Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →hardmultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A company wants to reduce the chance that unused switch ports can be exploited. Which action best aligns with that goal?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
Administratively shut down unused switch ports
This is correct because disabling unused ports reduces exposure and is a common hardening practice.
B
Distractor review
Convert all unused ports into trunk ports
This is wrong because trunking unused ports would increase complexity and exposure.
C
Distractor review
Enable Telnet on all unused ports
This is wrong because Telnet is insecure and unrelated to physical port hardening.
D
Distractor review
Advertise every unused port into OSPF
This is wrong because routing protocol advertisement has nothing to do with switch-port exploitation risk.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is selecting options that involve enabling protocols or configurations unrelated to physical port security, such as enabling Telnet or advertising ports in OSPF. These options may seem to increase control or visibility but do not reduce the risk of unauthorized access through unused switch ports. Another trap is converting unused ports into trunk ports, which actually increases exposure by allowing multiple VLANs to traverse ports that should be inactive. The key mistake is confusing Layer 2 port hardening with Layer 3 routing or management protocol configurations, which do not address the fundamental risk of an active but unused physical port.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Switch ports on Cisco devices operate at Layer 2 and provide physical access points for devices to connect to the network. Each active port represents a potential entry point for unauthorized users or devices if left unsecured. Administratively shutting down unused ports disables their Layer 2 connectivity, effectively preventing any device from communicating through those ports. This action reduces the attack surface by eliminating unused physical interfaces that could be exploited for unauthorized access or network attacks such as MAC flooding or VLAN hopping. The decision to administratively disable unused ports follows Cisco’s security best practices for switch hardening. By default, ports are enabled and can forward traffic, so leaving them active without control exposes the network to risks. Disabling unused ports is a straightforward and effective method to enforce physical security. Additional measures such as enabling port security, configuring VLAN assignments, and applying access control lists (ACLs) further enhance protection. In contrast, converting unused ports to trunk mode or advertising them in routing protocols like OSPF does not mitigate Layer 2 port exploitation risks and can increase complexity or exposure. A common exam trap is confusing Layer 2 port security with Layer 3 routing protocols or management protocols like Telnet. For example, enabling Telnet on unused ports or advertising them in OSPF does not secure the physical port itself. Similarly, converting unused ports to trunk ports unnecessarily exposes multiple VLANs and increases attack vectors. The practical behavior in Cisco switches is that administratively shutting down ports immediately blocks all traffic and access, making it the most effective first step in securing unused switch ports and aligning with CCNA security fundamentals.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Administratively shutting down unused switch ports prevents unauthorized physical access and reduces the attack surface on a Cisco switch.
- Unused switch ports that remain active can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized network access or launch attacks such as VLAN hopping.
- Cisco best practices recommend disabling unused ports and applying port security features to harden switch infrastructure against unauthorized devices.
- Converting unused ports into trunk ports increases network complexity and exposure by allowing multiple VLANs to traverse ports that should remain inactive.
- Enabling Telnet on unused ports is insecure because Telnet transmits data in clear text and does not address physical port security.
- Advertising unused switch ports in OSPF is irrelevant because OSPF operates at Layer 3 and does not manage Layer 2 switch port states or security.
- Port security and administrative shutdown are fundamental Layer 2 security controls that complement higher-layer protocols like OSPF and ACLs.
- Disabling unused ports aligns with the principle of minimizing unnecessary network resources to reduce potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Administratively shutting down unused switch ports prevents unauthorized physical access and reduces the attack surface on a Cisco switch.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Administratively shut down unused switch ports — The best action is to administratively disable unused ports and apply hardening where appropriate. In plain language, an unused port is still a possible entry point if it remains active and unmonitored. Shutting it down reduces exposure and aligns with the broader principle of minimizing unnecessary attack surface. This is a simple but effective part of switch hardening. Leaving unused ports active may feel convenient, but it creates opportunities for unauthorized connections. The correct answer is the one focused on disabling resources that are not needed rather than on unrelated technologies.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
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