The answer is 802.1X/EAP, as it is the only option that delivers the highest security wireless authentication by integrating with a RADIUS server for enterprise-grade access control. Unlike pre-shared key methods, 802.1X/EAP requires each user to present unique credentials—such as a username/password or digital certificate—which the RADIUS server verifies individually, ensuring that compromised credentials for one device do not expose the entire network. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this question tests your understanding of authentication frameworks; a common trap is confusing WPA2-Personal (which uses a single shared passphrase) with WPA2-Enterprise (which relies on 802.1X/EAP). The exam expects you to recognize that any scenario mentioning a RADIUS server and “highest security” points directly to 802.1X/EAP. Remember the mnemonic: “RADIUS requires 802.1X/EAP—no shared keys, just unique IDs.”
N10-009 Network Implementation Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network implementation. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 company wants to deploy a wireless network for employee devices using the highest security standard. The network will use a RADIUS server for authentication. Which authentication method should be configured?
Why wrong: WPA3-SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) is a Personal mode that uses a pre-shared key, not a RADIUS server. It is not enterprise-grade per-user authentication.
B
802.1X/EAP
802.1X/EAP provides centralized authentication using a RADIUS server, supporting various EAP methods (e.g., EAP-TLS, PEAP) for strong, per-user security.
C
WPA2-PSK
Why wrong: WPA2-PSK uses a single pre-shared key for all clients and does not support RADIUS. It is less secure than enterprise authentication.
D
WEP with RADIUS
Why wrong: WEP is an outdated and insecure encryption protocol. While RADIUS can be used with WEP, it is not a high-security solution and is obsolete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
802.1X/EAP
B is correct because 802.1X/EAP is the only option that provides enterprise-grade authentication using a RADIUS server. It requires each user to present unique credentials (e.g., username/password or certificate), which are verified by the RADIUS server before granting network access. This meets the requirement for the highest security standard in a corporate environment.
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.
✗
WPA3-SAE
Why it's wrong here
WPA3-SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) is a Personal mode that uses a pre-shared key, not a RADIUS server. It is not enterprise-grade per-user authentication.
✓
802.1X/EAP
Why this is correct
802.1X/EAP provides centralized authentication using a RADIUS server, supporting various EAP methods (e.g., EAP-TLS, PEAP) for strong, per-user security.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
WPA2-PSK
Why it's wrong here
WPA2-PSK uses a single pre-shared key for all clients and does not support RADIUS. It is less secure than enterprise authentication.
✗
WEP with RADIUS
Why it's wrong here
WEP is an outdated and insecure encryption protocol. While RADIUS can be used with WEP, it is not a high-security solution and is obsolete.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse WPA3-SAE (which is indeed more secure than WPA2-PSK) with enterprise authentication, but SAE still uses a shared passphrase and cannot integrate with a RADIUS server for per-user authentication.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
802.1X is a port-based access control standard (IEEE 802.1X-2020) that works with EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol) to encapsulate authentication methods like EAP-TLS, PEAP, or EAP-TTLS. The RADIUS server acts as the authentication server, while the wireless access point functions as the authenticator, forwarding EAP frames between the supplicant (client) and the RADIUS server. In real-world deployments, EAP-TLS using client certificates is often chosen for the highest security, as it eliminates password-based vulnerabilities.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this N10-009 question in full detail.
Network Implementation — This question tests Network Implementation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 802.1X/EAP — B is correct because 802.1X/EAP is the only option that provides enterprise-grade authentication using a RADIUS server. It requires each user to present unique credentials (e.g., username/password or certificate), which are verified by the RADIUS server before granting network access. This meets the requirement for the highest security standard in a corporate environment.
What should I do if I get this N10-009 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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