The answer is a contract with appropriate filters, as this is the correct construct for enforcing policy-based access control between EPGs in Cisco ACI. Contracts define the rules for communication, and filters specify which protocols and ports—such as HTTP (TCP/80) for permit or SSH (TCP/22) for deny—are allowed or blocked between EPGs like web, app, and management. On the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that contracts are the only mechanism for inter-EPG traffic control, unlike microsegmentation or VRF-level policies which operate differently. A common trap is confusing contracts with EPG-level security groups or assuming deny rules are implicit; in ACI, all inter-EPG traffic is denied by default unless a contract explicitly permits it. Memory tip: think of a contract as a legal agreement—without it, no traffic flows between EPGs.
350-601 Security Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of security. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 architect is designing access control for a Cisco ACI fabric. The requirement is to allow HTTP traffic from the web tier (EPG web) to the app tier (EPG app), but deny SSH from the management EPG to the web EPG. Which construct should be used?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a contract between EPGs with appropriate filters.
In Cisco ACI, contracts are the primary mechanism for enforcing policy-based communication between EPGs. By creating a contract between the web and app EPGs with a filter that permits HTTP (TCP/80), and another contract between management and web EPGs with a filter that denies SSH (TCP/22), the architect can precisely meet both requirements. Contracts allow granular control over which protocols and ports are allowed or denied, making them the correct construct for this access control scenario.
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.
✓
Create a contract between EPGs with appropriate filters.
Why this is correct
Contracts in ACI define allowed communication with filters for specific protocols/ports.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a tenant to separate the EPGs logically.
Why it's wrong here
Tenants are administrative boundaries, not policy enforcement points.
✗
Configure a VRF to isolate traffic between EPGs.
Why it's wrong here
VRF provides routing separation, not granular filtering.
✗
Define a bridge domain with L2 policies.
Why it's wrong here
Bridge domain is for Layer 2 forwarding, not access control.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that VRFs or bridge domains alone can provide security isolation, but in ACI, traffic filtering is always enforced via contracts, regardless of VRF or BD boundaries.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Contracts in ACI are composed of subjects that reference filters, which define permit or deny rules based on Layer 3/4 parameters (e.g., IP protocol, source/destination ports). When a contract is applied between EPGs, the fabric programs the leaf switches with hardware access control entries (ACE) that enforce these rules at wire speed. A common real-world pitfall is forgetting that contracts are unidirectional by default; to allow return traffic, the contract must include a filter for the reverse direction or use a reflexive filter (e.g., 'tcp-established').
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
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: Create a contract between EPGs with appropriate filters. — In Cisco ACI, contracts are the primary mechanism for enforcing policy-based communication between EPGs. By creating a contract between the web and app EPGs with a filter that permits HTTP (TCP/80), and another contract between management and web EPGs with a filter that denies SSH (TCP/22), the architect can precisely meet both requirements. Contracts allow granular control over which protocols and ports are allowed or denied, making them the correct construct for this access control scenario.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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