Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Which statement best explains why using SSH alone is not always enough for strong management-plane security?
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
Because management-plane security also depends on controls such as source restriction, authentication policy, and logging.
This is correct because encryption is important but not the only control that matters.
B
Distractor review
Because SSH is less secure than Telnet.
This is wrong because SSH is generally more secure than Telnet.
C
Distractor review
Because SSH can be used only on wireless networks.
This is wrong because SSH is broadly used across many network devices.
D
Distractor review
Because SSH eliminates the need for AAA.
This is wrong because AAA still adds important authentication, authorization, and accounting functions.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common exam trap is believing that enabling SSH alone fully secures the management plane. Candidates might think SSH’s encryption is sufficient, overlooking the need for additional controls like source IP restrictions, AAA authentication, and logging. This mistake leads to underestimating the importance of layered security measures that prevent unauthorized access even if SSH is enabled. The exam expects knowledge that SSH is necessary but not sufficient for comprehensive management-plane security.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Management-plane security in Cisco networking focuses on protecting the device's control functions, including how administrators access and configure devices. SSH (Secure Shell) is a protocol that encrypts remote management sessions, preventing eavesdropping and credential theft during login. However, SSH only secures the communication channel and does not inherently control who can connect or what actions they can perform once connected. Strong management-plane security requires multiple layers of control beyond just encryption. This includes source restriction, which limits management access to trusted IP addresses or networks; authentication policies that enforce user identity verification through AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting); and logging mechanisms that track access attempts and changes for auditing. These controls collectively reduce the attack surface and improve accountability. A common exam trap is assuming that enabling SSH alone fully secures management access. While SSH replaces insecure protocols like Telnet, it does not eliminate the need for AAA or access control lists (ACLs) to restrict management-plane traffic. In practical Cisco environments, combining SSH with source restrictions, AAA, and logging provides a comprehensive security posture that aligns with best practices and CCNA exam expectations.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- SSH encrypts management-plane sessions to protect credentials and data from interception during remote access.
- Management-plane security requires source restriction to limit which IP addresses can initiate management connections.
- AAA enforces authentication, authorization, and accounting, ensuring only authorized users can access and modify device configurations.
- Logging management-plane access helps track user activity and detect unauthorized or suspicious behavior.
- Relying solely on SSH ignores other critical security controls that protect the management plane from unauthorized access.
- Cisco devices support combining SSH with ACLs and AAA to create layered management-plane security.
- Management-plane protection involves both securing the communication channel and controlling user access policies.
- Strong management-plane security reduces the risk of device compromise through unauthorized remote management.
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?
SSH encrypts management-plane sessions to protect credentials and data from interception during remote access.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Because management-plane security also depends on controls such as source restriction, authentication policy, and logging. — SSH alone encrypts the session, which is very important, but it does not automatically solve every management-plane security concern. In practical terms, administrators still need to think about which sources are allowed to connect, how users are authenticated and authorized, and how access is logged or monitored. Strong management-plane design usually layers multiple controls together. This is why secure protocol choice is necessary but not always sufficient by itself.
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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