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220-1201 Practice Question: A network administrator needs to segment traffic…
A network administrator needs to segment traffic between the accounting and HR departments to prevent unauthorized access, while still allowing both to reach the internet. The company uses a single managed switch and a router. Which configuration approach meets these requirements?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently think VLANs alone provide security without considering that inter-VLAN routing must be explicitly configured on the router to enable internet access, or they may confuse MAC address filtering with network segmentation.
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
✓
Configure VLANs on the switch and set up a trunk port to the router with subinterfaces
VLANs logically segment traffic between departments on a single switch, and configuring a trunk port to the router with subinterfaces (using VLAN tagging) allows inter-VLAN routing for internet access while maintaining isolation between the accounting and HR VLANs. This approach meets the requirement of preventing unauthorized access between departments while enabling shared internet connectivity through the router.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Create two separate subnets and connect each department to a different physical switch
Why it's wrong here
Creating two subnets on separate physical switches fails because the scenario explicitly states the company uses a single managed switch, so adding a second physical switch is not an available resource. This approach is tempting because VLANs are often confused with physical separation; in a multi-switch environment, subnetting across distinct switches would indeed enforce isolation without VLAN configuration.
- ✓
Configure VLANs on the switch and set up a trunk port to the router with subinterfaces
Why this is correct
VLANs isolate traffic, and the trunk with subinterfaces (router-on-a-stick) allows the router to route between VLANs and to the internet.
- ✗
Assign static IPs to all devices and enable MAC address filtering on the switch
Why it's wrong here
MAC filtering controls which devices connect but does not segment traffic; all devices would still be on the same broadcast domain.
- ✗
Use a firewall between the two departments and disable inter-VLAN routing
Why it's wrong here
This adds complexity and cost; VLANs with proper routing policies are the standard method for segmentation on a single switch.
Visual reference
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
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