hardMultiple Select
350-401 Practice Question: Which three statements about the Cisco Enterprise…
Which three statements about the Cisco Enterprise WAN design principles are true? (Choose three.)
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is confusing DMVPN with traditional full-mesh IPsec VPNs; candidates may think DMVPN requires a full mesh, but it actually eliminates that requirement.
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
✓
SD-WAN architecture separates the control plane and data plane, allowing centralized policy management.
Option A is correct because SD-WAN (e.g., Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN/Viptela) physically and logically separates the control plane (vSmart controllers using OMP) from the data plane (vEdge/cEdge routers forwarding traffic), which enables centralized policy configuration and distribution. Option B is correct because dual-homing a branch to two distinct service provider edge routers provides path and device redundancy, so a single provider router or link failure does not isolate the branch, thereby increasing WAN availability. Option D is correct because MPLS Layer 3 VPNs use per-customer VRF instances on provider edge routers to keep overlapping customer address spaces and routing tables logically isolated while MPLS labels (e.g., VPNv4 route targets) carry the traffic across the provider core. Option C is not correct because DMVPN is specifically designed to avoid a full mesh of static tunnels; it uses mGRE with NHRP to build dynamic spoke-to-spoke tunnels on demand. Option E is also not correct because DMVPN does not require a full mesh of IPsec tunnels between spokes—spokes register with the hub via NHRP and only form direct IPsec tunnels dynamically when needed.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
SD-WAN architecture separates the control plane and data plane, allowing centralized policy management.
Why this is correct
Correct because SD-WAN uses a controller-based approach where the control plane is centralized, simplifying policy deployment.
- ✓
Dual-homing a branch office to two different service provider routers increases WAN availability.
Why this is correct
Correct because dual-homing provides redundancy; if one link or provider fails, traffic can use the other.
- ✗
DMVPN requires a full mesh of static IPsec tunnels between all spoke routers.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because DMVPN uses dynamic mGRE tunnels and NHRP to build tunnels on demand, not static full mesh.
- ✓
MPLS Layer 3 VPNs use Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) instances to provide customer isolation.
Why this is correct
Correct because MPLS L3VPNs assign a VRF per customer, keeping routing tables separate and allowing overlapping IP addresses.
- ✗
DMVPN requires a full mesh of IPsec tunnels between all spoke routers.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because DMVPN typically uses a hub-and-spoke topology; spokes do not need to form tunnels with each other unless configured for spoke-to-spoke.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
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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.