350-501 Security and Services Practice Question
An engineer is configuring NTP authentication on IOS XR routers to ensure secure time synchronization. What is required for NTP authentication to work?
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
✓
A pre-shared key configured on both NTP client and server
NTP authentication uses a shared key (MD5 or SHA) configured on both client and server. The key must match for the client to accept time updates.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
SNMPv3 for secure time exchange
Why it's wrong here
NTP authentication is separate from SNMP.
- ✓
A pre-shared key configured on both NTP client and server
Why this is correct
The key must be shared and trusted.
- ✗
A digital certificate from a CA
Why it's wrong here
NTP authentication uses symmetric keys, not certificates.
- ✗
An ACL permitting NTP traffic
Why it's wrong here
ACLs control access but are not required for authentication.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 350-501 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 350-501 exam.