CCNP Security Practice Question
A network administrator needs to securely manage a Cisco Catalyst switch remotely. The requirement is to encrypt all management traffic, including username and password, between the administrator's workstation and the switch. Which management protocol should be enabled on the switch to meet this requirement?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is overlooking that SNMPv2c management traffic is cleartext, so only SSHv2 among the choices provides encrypted interactive administration.
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
✓
SSH version 2
SSH version 2 encrypts the full management session, protecting credentials and commands in transit, which is exactly what the policy requires. Telnet and HTTP send data in cleartext, and SNMPv2c is neither encrypted nor intended for interactive CLI management. Enabling SSHv2 and disabling insecure protocols satisfies the encrypted remote administration requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Telnet
Why it's wrong here
Telnet transmits all data, including usernames and passwords, in cleartext across the network. Any device capable of capturing packets on the path could read the credentials, directly violating the requirement to encrypt management traffic. Telnet is also widely disabled in hardened environments for this reason. It does not provide confidentiality or integrity, so it cannot satisfy the stated security policy for remote administration.
- ✗
HTTP
Why it's wrong here
HTTP provides no encryption; credentials and configuration data are sent in cleartext. Although some switches offer a web-based management interface, plain HTTP does not meet the encryption requirement. HTTPS would encrypt the session, but HTTP alone leaves management traffic exposed to interception. This option therefore fails the security policy for remote switch administration.
- ✗
SNMPv2c
Why it's wrong here
SNMPv2c uses community strings sent in cleartext and is designed for monitoring and limited configuration, not interactive encrypted CLI management. Even if used for management, it does not encrypt credentials or session data. SNMPv3 with authPriv would provide encryption, but SNMPv2c does not, so this choice fails the requirement to protect interactive management traffic with encryption.
- ✓
SSH version 2
Why this is correct
SSH version 2 encrypts the entire management session, including authentication credentials and command output, using strong cryptography. Enabling SSHv2 on the switch and disabling Telnet ensures that remote CLI administration is confidential and integrity-protected. This directly satisfies the requirement that all management traffic between the administrator's workstation and the switch be encrypted, making SSHv2 the correct management protocol.
About these practice questions
This 350-401 question is part of Courseiva's 1,923-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This 350-401 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 350-401 exam.