350-601 Security Practice Question
Which TWO methods are used to secure management plane access on Cisco Nexus 9000 series switches?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between mechanisms that secure the management plane itself (SSH, AAA) versus mechanisms that protect the control plane (CoPP) or segment traffic (VRF), leading candidates to incorrectly select CoPP or VRF as management plane security methods.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
SSH
SSH (Secure Shell) is correct because it provides encrypted remote access to the management plane, preventing eavesdropping and session hijacking. AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) is correct because it centralizes user authentication and authorization for management access, enforcing role-based access control (RBAC) via RADIUS or TACACS+ servers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
SNMPv3
Why it's wrong here
SNMPv3 is used for secure monitoring, not direct management plane access.
- ✗
CoPP
Why it's wrong here
CoPP protects the control plane from excessive traffic, not management plane access.
- ✓
SSH
Why this is correct
SSH encrypts management traffic, securing remote access.
- ✓
AAA
Why this is correct
AAA provides authentication, authorization, and accounting for management access.
- ✗
VRF
Why it's wrong here
VRF is used for network segmentation, not for securing management plane access.
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-601 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 350-601 exam.