The answer is implementing role-based access control (RBAC) for management access, alongside device hardening and encryption. RBAC is a core best practice because it enforces the principle of least privilege, ensuring that users and processes only have the permissions necessary for their specific roles, which directly limits the blast radius of a compromised account. On the Cisco DCCOR 350-601 exam, this concept appears in the context of securing the data center fabric, where you must distinguish RBAC from authentication protocols like TACACS+ or RADIUS—a common trap is confusing authorization with authentication. Device hardening, such as disabling unused services like HTTP or CDP, reduces the attack surface by eliminating unnecessary entry points, while encryption protects data in transit across the network. For the exam, remember the mnemonic “HARD” for Hardening, Authentication/Authorization (RBAC), Role separation, and Data encryption to recall the three pillars of data center network security best practices.
350-601 Security Practice Question
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.
Which THREE are best practices for securing a data center network? (Choose three.)
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Apply device hardening, such as disabling unused services.
Device hardening, such as disabling unused services, is a fundamental best practice for securing a data center network. By reducing the attack surface, you eliminate potential entry points for exploits, which is a core principle of Cisco's secure network design. This aligns with the Cisco Nexus and IOS-XE hardening guidelines, where services like HTTP, Telnet, or CDP are disabled to prevent unauthorized access or reconnaissance.
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.
✓
Apply device hardening, such as disabling unused services.
Why this is correct
Hardening reduces attack surface.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Use encryption (e.g., MACsec, IPsec) for sensitive traffic.
Why this is correct
Encryption protects data in transit.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Implement role-based access control (RBAC) for management access.
Why this is correct
RBAC limits administrative privileges.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable logging to reduce CPU load.
Why it's wrong here
Logging is essential for security monitoring.
✗
Use default SNMP community strings for simplicity.
Why it's wrong here
Default strings are well-known and insecure.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the concept that security best practices must never sacrifice security for performance or convenience, so traps like 'disable logging' or 'use default strings' are designed to lure candidates who prioritize operational simplicity over security.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MACsec (802.1AE) provides hop-by-hop encryption at Layer 2, protecting traffic between directly connected switches, while IPsec encrypts at Layer 3 for traffic across routed segments. RBAC in Cisco NX-OS uses roles and rules to restrict management access, leveraging AAA (TACACS+/RADIUS) for centralized control. In a real-world scenario, a multi-tenant data center would use RBAC to segregate administrators by tenant, preventing accidental or malicious cross-tenant configuration changes.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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: Apply device hardening, such as disabling unused services. — Device hardening, such as disabling unused services, is a fundamental best practice for securing a data center network. By reducing the attack surface, you eliminate potential entry points for exploits, which is a core principle of Cisco's secure network design. This aligns with the Cisco Nexus and IOS-XE hardening guidelines, where services like HTTP, Telnet, or CDP are disabled to prevent unauthorized access or reconnaissance.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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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