CCNA Network Infrastructure and Connectivity Practice Question
Network Topology
You are managing a Cisco WLC (WLC-1) with IP 10.10.10.10. A wireless client reports it can see the SSID 'CorpNet' but fails to associate. The SSID is configured for WPA3, but the client only supports WPA2. Additionally, the WLAN is mapped to VLAN 100, but the AP is on VLAN 10, causing a mismatch. Your task: reconfigure the WLAN to use WPA2-PSK with AES encryption, correct the VLAN assignment to 10, and ensure the SSID is hidden. Also, verify that management access via the WLC web UI is restricted to the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet.
⚠ Common exam trap
The exam trap is that candidates may overlook the VLAN mismatch or the requirement to disable PMF when switching from WPA3 to WPA2. Also, they might forget to restrict both HTTP and HTTPS, or confuse the management subnet with the WLC IP address. Always verify client capabilities and VLAN assignments.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Change security to WPA2-PSK with AES, disable PMF, map WLAN to management interface (VLAN 10), disable SSID broadcast, restrict HTTP/HTTPS access to 192.168.1.0/24.
The client cannot associate because the WLAN requires WPA3 (PMF required) but the client only supports WPA2. Also, the WLAN is mapped to VLAN 100, but the AP is on VLAN 10, causing a VLAN mismatch that prevents client traffic from reaching the correct subnet. The SSID is broadcast (visible), and management access is open to all subnets. To fix: change the WLAN security to WPA2-PSK with AES, disable PMF, map the WLAN to the management interface (VLAN 10), disable SSID broadcast, and restrict HTTP/HTTPS access to subnet 192.168.1.0/24.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Change security to WPA2-PSK with AES, disable PMF, map WLAN to management interface (VLAN 10), disable SSID broadcast, restrict HTTP/HTTPS access to 192.168.1.0/24.
Why this is correct
Ly addresses all issues: WPA2-PSK with AES matches client capability, disabling PMF removes WPA3 requirement, mapping to management interface (VLAN 10) resolves VLAN mismatch, disabling SSID broadcast hides the SSID, and restricting HTTP/HTTPS access to 192.168.1.0/24 secures management access.
- ✗
Change security to WPA2-PSK with TKIP, enable PMF, map WLAN to VLAN 100, enable SSID broadcast, restrict HTTP access to 192.168.1.0/24.
Why it's wrong here
This is incorrect because TKIP is not recommended and not supported for WPA2-PSK on modern Cisco WLCs (AES is required). PMF should be disabled for WPA2-only clients. VLAN 100 is the original mismatch; it should be VLAN 10. Enabling SSID broadcast does not hide the SSID. Restricting only HTTP leaves HTTPS open.
- ✗
Change security to WPA3-PSK with AES, disable PMF, map WLAN to VLAN 10, disable SSID broadcast, restrict HTTP/HTTPS access to 10.10.10.0/24.
Why it's wrong here
WPA3-PSK is invalid here because the client supports only WPA2, and WPA3 mandates PMF (Protected Management Frames) — you cannot simply 'disable' PMF on a WPA3 network. Even if the client could associate, the management access list should lock down the actual management subnet (192.168.1.0/24), not a different network like 10.10.10.0/24, which would leave the management interface exposed. This option also ignores the need to align the WLAN VLAN with the management interface (VLAN 10), but the fatal flaws are the unsupported WPA3/PMF combination and the incorrect ACL source network.
- ✗
Change security to WPA2-PSK with AES, enable PMF, map WLAN to VLAN 10, enable SSID broadcast, restrict HTTP/HTTPS access to 192.168.1.0/24.
Why it's wrong here
Enabling PMF on a WPA2-PSK network requires the client to support 802.11w, and if the client (as stated) only supports WPA2—and likely has no PMF capability—association failures will occur. On modern Cisco WLCs, PMF is designed for WPA3 or WPA2 with PMF-capable clients; forcing it on a non-capable client breaks connectivity, which is the opposite of the intended fix. Additionally, enabling SSID broadcast does not 'hide' the SSID—broadcasting is the default behavior, and hiding requires disabling the beacon broadcast, so this choice leaves the network discoverable. The VLAN mapping and HTTP/HTTPS restriction are correct, but the PMF and SSID broadcast settings invalidate the configuration.
Option-by-option analysis
Why each answer is right or wrong
Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The 200-301 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.
✓Change security to WPA2-PSK with AES, disable PMF, map WLAN to management interface (VLAN 10), disable SSID broadcast, restrict HTTP/HTTPS access to 192.168.1.0/24.Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
Ly addresses all issues: WPA2-PSK with AES matches client capability, disabling PMF removes WPA3 requirement, mapping to management interface (VLAN 10) resolves VLAN mismatch, disabling SSID broadcast hides the SSID, and restricting HTTP/HTTPS access to 192.168.1.0/24 secures management access.
✗Change security to WPA2-PSK with TKIP, enable PMF, map WLAN to VLAN 100, enable SSID broadcast, restrict HTTP access to 192.168.1.0/24.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: TKIP is deprecated and not used with WPA2-PSK; PMF must be disabled for WPA2-only clients; VLAN 100 is incorrect; SSID broadcast should be disabled; HTTPS access must also be restricted.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates pick this because they may confuse TKIP with AES, think PMF is optional, forget to change VLAN, or assume only HTTP needs restriction.
✗Change security to WPA3-PSK with AES, disable PMF, map WLAN to VLAN 10, disable SSID broadcast, restrict HTTP/HTTPS access to 10.10.10.0/24.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: WPA3-PSK requires PMF and is incompatible with WPA2-only clients; the allowed subnet for management is 192.168.1.0/24, not 10.10.10.0/24.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates pick this because they might think WPA3 is backward compatible or confuse the WLC management IP with the allowed subnet.
✗Change security to WPA2-PSK with AES, enable PMF, map WLAN to VLAN 10, enable SSID broadcast, restrict HTTP/HTTPS access to 192.168.1.0/24.Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
The specific factual error: PMF is not supported by all WPA2 clients and can cause association issues; SSID broadcast should be disabled to hide the SSID.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates pick this because they may think PMF is optional and always safe to enable, or they forget to disable SSID broadcast.
Analysis generated from the official 200-301blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”
Visual reference
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
HTTP vs HTTPS
Key term
WLC
A Wireless LAN Controller is a centralized device that manages, configures, and secures multiple wireless access points in a network.
Key term
VLAN
A VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network) is a logical grouping of network devices that behave as if they are on the same physical network segment, regardless of their actual physical location.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-301 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-301 exam.