The answer is that the ingress interface is missing the 'sgt' or 'ip policy' command to classify traffic. This is the most likely cause because Cisco TrustSec SGT classification requires explicit configuration on the ingress interface to assign or dynamically classify a security group tag; without either a static 'sgt' command or an 'ip policy' command referencing a security group ACL, the switch has no mechanism to apply the tag to incoming frames. On the Cisco DCCOR / CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the TrustSec data plane enforcement model, where classification must occur at the point of entry into the trusted domain. A common trap is assuming that a global classification policy alone is sufficient, but the ingress interface command is the critical link that triggers tagging. Remember the memory tip: “Tag at the gate” — the ingress interface is the gatekeeper for SGT classification.
350-601 Security Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
A data center administrator is implementing Cisco TrustSec on a Nexus 7000 switch to enforce role-based access control. After configuring a security group tag (SGT) classification policy, users report that traffic between two servers is not being tagged. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The ingress interface is missing the 'sgt' or 'ip policy' command to classify traffic.
Option B is correct because Cisco TrustSec requires the ingress interface to be explicitly configured with either the 'sgt' command (for static SGT assignment) or an 'ip policy' command (for dynamic SGT classification via a security group ACL). Without this, the switch cannot classify traffic and apply the SGT tag. The scenario describes a classification policy that is not being applied, which directly points to a missing ingress classification command.
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 ingress interface is missing the 'sgt' or 'ip policy' command to classify traffic.
Why this is correct
Ingress interface must have 'sgt' or 'ip policy' to assign SGTs.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The switch ASIC does not support TrustSec in hardware.
Why it's wrong here
Nexus 7000 generally supports TrustSec in hardware.
✗
The SGT is assigned on the egress interface instead of ingress.
Why it's wrong here
SGT classification happens on ingress.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume SGT classification is automatic once a policy is defined, but Cisco explicitly tests that the ingress interface must have the 'sgt' or 'ip policy' command to trigger classification.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, TrustSec uses SGTs to enforce role-based access control by tagging packets at the ingress interface. The classification can be static (using the 'sgt' command under the interface) or dynamic (using a security group ACL with the 'ip policy' command). Without this ingress classification, the switch cannot insert the SGT into the packet's metadata (e.g., using Cisco's proprietary SGT header or inline tagging), and downstream devices cannot enforce policies. In real-world scenarios, missing this command is a common misconfiguration when migrating from VLAN-based to SGT-based segmentation.
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.
TExam Day Tips
→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 help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The ingress interface is missing the 'sgt' or 'ip policy' command to classify traffic. — Option B is correct because Cisco TrustSec requires the ingress interface to be explicitly configured with either the 'sgt' command (for static SGT assignment) or an 'ip policy' command (for dynamic SGT classification via a security group ACL). Without this, the switch cannot classify traffic and apply the SGT tag. The scenario describes a classification policy that is not being applied, which directly points to a missing ingress classification command.
What should I do if I get this 350-601 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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