Question 209 of 500

350-701 Practice Question: Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement

This 350-701 practice question tests your understanding of secure network access, visibility and enforcement. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.

Which TWO are valid options for configuring a switch port to handle authentication failures in an 802.1X environment? (Select two.)

Question 1hardmulti select
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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

authentication event no-response action authorize vlan 100

Options A and C are correct. A: 'authentication event fail action authorize vlan 999' allows placing the port in a guest VLAN on failure. B: 'authentication event server dead action reinitialize' is for RADIUS server failure, not authentication failure. C: 'authentication event no-response action authorize vlan 100' is for when the endpoint does not respond to EAPOL. D: 'authentication port-control force-authorized' forces the port to authorized state, bypassing authentication entirely. E: 'dot1x critical' is for critical voice VLAN, not failure handling.

Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

  • authentication event no-response action authorize vlan 100

    Why this is correct

    This is used when the endpoint does not respond to 802.1X (e.g., non-802.1X device).

    Related concept

    Authentication checks who the user is.

  • dot1x critical profile

    Why it's wrong here

    This is for critical voice VLAN, not for handling authentication failures.

  • authentication event server dead action reinitialize

    Why it's wrong here

    This action is for when the RADIUS server is unreachable, not for authentication failure.

  • authentication port-control force-authorized

    Why it's wrong here

    This bypasses authentication and allows all traffic.

  • authentication event fail action authorize vlan 999

    Why this is correct

    This moves the port to a guest VLAN when authentication fails.

    Related concept

    Authentication checks who the user is.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization

Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.

KKey Concepts to Remember

  • Authentication checks who the user is.
  • Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
  • Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
  • AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.

TExam Day Tips

  • Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
  • Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
  • Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.

Key takeaway

Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A help-desk technician troubleshoots why a newly connected PC cannot reach shared printers on the same floor. The cable is good, the switch port is active, but the PC is in VLAN 20 and the printers are in VLAN 10. The uplink trunk only allows VLAN 10. A trunk being up does not mean every VLAN crosses it.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 350-701 questions on access control and AAA configuration.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 350-701 question test?

Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement — This question tests Secure Network Access, Visibility and Enforcement — Authentication checks who the user is..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: authentication event no-response action authorize vlan 100 — Options A and C are correct. A: 'authentication event fail action authorize vlan 999' allows placing the port in a guest VLAN on failure. B: 'authentication event server dead action reinitialize' is for RADIUS server failure, not authentication failure. C: 'authentication event no-response action authorize vlan 100' is for when the endpoint does not respond to EAPOL. D: 'authentication port-control force-authorized' forces the port to authorized state, bypassing authentication entirely. E: 'dot1x critical' is for critical voice VLAN, not failure handling.

What should I do if I get this 350-701 question wrong?

Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 350-701 questions on access control and AAA configuration.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Authentication checks who the user is.

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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026

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