Question 1,649 of 2,015

SNMP and Syslog →mediumMultiple SelectObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The correct answer is that the authPriv security model provides both authentication and encryption. This is because SNMPv3 defines three distinct security models: noAuthNoPriv, which offers neither authentication nor encryption; authNoPriv, which authenticates messages using HMAC-MD5 or HMAC-SHA but leaves the payload unencrypted; and authPriv, which combines authentication with encryption via protocols like CBC-DES or CFB128-AES. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how SNMPv3 addresses the security gaps of earlier versions—common traps include confusing authNoPriv with full encryption or assuming all models use the same engine ID for key generation. Remember that the engine ID is a unique per-device identifier used to derive localized keys, not a security model itself. A quick memory tip: think of the three models as “None, Half, Full”—noAuthNoPriv is none, authNoPriv is half (authentication only), and authPriv is full (both authentication and privacy).

CCNP SNMP and Syslog Practice Question

This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of snmp and syslog. 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.

Which two statements about SNMPv3 security models are true? (Choose two.)

Question 1mediummulti select

Read the full network assurance explanation →

A
The authNoPriv security model provides authentication but no encryption.
Correct: authNoPriv uses an authentication protocol (MD5 or SHA) but does not encrypt the payload.
B
The noAuthNoPriv security model uses both a username and a password for authentication.
Why wrong: Incorrect: noAuthNoPriv uses only a username (community string equivalent) with no authentication or encryption.
C
The authPriv security model provides both authentication and encryption.
Correct: authPriv uses both an authentication protocol and a privacy (encryption) protocol.
D
SNMPv3 requires the use of a separate engine ID for each SNMP manager and agent.
Why wrong: Incorrect: each SNMP entity has a unique engine ID, but it is not required to be separate for every manager and agent; it is a single identifier per entity.
E
The authPriv model supports only AES-256 for encryption.
Why wrong: Incorrect: authPriv supports CBC-DES and CFB128-AES (AES-128/192/256) but not exclusively AES-256.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

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

✓

The authNoPriv security model provides authentication but no encryption.

SNMPv3 provides three security models: noAuthNoPriv (no authentication, no encryption), authNoPriv (authentication but no encryption), and authPriv (authentication and encryption). The authPriv model uses HMAC-MD5 or HMAC-SHA for authentication and CBC-DES or CFB128-AES for encryption. The engine ID is a unique identifier for each SNMP entity and is used to generate the localized key.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✓
The authNoPriv security model provides authentication but no encryption.
Why this is correct
Correct: authNoPriv uses an authentication protocol (MD5 or SHA) but does not encrypt the payload.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The noAuthNoPriv security model uses both a username and a password for authentication.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: noAuthNoPriv uses only a username (community string equivalent) with no authentication or encryption.
✓
The authPriv security model provides both authentication and encryption.
Why this is correct
Correct: authPriv uses both an authentication protocol and a privacy (encryption) protocol.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
SNMPv3 requires the use of a separate engine ID for each SNMP manager and agent.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: each SNMP entity has a unique engine ID, but it is not required to be separate for every manager and agent; it is a single identifier per entity.
✗
The authPriv model supports only AES-256 for encryption.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect: authPriv supports CBC-DES and CFB128-AES (AES-128/192/256) but not exclusively AES-256.

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?

SNMP and Syslog — This question tests SNMP and Syslog — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The authNoPriv security model provides authentication but no encryption. — SNMPv3 provides three security models: noAuthNoPriv (no authentication, no encryption), authNoPriv (authentication but no encryption), and authPriv (authentication and encryption). The authPriv model uses HMAC-MD5 or HMAC-SHA for authentication and CBC-DES or CFB128-AES for encryption. The engine ID is a unique identifier for each SNMP entity and is used to generate the localized key.

What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

About these practice questions

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Same concept, more angles

2 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. Which two statements about SNMPv3 security features are true? (Choose two.)

medium

✓ A.The authNoPriv security level provides authentication using MD5 or SHA, but no encryption.
B.The noAuthNoPriv security level provides both authentication and encryption.
✓ C.The authPriv security level provides authentication using MD5 or SHA, and encryption using DES or AES.
D.SNMPv3 users are identified solely by the community string, similar to SNMPv2c.
E.The SNMP engine ID is optional and only used for debugging purposes.

Why A: SNMPv3 provides both authentication and encryption. The authNoPriv level uses MD5 or SHA for authentication without encryption; noAuthNoPriv uses no security; authPriv provides both authentication and encryption. The engine ID is required for SNMPv3 user configuration and is used to generate the localized key.

Variation 2. Which SNMP version introduced the use of a username and authentication/password framework, without encryption?

easy

A.SNMPv1
B.SNMPv2c
✓ C.SNMPv3
D.SNMPv2u

Why C: SNMPv3 introduced a security model with usernames, authentication, and privacy, but SNMPv3 noAuthNoPriv provides authentication without encryption.

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Question Discussion

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