hardMultiple Choice
FC0-U71 Practice Question: A network administrator wants to restrict access…
A network administrator wants to restrict access to the wireless network to only approved devices. Which security feature should be enabled on the access point?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse MAC filtering with encryption or SSID hiding, thinking that hiding the network or using strong encryption alone can restrict device access, but neither prevents an unauthorized device from connecting if it has the SSID or password.
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
✓
MAC filtering
MAC filtering allows the access point to permit or deny network access based on the device's MAC address, which is a unique hardware identifier. By creating an allowlist of approved MAC addresses, the administrator can restrict the wireless network to only those devices. This directly addresses the requirement to limit access to approved devices.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Firewall rules
Why it's wrong here
Firewall rules filter traffic by IP address, port and protocol, not by device identity, so an unknown device joining the SSID still passes. They are tempting because they do segment and block traffic, and would be right for controlling server-to-server flows, but MAC filtering or 802.1X is what restricts wireless access to approved hardware.
- ✗
Disable SSID broadcast
Why it's wrong here
Disabling SSID broadcast only hides the network name; any device can still associate if it knows or guesses the SSID. It is tempting as a casual obscurity measure, and would be correct for reducing accidental connections, not for enforcing device approval.
- ✗
WPA2 encryption
Why it's wrong here
WPA2 encrypts traffic and authenticates users via a shared passphrase, but any device holding that passphrase can join. It is tempting as the baseline wireless security control, and would be correct for confidentiality, not for restricting access to specific approved devices.
- ✓
MAC filtering
Why this is correct
MAC filtering lets the access point maintain an allow-list of approved hardware addresses, rejecting association attempts from any other device. This directly enforces the stated constraint of permitting only sanctioned hardware onto the wireless network.
Visual reference
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| 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
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This FC0-U71 question is part of Courseiva's 988-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This FC0-U71 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 FC0-U71 exam.