Question 1mediummulti select
Full question →mediummulti selectObjective-mapped
Which two statements accurately describe why least privilege and source restriction work well together for administrative access?
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
Least privilege reduces the scope of actions an authenticated user can perform.
This is correct because least privilege limits authorization scope.
B
Best answer
Source restriction reduces the network locations from which administrative access is permitted.
This is correct because it narrows the trusted origin space for management traffic.
C
Distractor review
Either one by itself removes the need for logging.
This is wrong because visibility and accountability are still valuable.
D
Distractor review
Both exist only for wireless guest access policies.
This is wrong because these are broad security principles, not guest-only controls.
E
Distractor review
They require all administrative traffic to use PPP encapsulation.
This is wrong because PPP is unrelated to these management-access design principles.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common exam trap is believing that either least privilege or source restriction alone fully secures administrative access. Candidates may incorrectly think that limiting user permissions removes the need to restrict source IPs, or vice versa. This mistake overlooks that least privilege controls what actions a user can perform after access, but does not prevent unauthorized access attempts from untrusted locations. Similarly, source restriction limits where access can originate but does not limit what an authenticated user can do. The exam tests understanding that both controls are necessary and complementary for robust administrative security.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Least privilege is a fundamental security principle that restricts users’ permissions to only those necessary for their job functions. In Cisco network administration, this means configuring user roles and access rights so that administrators can perform only the tasks required, minimizing the risk of accidental or malicious changes. This principle reduces the attack surface by limiting what an authenticated user can do once access is granted. Source restriction complements least privilege by controlling where administrative access can originate. Cisco devices support access control lists (ACLs) and management access policies that restrict administrative sessions to trusted IP addresses or subnets. This reduces exposure by preventing unauthorized network locations from initiating management connections, effectively narrowing the potential attack vectors. Together, least privilege and source restriction form a layered defense for administrative access. The exam trap lies in assuming one control alone is sufficient; for example, source restriction without least privilege still allows a compromised user broad access, while least privilege without source restriction exposes management interfaces to a wider network. Practically, Cisco network engineers implement both to reduce risk and improve accountability in device management.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Least privilege limits the permissions granted to users, ensuring they can perform only necessary administrative tasks on Cisco devices.
- Source restriction controls the network locations from which administrative access to Cisco devices is permitted, reducing exposure to unauthorized sources.
- Cisco IOS and IOS XE support configuring access control lists (ACLs) to enforce source restrictions on management protocols like SSH and Telnet.
- Combining least privilege with source restriction reduces both the potential impact of compromised credentials and the attack surface for administrative access.
- Least privilege does not prevent unauthorized access attempts; it only limits actions after authentication is successful.
- Source restriction does not limit user permissions once access is granted; it only limits where access can originate.
- Effective Cisco network security requires layered controls, including both least privilege and source restriction, to protect device management.
- Failing to implement both least privilege and source restriction can leave Cisco devices vulnerable to unauthorized access or misuse.
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?
Least privilege limits the permissions granted to users, ensuring they can perform only necessary administrative tasks on Cisco devices.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Least privilege reduces the scope of actions an authenticated user can perform. — Least privilege and source restriction work well together because they reduce risk in different ways. In practical terms, least privilege limits what a user can do after access is granted, while source restriction reduces where an administrative session is even allowed to originate. Together they reduce both exposure and potential impact. This is a layered management-security concept and a strong exam-style reasoning item.
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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