easyMultiple Select
CCNP Practice Question: Which three statements about NFV use cases and…
Which three statements about NFV use cases and deployment models are true? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is the pair of absolute statements (D and E) that contradict NFV's core value proposition — any option claiming NFV 'requires dedicated hardware' or is 'limited to static configurations' is automatically false because NFV exists precisely to avoid those limitations.
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
✓
Virtual CPE (vCPE) is a common NFV use case that replaces physical routers and firewalls at customer sites with software-based functions.
Option A is correct because Virtual CPE (vCPE) is a widely recognized NFV use case in which customer-premises functions such as routing, firewalling, and NAT are delivered as software VNFs on commodity hardware or virtualized platforms instead of dedicated physical appliances. Option B is correct because the Virtual Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) virtualizes 4G/LTE core elements including the MME (Mobility Management Entity), SGW (Serving Gateway), and PGW (Packet Data Network Gateway) as VNFs running on NFV infrastructure. Option C is correct because NFV can be deployed across multiple environments, including on-premises data centers, private clouds, and public cloud infrastructures, since the NFV architectural framework separates VNFs from the underlying virtualization and hardware layers. Option D is incorrect because NFV explicitly aims to decouple network functions from proprietary dedicated hardware appliances, running them instead on general-purpose servers and standard virtualization platforms. Option E is incorrect because NFV supports dynamic, elastic, and scalable configurations through MANO (Management and Orchestration) and VNF lifecycle management, rather than being limited to static deployments.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Virtual CPE (vCPE) is a common NFV use case that replaces physical routers and firewalls at customer sites with software-based functions.
Why this is correct
vCPE virtualises branch routing, firewall and WAN functions as software VNFs on commodity hardware, removing dedicated appliances at customer premises. This directly satisfies the stem's requirement for an NFV use case replacing physical routers and firewalls at customer sites.
- ✓
Virtual Evolved Packet Core (vEPC) virtualizes mobile core network functions such as MME, SGW, and PGW.
Why this is correct
vEPC runs mobile core components — MME for signalling, SGW for user-plane routing, PGW for external packet gateway duties — as virtualised software rather than dedicated appliances. This satisfies the stem's requirement for an NFV use case virtualising mobile core network functions.
- ✓
NFV can be deployed on-premises, in a private cloud, or in a public cloud infrastructure.
Why this is correct
NFV decouples network functions from proprietary hardware, so the virtualised infrastructure can run on-premises, in a private cloud, or on public cloud infrastructure. This satisfies the stem's requirement that NFV deployment models are not restricted to a single hosting environment.
- ✗
NFV requires dedicated hardware appliances for each virtualized network function.
Why it's wrong here
NFV runs virtualised network functions as software on commodity servers or cloud infrastructure, so per-function dedicated appliances defeat the purpose. It is tempting because specialised hardware still delivers high throughput, and dedicated appliances would be correct for performance-critical functions where virtualisation overhead is unacceptable.
- ✗
NFV deployments are limited to static, non-scalable configurations.
Why it's wrong here
NFV decouples network functions from hardware via virtualisation, enabling dynamic scaling and elasticity, so static non-scalable configurations contradict the model. It is tempting because early proofs of concept ran fixed lab topologies, and a static deployment would be valid only where demand is genuinely constant.
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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.