP

Answer:

B) OSPF

Explanation:

OSPF is a link-state routing protocol widely used in large enterprise networks because of its scalability, hierarchical design, rapid convergence, and dual-stack support. OSPF divides the network into multiple areas to reduce routing overhead and improve scalability. Area 0 serves as the backbone, interconnecting all other areas and ensuring loop-free inter-area routing. Each router maintains a link-state database (LSDB) that represents the network topology within its area. Using the Shortest Path First (SPF) algorithm, OSPF calculates the optimal paths for all destinations. When topology changes occur, only affected routers recompute their SPF trees, allowing fast convergence. Route summarization at area boundaries minimizes routing table size and simplifies network management. Security is enforced through authentication, such as MD5 or SHA, preventing unauthorized routing updates. OSPFv2 supports IPv4, while OSPFv3 adds native IPv6 support without changing the fundamental protocol operation. EIGRP provides fast convergence but is Cisco-proprietary, limiting interoperability in multi-vendor environments. BGP is designed for inter-domain routing and is not optimized for fast intra-enterprise convergence. RIP suffers from slow convergence and limited scalability due to a maximum hop count of 15. Operationally, OSPF provides a stable and predictable routing framework. Its hierarchical design reduces SPF recalculation overhead, enhances network stability, and supports efficient troubleshooting. OSPF allows for load balancing, route filtering, and traffic engineering, enabling enterprises to optimize performance and resource utilization. Its dual-stack capabilities allow seamless IPv6 integration alongside IPv4, ensuring future-proof enterprise networks. By providing scalability, fast convergence, and policy flexibility, OSPF is ideal for intra-enterprise routing in complex environments.

Question 199:

Which WAN technology provides multi-tenant segmentation, traffic engineering, and QoS guarantees for distributed enterprise networks?

A) DSL
B) MPLS VPN
C) Metro Ethernet
D) Frame Relay

Answer:

B) MPLS VPN

Explanation:

MPLS VPN is a WAN technology commonly used in enterprise networks for multi-tenant connectivity, deterministic traffic paths, and Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees. MPLS uses labels for packet forwarding, reducing routing overhead and providing predictable paths across the network. VRFs (Virtual Routing and Forwarding) allow multiple tenants to share the same MPLS infrastructure while maintaining complete separation of traffic and routing tables. This enables overlapping IP address spaces and strict tenant isolation. Traffic engineering in MPLS allows administrators to define explicit paths for latency-sensitive or high-priority traffic, ensuring that applications like VoIP, video conferencing, or ERP systems meet performance requirements. QoS guarantees enable prioritization of mission-critical traffic and effective bandwidth management. DSL offers limited bandwidth and lacks multi-tenant and traffic engineering capabilities. Metro Ethernet provides high-speed connectivity but lacks built-in multi-tenant isolation and traffic engineering features. Frame Relay is legacy technology with limited QoS and scalability. MPLS VPN can be combined with SD-WAN solutions to optimize cost and performance while maintaining security and reliability. Operationally, MPLS VPN provides enterprises with a robust, predictable WAN architecture, ensuring high performance, secure segmentation, and scalable connectivity across geographically dispersed sites. Its ability to enforce QoS, support multi-tenancy, and integrate with hybrid WAN solutions makes MPLS VPN ideal for enterprise deployments requiring secure and reliable connectivity with guaranteed application performance.

Question 200:

Which wireless standard operates in the 5 GHz band, supports MU-MIMO, and is optimized for high-density enterprise environments?

A) 802.11b
B) 802.11g
C) 802.11n
D) 802.11ac

Answer:

D) 802.11ac

Explanation:

802.11ac, known as Wi-Fi 5, is a wireless standard optimized for high-throughput and high-density enterprise environments. It operates exclusively in the 5 GHz band, providing more non-overlapping channels and reduced interference compared to the crowded 2.4 GHz spectrum. A defining feature is Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO), allowing access points to communicate simultaneously with multiple client devices. This reduces contention, increases network efficiency, and provides predictable performance in environments with many connected devices. 802.11ac supports wider channel bandwidths, up to 160 MHz, and higher-order modulation schemes (256-QAM), significantly increasing data rates. Beamforming technology focuses RF energy toward client devices, enhancing coverage, signal quality, and reliability. Wireless controllers manage SSIDs, roaming, QoS, and security, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity and consistent policy enforcement for mobile users and latency-sensitive applications like VoIP, video conferencing, or cloud services. Compared to 802.11b or 802.11g, which have lower throughput and operate in the 2.4 GHz band, and 802.11n, which lacks MU-MIMO, 802.11ac provides superior performance, scalability, and efficiency. Operationally, 802.11ac enables enterprises to deploy dense wireless networks with high throughput, low latency, and reliable connectivity for mobile devices, IoT endpoints, and bandwidth-intensive applications. Its combination of MU-MIMO, wide channels, high modulation, beamforming, and spectrum efficiency makes it the preferred standard for modern enterprise wireless networks.