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.
Two data center switches are connected via a fiber link. They need to encrypt all traffic at Layer 2. Which configuration is required on both switches to establish MACsec?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Enable MACsec and configure a pre-shared key or CA
MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE) provides hop-by-hop Layer 2 encryption between directly connected switches. To establish a MACsec session, both switches must enable MACsec on the interface and either configure a pre-shared key (PSK) or use a CA (Connectivity Association) key agreement protocol like MKA (MACsec Key Agreement, IEEE 802.1X-2010). This ensures all Ethernet frames are encrypted at the data link layer.
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.
✗
Configure the interface as a trunk
Why it's wrong here
Trunking allows multiple VLANs but does not provide encryption.
✓
Enable MACsec and configure a pre-shared key or CA
Why this is correct
MACsec must be enabled and a security key configured (PSK or CA) to establish secure links.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
802.1X is for network access control, not encryption; MACsec uses MKA which can be independent.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the distinction between Layer 2 encryption (MACsec) and Layer 3 encryption (IPsec), and candidates mistakenly choose IPsec because they associate 'encryption' with IPsec, forgetting that MACsec is the correct solution for Layer 2 traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MACsec uses a GCM-AES-128 cipher (or GCM-AES-256) to encrypt the entire Ethernet payload while preserving the MAC header. The MKA protocol (IEEE 802.1X-2010) manages key derivation and distribution, using a Connectivity Association Key (CAK) to derive secure session keys. In a real-world scenario, MACsec is often deployed between top-of-rack (ToR) switches and spine switches in a data center fabric to prevent eavesdropping on inter-switch links, especially in multi-tenant environments.
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: Enable MACsec and configure a pre-shared key or CA — MACsec (IEEE 802.1AE) provides hop-by-hop Layer 2 encryption between directly connected switches. To establish a MACsec session, both switches must enable MACsec on the interface and either configure a pre-shared key (PSK) or use a CA (Connectivity Association) key agreement protocol like MKA (MACsec Key Agreement, IEEE 802.1X-2010). This ensures all Ethernet frames are encrypted at the data link layer.
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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