The correct configuration is to create the contract in TenantA, set the DNS EPG as the provider, and in TenantB create a consumer EPG that consumes the contract from TenantA. This works because in Cisco ACI, inter-tenant shared service contracts must be owned by the tenant that hosts the shared resource—the provider—to maintain strict security boundaries. The provider EPG defines what is being shared, while the consumer EPG simply references the contract from the provider’s tenant, ensuring TenantB can reach the DNS server without exposing its own EPGs. On the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of contract scope and inter-tenant communication, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly create the contract in the consumer’s tenant. A common memory tip is “provider owns the contract”—the tenant with the shared service always holds the contract, and the consumer imports it.
350-601 Security Practice Question
This 350-601 practice question tests your understanding of security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
An engineer is configuring Cisco ACI to secure inter-tenant traffic. Tenants 'TenantA' and 'TenantB' need to communicate via a shared service, such as a DNS server in TenantA. How should the contract be configured?
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 in TenantA. Set the DNS EPG as provider. In TenantB, create a consumer EPG and provide the contract from TenantA.
In Cisco ACI, inter-tenant communication via a shared service requires the contract to be created in the tenant that owns the shared service (provider). The provider EPG (DNS server in TenantA) is set as the provider, and the consumer EPG (in TenantB) consumes the contract from TenantA. This allows TenantB to access the DNS service without exposing its own EPGs, maintaining security isolation while enabling necessary traffic.
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 in TenantA and apply it to the VRF shared between tenants.
Why it's wrong here
Contracts are applied to EPGs, not VRFs.
✓
Create a contract in TenantA. Set the DNS EPG as provider. In TenantB, create a consumer EPG and provide the contract from TenantA.
Why this is correct
Standard shared service design: provider's tenant contains the contract.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Create a contract in TenantB. Set the DNS EPG as consumer. In TenantA, create a provider EPG and provide the contract from TenantB.
Why it's wrong here
The contract should be in the provider's tenant.
✗
Create a contract in TenantA. Set both DNS EPG and TenantB EPG as providers.
Why it's wrong here
Only one provider; the other is consumer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that the contract must be created in the consumer's tenant or applied to the VRF, but the correct approach is to create the contract in the provider's tenant and explicitly define the provider EPG.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Cisco ACI uses contracts with provider/consumer labels to enforce policy-based traffic filtering via the OpFlex protocol. The provider EPG's subnet is advertised into the shared VRF (if configured), and the consumer EPG's traffic is allowed only if it matches the contract's filters. In real-world deployments, this pattern is critical for services like DNS, NTP, or Active Directory, where multiple tenants need access to a centralized resource without direct inter-tenant routing.
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 practitioner preparing for the 350-601 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 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 in TenantA. Set the DNS EPG as provider. In TenantB, create a consumer EPG and provide the contract from TenantA. — In Cisco ACI, inter-tenant communication via a shared service requires the contract to be created in the tenant that owns the shared service (provider). The provider EPG (DNS server in TenantA) is set as the provider, and the consumer EPG (in TenantB) consumes the contract from TenantA. This allows TenantB to access the DNS service without exposing its own EPGs, maintaining security isolation while enabling necessary traffic.
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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Question Discussion
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