350-501 Security and Services Practice Question
What is the purpose of NTP authentication in a service provider network?
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
✓
To verify the identity of the NTP server
NTP authentication ensures that time synchronization messages are from a trusted source, preventing spoofed NTP packets that could cause time changes affecting logs, protocols, and security.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
To encrypt NTP traffic
Why it's wrong here
NTP authentication does not encrypt; it only provides integrity.
- ✗
To rate-limit NTP packets
Why it's wrong here
Rate-limiting is done by CoPP, not NTP authentication.
- ✗
To synchronize time across devices
Why it's wrong here
Synchronization is the function of NTP itself, not authentication.
- ✓
To verify the identity of the NTP server
Why this is correct
Authentication uses keys to verify that the server is legitimate.
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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.