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350-701 Practice Question: A network security engineer is deploying Cisco…
A network security engineer is deploying Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) in a data center. The requirement is to inspect traffic between two internal VLANs while allowing the firewall to enforce access control policies based on source and destination zones. Which deployment mode should the engineer use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between 'transparent mode' and 'inline mode'—the trap here is that candidates confuse 'inline' (a deployment topology for IPS sensors) with 'transparent' (a Layer 2 firewall mode), leading them to incorrectly select inline mode when the question asks about firewall deployment modes for FTD.
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
✓
Transparent mode
Transparent mode (Layer 2 mode) is correct because the requirement specifies inspecting traffic between two internal VLANs without routing. In transparent mode, the FTD acts as a bridge, forwarding frames based on MAC addresses while enforcing access control policies based on source and destination zones. This allows the firewall to inspect inter-VLAN traffic without requiring IP address changes or acting as a default gateway.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Routed mode
Why it's wrong here
Routed mode requires IP changes and is not optimal for same-subnet traffic inspection between VLANs.
- ✗
Inline mode
Why it's wrong here
Inline mode is not a standard FTD deployment mode; it refers to inline tap/set on Firepower sensors.
- ✓
Transparent mode
Why this is correct
Transparent mode operates at layer 2, allowing inspection between VLANs without IP renumbering.
- ✗
Hybrid mode
Why it's wrong here
Hybrid mode is not a valid deployment mode for FTD.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-701 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 350-701 exam.