This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of sd-wan architecture. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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.
A network architect is designing a Cisco SD-Access fabric for a university campus that requires segmentation between student, faculty, and guest traffic. The design must use Cisco TrustSec for scalable security group tags (SGTs) and integrate with Cisco ISE for policy enforcement. Which fabric component should the architect use to enforce SGT-based policies at the access layer?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Fabric edge node
The fabric edge node is the correct component because it is the access-layer switch in Cisco SD-Access that performs SGT-based enforcement. It receives SGT-to-SGT policy from Cisco ISE via the control plane node and applies the corresponding security ACLs (SGACLs) at the port level, ensuring segmentation between student, faculty, and guest traffic at the point of entry.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Fabric border node
Why it's wrong here
The border node connects the fabric to external networks but does not enforce SGT policies at the access layer.
✗
Fabric control plane node
Why it's wrong here
The control plane node maintains the LISP mapping database but does not enforce SGT policies.
✓
Fabric edge node
Why this is correct
The fabric edge switch enforces SGT-based policies by applying SGACLs based on the SGT assigned by ISE during authentication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Wireless LAN controller
Why it's wrong here
The WLC may assign SGTs to wireless clients, but the enforcement of SGT policies occurs at the fabric edge switch.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that the fabric border node or control plane node enforces policies, when in fact the fabric edge node is the only device that applies SGT-based access control at the access layer.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the fabric edge node uses Cisco TrustSec's SGT Exchange Protocol (SXP) to receive SGT mappings from ISE via the control plane node, then applies SGACLs locally using hardware ACLs in the switch ASIC. In a real-world scenario, a faculty member's device tagged with SGT=3 might be allowed to access student records (SGT=5), while guest traffic (SGT=7) is denied, all enforced at the fabric edge without hair-pinning traffic to a central firewall.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 350-401 question in full detail.
SD-WAN Architecture — This question tests SD-WAN Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Fabric edge node — The fabric edge node is the correct component because it is the access-layer switch in Cisco SD-Access that performs SGT-based enforcement. It receives SGT-to-SGT policy from Cisco ISE via the control plane node and applies the corresponding security ACLs (SGACLs) at the port level, ensuring segmentation between student, faculty, and guest traffic at the point of entry.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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