350-701 Practice Question: Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement
Which TWO are common causes for CoA (Change of Authorization) failures in a Cisco ISE deployment? (Choose two.)
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
✓
The switch does not support the CoA protocol.
Options A and C are correct. The switch must support CoA (RFC 3576) for the protocol to work, and the RADIUS shared secret between ISE and the switch must match for CoA packets to be accepted. Option B is not a common cause because ISE and the switch can be in different subnets as long as network connectivity exists. Option D is incorrect because 'authentication periodic' is a feature that triggers reauthentication, not a cause of CoA failure. Option E is incorrect because a wireless controller that proxies RADIUS can still forward CoA packets.
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 switch does not support the CoA protocol.
Why this is correct
Correct. The switch must support CoA (RFC 3576) for CoA packets to be processed. If it does not, CoA operations will fail.
- ✗
The ISE node serving the CoA is not in the same subnet as the switch.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. ISE can send CoA packets to switches in different subnets as long as IP connectivity exists. This is not a common cause of failure.
- ✓
The RADIUS shared secret between ISE and switch is mismatched.
Why this is correct
Correct. The RADIUS shared secret must match on both ISE and the switch for CoA packets to be accepted. A mismatch causes CoA failures.
- ✗
The switch port is configured with 'authentication periodic'.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. The 'authentication periodic' command configures periodic re-authentication of the endpoint, which is a feature, not a cause of CoA failure.
- ✗
The endpoint is connected through a wireless controller that proxies RADIUS.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. A wireless controller that proxies RADIUS can still forward CoA packets to the endpoint. This does not inherently cause CoA failures.
Visual reference
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 350-701 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.