Quick Answer
The answer is shutdown, restrict, and protect. When a port security violation occurs on a Cisco Nexus switch, these three actions determine how the device responds to an unauthorized MAC address. The shutdown action immediately disables the port and places it in an errdisable state, offering the most secure response by blocking all traffic from the violating source. Restrict allows the port to remain up but drops traffic from the offending MAC while logging the violation, and protect silently drops that traffic without generating a log or alert. On the Cisco DCCOR / CCNP Data Center Core 350-601 exam, this concept tests your understanding of port security violation modes and their operational impact, often appearing as a multiple-select question where the trap is confusing restrict with protect or forgetting that shutdown is the default. A useful memory tip is to remember the order of severity: shutdown stops everything, restrict reports and drops, protect just drops.
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.
Which three actions can be taken when a port security violation occurs? (Choose three.)
Shutdown
Disables the port in errdisable state.
Restrict
Drops offending frames and generates a log/SNMP trap.
Protect
Drops offending frames silently.
Errdisable recovery
Why wrong: This is an automatic recovery mechanism, not a violation action.
Log
Why wrong: Logging is part of restrict mode, not a standalone action.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Shutdown
When a port security violation occurs, the switch can be configured to take one of three actions: shutdown, restrict, or protect. The shutdown action (A) immediately disables the port and places it in an errdisable state, which is the default behavior. This is correct because it provides the most secure response by completely blocking traffic from the violating MAC address.
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.
Shutdown
Why this is correct
Disables the port in errdisable state.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Restrict
Why this is correct
Drops offending frames and generates a log/SNMP trap.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Protect
Why this is correct
Drops offending frames silently.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Errdisable recovery
Why it's wrong here
This is an automatic recovery mechanism, not a violation action.
Log
Why it's wrong here
Logging is part of restrict mode, not a standalone action.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction that errdisable recovery is a recovery mechanism, not a violation action, and that logging is a behavior of restrict, not a separate configurable action.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, the shutdown action places the port in an errdisable state with the reason 'psecure-violation', and the port must be manually re-enabled or automatically recovered via errdisable recovery. The restrict action drops traffic from the violating MAC address but increments the security violation counter and sends a syslog message, while the protect action silently drops violating traffic without any notification or counter increment. In a real-world scenario, using protect can mask security issues because no logs are generated, making it harder to detect unauthorized access attempts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Security — This question tests Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Shutdown — When a port security violation occurs, the switch can be configured to take one of three actions: shutdown, restrict, or protect. The shutdown action (A) immediately disables the port and places it in an errdisable state, which is the default behavior. This is correct because it provides the most secure response by completely blocking traffic from the violating MAC address.
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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Same concept, more angles
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. An engineer wants to prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to access ports. Which port security violation mode will disable the port and generate a syslog message?
easyWhy B: The 'shutdown' violation mode is the only port security mode that both disables the port (placing it in an err-disabled state) and generates a syslog message when a violation occurs. This mode immediately shuts down the interface upon detecting an unauthorized MAC address, providing both a clear security alert and a physical disconnection of the offending device.
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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