easyMultiple SelectObjective-mapped
350-401 Practice Question: Which two statements about IPsec VPNs are true?…
Which two statements about IPsec VPNs are true? (Choose two.)
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
✓
IPsec tunnel mode encrypts the entire original IP packet and adds a new IP header.
IPsec can operate in transport mode (protecting payload only) or tunnel mode (protecting entire IP packet). IKEv2 is more secure and efficient than IKEv1. IPsec does not use UDP encapsulation by default; UDP encapsulation is used for NAT traversal. AH provides authentication and integrity but not encryption. IPsec does not operate at Layer 2.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
IPsec tunnel mode encrypts the entire original IP packet and adds a new IP header.
Why this is correct
Correct because in tunnel mode, the whole original packet is encapsulated and encrypted, with a new IP header for the tunnel endpoints.
- ✓
IKEv2 is more secure and supports EAP authentication, unlike IKEv1.
Why this is correct
Correct because IKEv2 includes built-in DoS protection, EAP authentication, and is more efficient than IKEv1.
- ✗
IPsec always uses UDP port 500 for all its traffic.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because UDP 500 is used only for IKE negotiation; ESP (protocol 50) and AH (protocol 51) do not use UDP by default.
- ✗
AH provides encryption of the IP packet payload.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because AH provides authentication and integrity, but not encryption; ESP provides encryption.
- ✗
IPsec operates at Layer 2 of the OSI model.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect because IPsec is a Layer 3 security protocol that operates at the network layer.
Visual reference
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.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 1,175 original 350-401 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
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.