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350-701 Practice Question: Which THREE are valid components of an IKEv2…
Which THREE are valid components of an IKEv2 exchange? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between IKEv1 and IKEv2 phases, and the trap here is that candidates familiar with IKEv1 mistakenly select Main Mode or Aggressive Mode as valid IKEv2 components, not realizing IKEv2 uses entirely different exchange names.
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
✓
IKE_SA_INIT exchange
IKEv2 simplifies the Internet Key Exchange process by using only two exchanges to establish an IPsec security association: the IKE_SA_INIT exchange (for negotiating cryptographic parameters and exchanging Diffie-Hellman public values) and the IKE_AUTH exchange (for authenticating the peers and establishing the first child SA). These are the mandatory exchanges defined in RFC 7296, making options C and D correct. The INFORMATIONAL exchange is also a valid component of IKEv2, used for error reporting and deleting SAs, which is why option E is correct.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Aggressive Mode exchange
Why it's wrong here
Aggressive Mode is IKEv1 only.
- ✗
Main Mode exchange
Why it's wrong here
Main Mode is used in IKEv1, not IKEv2.
- ✓
IKE_SA_INIT exchange
Why this is correct
First pair of messages to negotiate cryptographic parameters and exchange nonces.
- ✓
IKE_AUTH exchange
Why this is correct
Second pair to authenticate identities and establish first IPsec SA.
- ✓
INFORMATIONAL exchange
Why this is correct
Used for error reporting, deletion, and status.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
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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.