Quick Answer

The correct answer is that both traffic shaping and policing use a token bucket to meter traffic, but they handle excess traffic differently. Traffic shaping buffers excess packets in a queue to smooth the output rate, which introduces delay, while policing immediately drops or re-marks packets that exceed the configured rate, adding no delay. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this distinction often appears in drag-and-drop tasks where you must match characteristics to the correct mechanism. A common trap is assuming only one uses a token bucket—both do, but shaping uses it to schedule bursts, whereas policing uses it to enforce a hard limit. Remember that shaping is typically applied outbound to prevent bottlenecks, while policing is usually inbound to protect network resources. For a quick memory tip: think “Shaping Smooths and Stores, Policing Punishes and Passes.”