Match each Cisco switch security feature to its function.
Drag a concept onto its matching description — or click a concept then click the description.
Limits MAC addresses on a port
Filters untrusted DHCP messages
Validates ARP packets
Prevents IP spoofing
Limits broadcast/multicast traffic
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Port Security: Limits the number of MAC addresses allowed on a switch port.
Port Security limits MAC addresses per port to prevent MAC flooding. DHCP Snooping filters DHCP messages to block rogue servers. Dynamic ARP Inspection validates ARP packets using DHCP snooping entries to prevent spoofing. IP Source Guard filters IP traffic based on the binding table to prevent IP spoofing. Common confusions include swapping these functions, e.g., assigning ARP spoofing prevention to Port Security or MAC flooding prevention to DHCP Snooping.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Port Security: Limits the number of MAC addresses allowed on a switch port.
Why this is correct
Port Security restricts MAC addresses on a port to prevent MAC flooding attacks.
DHCP Snooping: Filters DHCP messages to prevent unauthorized DHCP servers.
Why this is correct
DHCP Snooping validates DHCP messages and blocks rogue DHCP servers.
Dynamic ARP Inspection: Validates ARP packets using the DHCP snooping binding table.
Why this is correct
DAI inspects ARP packets and compares them with DHCP snooping entries to prevent ARP spoofing.
IP Source Guard: Filters IP traffic based on the DHCP snooping binding table.
Why this is correct
IP Source Guard ensures that IP traffic originates from valid sources as per DHCP snooping.
Port Security: Prevents ARP spoofing attacks.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect — ARP spoofing prevention is a function of Dynamic ARP Inspection, not Port Security.
DHCP Snooping: Prevents MAC flooding attacks.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect — MAC flooding attacks are mitigated by Port Security, not DHCP Snooping.
Visual reference
Quick reference
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
Learn chapter
ACLs and Infrastructure Security Features
Key term
IP Source Guard
IP Source Guard is a network security feature that blocks IP address spoofing by verifying that each packet's source IP address matches an authorized binding assigned to that switch port.
Key term
L2 Security Features
L2 Security Features are network security mechanisms that operate at Layer 2 of the OSI model to protect local network traffic from threats like MAC spoofing, ARP attacks, and unauthorized access.
About these practice questions
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.