CCNP Security Practice Question
A network engineer is implementing Cisco TrustSec in a campus network. The engineer needs to configure the enforcement of security group tags (SGTs) on Cisco Catalyst switches. Which two statements are true regarding SGT enforcement and propagation? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking that SGACL enforcement happens on Cisco ISE, when in fact ISE only defines and distributes the policies; enforcement is on the network device.
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
✓
SGTs are assigned to endpoints by Cisco ISE during authentication and can be used for role-based access control.
SGTs can be propagated via inline tagging or SXP, allowing enforcement across devices that may not support inline tagging. Cisco ISE assigns SGTs to endpoints during authentication, enabling role-based access control. Enforcement is performed on network devices using SGACLs, not on ISE itself.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
SGTs are only supported on Cisco ASA firewalls and not on Cisco Catalyst switches.
Why it's wrong here
SGTs are supported on a range of Cisco devices, including Catalyst switches, Nexus switches, and ASA firewalls. Catalyst switches can act as enforcement points and can propagate SGTs via inline tagging or SXP. Claiming support is limited to ASA is incorrect and ignores the campus switching use case.
- ✓
SGTs are assigned to endpoints by Cisco ISE during authentication and can be used for role-based access control.
Why this is correct
Cisco ISE assigns an SGT to an endpoint as part of the authorization policy after successful authentication. This SGT represents the endpoint's role or group. The switch then uses this SGT in conjunction with SGACLs to enforce role-based access control. This is a fundamental part of Cisco TrustSec.
- ✗
SGT enforcement is performed by security group ACLs (SGACLs) on Cisco ISE, which pushes them to switches.
Why it's wrong here
SGACLs are defined on Cisco ISE and downloaded to the switches, but enforcement occurs on the switch (or router) data plane, not on ISE itself. ISE is the policy server that defines the matrix of which SGT can talk to which SGT. The switch enforces the SGACL when it receives tagged traffic. Saying enforcement is on ISE is incorrect.
- ✗
SGTs are encrypted in the packet to prevent tampering, and only Cisco ISE can decrypt them.
Why it's wrong here
SGTs are not encrypted; they are carried in a Cisco Metadata header that is typically not encrypted. The integrity of the SGT relies on the trust of the network infrastructure. ISE does not decrypt SGTs in transit; it assigns them initially. Encryption is not a feature of SGT propagation.
- ✓
SGTs can be propagated through a network using inline tagging or SXP.
Why this is correct
SGTs can be carried in the packet using inline tagging (Cisco Metadata) or propagated via SXP (SGT Exchange Protocol) to devices that do not support inline tagging. Inline tagging embeds the SGT in the Ethernet frame, while SXP allows IP-to-SGT mappings to be shared with upstream devices. Both methods enable enforcement across the network.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
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.