350-401 Architecture Practice Question
A network architect is designing a WAN with Cisco SD-WAN. The requirement is to ensure that traffic from a branch office to a critical SaaS application is prioritized and uses the best path based on real-time performance metrics. Which Cisco SD-WAN feature should be used to meet this requirement?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently confuse QoS, which prioritizes traffic within a path, with Application-Aware Routing, which selects the path based on performance metrics.
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
✓
Application-Aware Routing
Application-Aware Routing is the correct feature because it uses real-time performance metrics to select the best path for applications, ensuring critical SaaS traffic is prioritized and uses the optimal path. It integrates with QoS to enforce prioritization, meeting the requirement. Other features like DIA and QoS address different aspects but do not provide dynamic path selection based on performance.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Cisco Umbrella
Why it's wrong here
Cisco Umbrella provides DNS-layer security and secure internet gateway, protecting users from threats. It does not handle path selection or traffic prioritization based on performance metrics. While it can be integrated with SD-WAN for security, it does not meet the requirement of ensuring critical SaaS traffic uses the best path. Therefore, it is not the correct answer.
- ✗
Quality of Service (QoS)
Why it's wrong here
QoS is used to prioritize traffic within a path, but it does not select the best path based on real-time performance metrics. It can mark and queue traffic, but path selection is handled by Application-Aware Routing. In this scenario, the requirement includes using the best path based on performance, which QoS alone cannot provide. Thus, it is not the correct answer.
- ✗
Direct Internet Access (DIA)
Why it's wrong here
Direct Internet Access allows branch traffic to go directly to the internet instead of backhauling to a central site. While it improves performance for SaaS, it does not inherently prioritize traffic or select paths based on real-time metrics. It is a connectivity method, not a path selection mechanism. In this scenario, the requirement is for prioritization and best path selection, so DIA alone is insufficient.
- ✓
Application-Aware Routing
Why this is correct
Application-Aware Routing (AAR) in Cisco SD-WAN uses real-time performance metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss to select the best path for specific applications. It can direct traffic based on SLA policies, ensuring critical SaaS applications get prioritized treatment. This feature meets the requirement by dynamically choosing the optimal path and enforcing QoS. Therefore, it is the correct answer.
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JA
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
This 350-401 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 350-401 exam.