350-401 Architecture Practice Question
A network architect is designing a Cisco SD-WAN fabric for a company with 50 branch sites. The company wants to ensure that business-critical traffic (such as VoIP and ERP) is prioritized over best-effort traffic (such as guest internet) across the overlay. The architect plans to use the vManage controller to define an application-aware routing policy. Which component of the Cisco SD-WAN solution is responsible for enforcing the application-aware routing policy on the data plane?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming that the management or control plane component (vManage or vSmart) enforces the policy, when in fact enforcement happens at the data plane edge device.
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
✓
vEdge router
In Cisco SD-WAN, application-aware routing policies are defined centrally on vManage, but they are enforced by the data plane devices—vEdge routers (or cEdge routers). These devices inspect traffic, identify applications, and apply the policy actions such as preferred path or SLA-based forwarding. The vSmart controller distributes policy information, but it does not process user traffic. Therefore, the vEdge router is the correct answer.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
vManage
Why it's wrong here
vManage is the management plane component where policies are created and pushed to devices, but it does not enforce them on the data plane. It provides a GUI and API for configuration, monitoring, and policy definition. Enforcement occurs at the branch or data center edge devices. Therefore, vManage is not the component that actually prioritizes traffic in the overlay.
- ✓
vEdge router
Why this is correct
The vEdge router (or cEdge in Cisco SD-WAN) is the data plane device that actually enforces application-aware routing policies. It inspects traffic, classifies applications, and applies the forwarding decisions defined in the policy. Since the question asks where the policy is enforced, the vEdge router is the correct component because it sits in the forwarding path and executes the policy.
- ✗
vBond orchestrator
Why it's wrong here
The vBond orchestrator is responsible for initial authentication and orchestration of SD-WAN devices, including NAT traversal and controller discovery. It does not enforce application-aware routing policies or inspect traffic on the data plane. Policies are pushed by vManage and enforced by vEdge/cEdge devices. Thus, vBond is not the correct component for traffic prioritization in this scenario.
- ✗
vSmart controller
Why it's wrong here
The vSmart controller is responsible for the control plane: it distributes routing and policy information (such as OMP routes and TLOCs) to vEdge devices. While it propagates policies, it does not enforce application-aware routing on the data plane. Enforcement is done by the edge devices. Hence, vSmart is not the correct answer for where the policy is applied to traffic.
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Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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