The correct answer is that network devices must have profiling enabled and be configured with SNMP. Cisco ISE relies on SNMP to poll switches and wireless LAN controllers for critical endpoint attributes like MAC addresses and hostnames, using MIBs such as BRIDGE-MIB to map MAC-to-port associations. Without SNMP configured on the network infrastructure, ISE cannot collect the data needed to correlate endpoints to their connected ports, making profiling impossible. On the Cisco SCOR 350-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of the ISE profiling prerequisite SNMP dependency—a common trap is assuming that only endpoint agents or DHCP snooping are sufficient, but SNMP is essential for Layer 2 discovery. A useful memory tip: think of SNMP as the "network eyes" for ISE—without it, the profiler is blind to switch-port mappings.
350-701 Network Security Practice Question
This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of network 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.
An administrator is configuring Cisco ISE to profile endpoints. The administrator wants to ensure that endpoints are correctly identified based on MAC address and hostname. Which of the following is a prerequisite for successful profiling?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The network devices must have profiling enabled and be configured with SNMP.
C is correct because Cisco ISE uses SNMP to query network devices (switches, wireless LAN controllers) for endpoint attributes such as MAC addresses and hostnames. Profiling must be enabled on the network devices, and SNMP (typically v2c or v3) must be configured so that ISE can collect the necessary data via MIBs like BRIDGE-MIB or ENTITY-MIB to correlate MAC-to-port mappings and hostname information.
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.
✗
The DHCP server must be configured with option 82.
Why it's wrong here
Option 82 is useful but not required for basic profiling.
✗
The endpoints must have the ISE agent installed.
Why it's wrong here
ISE agent is not required for profiling; passive methods like SNMP and DHCP are used.
✓
The network devices must have profiling enabled and be configured with SNMP.
Why this is correct
Network devices must be configured with SNMP to allow ISE to poll for MAC addresses and hostnames.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think an agent or a specific DHCP option is required for profiling, but Cisco tests the understanding that passive network probes like SNMP are the foundational mechanism for MAC and hostname discovery without endpoint software.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, ISE uses SNMP to poll network devices for the bridge forwarding table (dot1dTpFdbEntry) to map MAC addresses to switch ports, and then queries the device's ARP table or hostname MIBs (e.g., ipNetToMediaPhysAddress) to associate IP addresses and hostnames. In real-world deployments, if SNMP community strings or credentials are misconfigured, ISE will fail to collect endpoint data, leading to profiling failures even if other probes (DHCP, HTTP) are working.
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 practitioner preparing for the 350-701 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
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.
Network Security — This question tests Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The network devices must have profiling enabled and be configured with SNMP. — C is correct because Cisco ISE uses SNMP to query network devices (switches, wireless LAN controllers) for endpoint attributes such as MAC addresses and hostnames. Profiling must be enabled on the network devices, and SNMP (typically v2c or v3) must be configured so that ISE can collect the necessary data via MIBs like BRIDGE-MIB or ENTITY-MIB to correlate MAC-to-port mappings and hostname information.
What should I do if I get this 350-701 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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