Question 1mediumdrag order
Read the full VPN explanation →Question 720 of 2,015
Quick Answer
The correct order is: client establishes a TLS tunnel to the ASA, ASA presents its digital certificate, client authenticates the user, ASA assigns an IP address from a pool, then client installs the virtual adapter and establishes the session. This sequence is critical because the TLS tunnel must be secured first via certificate exchange before any user credentials are transmitted, ensuring encrypted communication for authentication and IP assignment. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this drag-and-drop task tests your understanding of the AnyConnect SSL VPN session establishment steps in the correct operational flow, often appearing as a common trap where candidates mistakenly place virtual adapter installation before IP assignment. Remember the mnemonic “TAP-CIP” for the five steps: Tunnel, Authenticate (ASA cert), Present (user auth), Assign IP, then install adapter. This helps avoid the pitfall of confusing the client-side adapter installation, which occurs last, with the initial tunnel setup.
CCNP VPN Technologies Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of vpn technologies. 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.
Drag and drop the steps of SSL VPN (AnyConnect) session establishment into the correct order, from first to last.
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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
✓
Client initiates TLS handshake with ASA
AnyConnect session establishment begins with the client establishing a TLS tunnel to the ASA headend. The ASA presents its digital certificate for authentication. The client then authenticates the user, and the ASA assigns an IP address from a pool. Finally, the client installs the virtual adapter and the session is established.
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
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 practitioner preparing for the 350-401 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which 350-401 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
VPN Technologies — This question tests VPN Technologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Client initiates TLS handshake with ASA — AnyConnect session establishment begins with the client establishing a TLS tunnel to the ASA headend. The ASA presents its digital certificate for authentication. The client then authenticates the user, and the ASA assigns an IP address from a pool. Finally, the client installs the virtual adapter and the session is established.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Identify which 350-401 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on 350-401
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Drag and drop the steps of SSL VPN (AnyConnect) session establishment into the correct order, from first to last.
medium- ✓ A.Client establishes TLS/DTLS tunnel to ASA
- ✓ B.ASA authenticates user via AAA
- ✓ C.ASA pushes configuration and assigns IP
- ✓ D.Client installs virtual adapter with IP
- ✓ E.Client sends encrypted traffic through tunnel
Why A: The AnyConnect client first establishes a TLS/DTLS tunnel to the ASA headend. The ASA then authenticates the user via AAA. After authentication, the ASA pushes client configuration and assigns an IP address from a pool. The client installs the virtual adapter with the assigned IP. Finally, the client can send encrypted traffic through the tunnel.
Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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.
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