SDSI Secure Infrastructure Design Practice Question
For a high-availability firewall architecture, which design element is critical when utilizing a routed-mode configuration in a data center?
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
✓
Utilizing a dedicated stateful failover link between firewalls.
Stateful failover ensures that session information is synchronized, preventing connection drops during a device swap.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Configuring HSRP between firewall interfaces.
Why it's wrong here
HSRP is for routers; firewalls use Failover links.
- ✗
Implementing OSPF equal-cost multi-path (ECMP) for load balancing.
Why it's wrong here
ECMP is for traffic distribution, not firewall failover state synchronization.
- ✗
Using a virtual MAC address per interface.
Why it's wrong here
MAC addresses are handled by the failover mechanism automatically.
- ✓
Utilizing a dedicated stateful failover link between firewalls.
Why this is correct
The failover link is required to sync connection tables and configurations.
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every SDSI question from scratch — 298 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
This SDSI 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 SDSI exam.