- A
The configuration is complete; no additional commands are needed.
Why wrong: The IKEv2 proposal and policy are missing. The profile references the keyring but does not define the encryption/integrity parameters.
- B
The profile is missing the 'set transform-set' command to specify the IPsec transform set.
Why wrong: The transform set is part of the IPsec profile, not the IKEv2 profile. The IKEv2 profile is for phase 1; the transform set is for phase 2.
- C
The IKEv2 proposal and policy are not defined and must be referenced by the profile or the IPsec profile.
IKEv2 requires a proposal (encryption, integrity, DH group) and a policy to associate the proposal with the profile. Without these, the IKEv2 negotiation will fail.
- D
The keyring must use a different name to match the profile.
Why wrong: The keyring name is correctly referenced in the profile with the 'keyring' command.
Quick Answer
The answer is that the IKEv2 proposal and policy are missing and must be referenced by the profile. Without a defined IKEv2 proposal specifying encryption, integrity, and Diffie-Hellman group parameters, and a policy that links those parameters to the profile, the router has no cryptographic framework to negotiate with the peer. The keyring and authentication methods are correctly configured, but IKEv2 cannot establish Phase 1 without a proposal-policy pairing. On the ENCOR 350-401 exam, this is a classic trap: candidates see a pre-shared key and authentication commands and assume the tunnel is complete, forgetting that IKEv2 requires an explicit proposal and policy to be either applied directly to the profile or inherited from a global policy. The exam tests your understanding that IKEv2 negotiation is a two-step process—first the proposal/policy, then the authentication. Memory tip: think “Proposal first, policy second, profile third”—without the first two, the third has nothing to negotiate.
350-401 VPN Technologies Practice Question
This 350-401 practice question tests your understanding of vpn technologies. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Given this configuration on a Cisco IOS-XE router:
crypto ikev2 keyring KEYRING
peer SPOKE1 address 192.168.2.1 pre-shared-key cisco123 !
crypto ikev2 profile IKEV2_PROF
match identity remote address 192.168.2.1 255.255.255.255 authentication remote pre-share authentication local pre-share keyring KEYRING !
What is missing from this configuration for a successful IKEv2 tunnel to the peer at 192.168.2.1?
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
The IKEv2 proposal and policy are not defined and must be referenced by the profile or the IPsec profile.
The configuration includes an IKEv2 keyring with a pre-shared key and an IKEv2 profile that matches the peer identity and specifies pre-shared key authentication. However, the IKEv2 proposal and policy are not referenced. The profile must be associated with an IKEv2 policy that defines encryption, integrity, and DH group parameters. Without a proposal/policy, IKEv2 cannot negotiate the security parameters.
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.
- ✗
The configuration is complete; no additional commands are needed.
Why it's wrong here
The IKEv2 proposal and policy are missing. The profile references the keyring but does not define the encryption/integrity parameters.
- ✗
The profile is missing the 'set transform-set' command to specify the IPsec transform set.
Why it's wrong here
The transform set is part of the IPsec profile, not the IKEv2 profile. The IKEv2 profile is for phase 1; the transform set is for phase 2.
- ✓
The IKEv2 proposal and policy are not defined and must be referenced by the profile or the IPsec profile.
Why this is correct
IKEv2 requires a proposal (encryption, integrity, DH group) and a policy to associate the proposal with the profile. Without these, the IKEv2 negotiation will fail.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The keyring must use a different name to match the profile.
Why it's wrong here
The keyring name is correctly referenced in the profile with the 'keyring' command.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The keyring name is correctly referenced in the profile with the 'keyring' command.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 practitioner preparing for the 350-401 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which 350-401 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
- →
VPN Technologies — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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VPN Technologies practice questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 350-401 question test?
VPN Technologies — This question tests VPN Technologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The IKEv2 proposal and policy are not defined and must be referenced by the profile or the IPsec profile. — The configuration includes an IKEv2 keyring with a pre-shared key and an IKEv2 profile that matches the peer identity and specifies pre-shared key authentication. However, the IKEv2 proposal and policy are not referenced. The profile must be associated with an IKEv2 policy that defines encryption, integrity, and DH group parameters. Without a proposal/policy, IKEv2 cannot negotiate the security parameters.
What should I do if I get this 350-401 question wrong?
Identify which 350-401 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on 350-401
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. An engineer is configuring a site-to-site VPN between two Cisco routers using IPsec with IKEv2. The engineer wants to use a pre-shared key. The configuration on both routers includes: crypto ikev2 proposal default, encryption aes-cbc-256, integrity sha256, group 14. The engineer also configures crypto ikev2 keyring and crypto ikev2 profile. The tunnel does not establish. The engineer sees that the IKEv2 SA is not created. What is the most likely missing configuration?
hard- A.The IKEv2 proposal is not configured correctly.
- ✓ B.The IKEv2 profile is not attached to the crypto map or interface.
- C.The IPsec transform set is missing.
- D.The pre-shared key is not defined in the keyring.
Why B: In IKEv2, the crypto ikev2 profile must be applied to the interface or the crypto map. Without applying the profile, the router will not use the configured keyring and proposal. Option B is correct because the profile must be attached. Option A is incorrect because the proposal is configured. Option C is incorrect because the transform set is for IPsec, not IKE. Option D is incorrect because the keyring is configured.
Keep practising
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Last reviewed: Jun 18, 2026
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.
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