Quick Answer
TACACS+ is the correct choice because it separates authentication, authorization, and accounting into three distinct processes, and it encrypts the entire packet body while leaving only the standard TACACS+ header unencrypted, meeting the requirement for granular AAA control with full payload encryption. In contrast, RADIUS combines authentication and authorization into a single process and encrypts only the password, not the full packet body. On the Cisco DCCOR / CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this distinction often appears in questions about device access control for NX-OS switches, where the trap is that RADIUS is mistakenly chosen due to its widespread use in network access, but it fails the encryption requirement. A helpful memory tip: think of TACACS+ as “Triple A” (separate Auth, Author, and Accounting) with “Total Encryption,” while RADIUS is “Reduced” in both separation and encryption.
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of security. 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.
A network engineer is configuring device access control for Cisco NX-OS switches. The requirement is to use a protocol that separates authentication, authorization, and accounting, and encrypts all communication except the header. Which solution meets this requirement?
RADIUS
Why wrong: RADIUS uses UDP and does not encrypt entire packet; it combines authentication and authorization.
LDAP
Why wrong: LDAP is a directory access protocol, not designed for device AAA.
SSH
Why wrong: SSH provides secure remote shell access, not AAA services.
TACACS+
TACACS+ encrypts entire packet except header and separates AAA functions.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
TACACS+
TACACS+ is the correct choice because it separates authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) into distinct processes, and it encrypts the entire packet body, leaving only the standard TACACS+ header unencrypted. This meets the requirement for a protocol that provides granular AAA control with encrypted communication, unlike RADIUS which does not encrypt the full payload.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
RADIUS
LDAP
Why it's wrong here
LDAP is a directory access protocol, not designed for device AAA.
SSH
TACACS+
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the misconception that RADIUS encrypts all communication because it uses a shared secret, but in reality RADIUS only encrypts the password field, not the entire payload, making TACACS+ the correct choice for full-packet encryption beyond the header.
Detailed technical explanation
TACACS+ uses TCP port 49 and encrypts the entire body of each packet (including all AAA attributes) using a shared secret key, with only the header (containing fields like session ID and packet type) left unencrypted. This design allows TACACS+ to support separate AAA servers for each function, enabling fine-grained command authorization and accounting, which is critical in environments requiring strict role-based access control (RBAC) on Cisco NX-OS devices.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
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FAQ
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: TACACS+ — TACACS+ is the correct choice because it separates authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) into distinct processes, and it encrypts the entire packet body, leaving only the standard TACACS+ header unencrypted. This meets the requirement for a protocol that provides granular AAA control with encrypted communication, unlike RADIUS which does not encrypt the full payload.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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