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CCNA Network Services and Security Practice Question
This 200-301 practice question tests your understanding of network services and security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which three features are used to mitigate Layer 2 security threats on a Cisco switch? (Choose three.)
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
✓
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) to prevent ARP spoofing.
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) mitigates ARP spoofing attacks by intercepting ARP packets on untrusted ports and validating them against the DHCP snooping binding database, ensuring that only legitimate ARP responses are forwarded. DHCP snooping builds a trusted binding database by monitoring DHCP messages and recording IP-to-MAC address mappings, which is used by DAI and IP Source Guard to prevent IP and MAC spoofing. BPDU guard protects against STP manipulation attacks by error-disabling an access port if it receives a BPDU, preventing unauthorized switches from participating in the spanning tree topology. EtherChannel load balancing is a method for increasing bandwidth and redundancy, not a Layer 2 security mitigation. Using VLAN 1 as the native VLAN is a known security risk that can facilitate VLAN hopping attacks, so it is not a mitigation feature.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between features that improve STP convergence (like PortFast) and features that provide security (like BPDU guard), causing candidates to mistakenly select PortFast as a security feature.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
DAI relies on the DHCP snooping binding table, which maps client MAC addresses to leased IP addresses; if an ARP packet's sender MAC and IP do not match a valid binding, the packet is dropped. BPDU guard works in conjunction with PortFast: when PortFast is enabled on an access port, BPDU guard immediately error-disables the port upon receiving any BPDU, preventing a rogue switch from becoming the root bridge. In a real-world scenario, an attacker could plug a switch into an access port to launch a man-in-the-middle attack via STP manipulation; BPDU guard stops this by shutting down the port.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
Network Services and Security — This question tests Network Services and Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) to prevent ARP spoofing. — Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) mitigates ARP spoofing attacks by intercepting ARP packets on untrusted ports and validating them against the DHCP snooping binding database, ensuring that only legitimate ARP responses are forwarded. DHCP snooping builds a trusted binding database by monitoring DHCP messages and recording IP-to-MAC address mappings, which is used by DAI and IP Source Guard to prevent IP and MAC spoofing. BPDU guard protects against STP manipulation attacks by error-disabling an access port if it receives a BPDU, preventing unauthorized switches from participating in the spanning tree topology. EtherChannel load balancing is a method for increasing bandwidth and redundancy, not a Layer 2 security mitigation. Using VLAN 1 as the native VLAN is a known security risk that can facilitate VLAN hopping attacks, so it is not a mitigation feature.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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