This 300-410 practice question tests your understanding of ipsec site-to-site vpn. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
In IPsec site-to-site VPN, what is the default IPsec SA lifetime in Cisco IOS?
86400 seconds and 256000 kilobytes
Why wrong: These values are not defaults for IPsec SA.
3600 seconds and 4608000 kilobytes
This is the standard Cisco default for IPsec SA lifetime.
28800 seconds and 1000000 kilobytes
Why wrong: Incorrect values.
1800 seconds and 256000 kilobytes
Why wrong: These are not defaults.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
3600 seconds and 4608000 kilobytes
Option B is correct because the default IPsec Security Association (SA) lifetime in Cisco IOS for site-to-site VPNs is 3600 seconds (1 hour) and 4,608,000 kilobytes (4.5 GB). These values are defined in the IPsec transform set configuration and control when the SA expires, triggering a rekey via IKEv1 or IKEv2 to maintain secure communication.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
86400 seconds and 256000 kilobytes
Why it's wrong here
These values are not defaults for IPsec SA.
3600 seconds and 4608000 kilobytes
Why this is correct
This is the standard Cisco default for IPsec SA lifetime.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
28800 seconds and 1000000 kilobytes
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect values.
1800 seconds and 256000 kilobytes
Why it's wrong here
These are not defaults.
Common exam traps
Cisco often tests the distinction between the default IKE SA lifetime (86400 seconds) and the default IPsec SA lifetime (3600 seconds), causing candidates to confuse the two and select option A.
Detailed technical explanation
The IPsec SA lifetime consists of two independent triggers: a time-based value (3600 seconds) and a traffic-based value (4,608,000 kilobytes). Whichever is reached first causes the SA to expire, forcing a renegotiation of new keys. In real-world deployments, adjusting these values can reduce overhead in high-traffic links or extend them to avoid frequent rekeys in stable environments, but the defaults balance security and performance.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the 300-410 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
IPsec Site-to-Site VPN — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
IPsec Site-to-Site VPN practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All 300-410 questions
2,152 questions across all exam domains
Cisco CCNP ENARSI 300-410 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
300-410 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Layer 3 Technologies.
Practise 300-410 questions linked to EIGRP Troubleshooting.
Practise 300-410 questions linked to OSPF Troubleshooting (v2/v3).
Practise 300-410 questions linked to BGP Troubleshooting.
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Route Redistribution.
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Policy-Based Routing (PBR).
Practise 300-410 questions linked to VRF-Lite.
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Route Maps and Route Filtering.
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Administrative Distance.
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Route Summarization.
Practise 300-410 questions linked to Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD).
Practise 300-410 questions linked to VPN Technologies.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
IPsec Site-to-Site VPN — This question tests IPsec Site-to-Site VPN — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 3600 seconds and 4608000 kilobytes — Option B is correct because the default IPsec Security Association (SA) lifetime in Cisco IOS for site-to-site VPNs is 3600 seconds (1 hour) and 4,608,000 kilobytes (4.5 GB). These values are defined in the IPsec transform set configuration and control when the SA expires, triggering a rekey via IKEv1 or IKEv2 to maintain secure communication.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Keep practising
Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This 300-410 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 300-410 exam.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.