The answer is a VPN concentrator, because it is the dedicated device that terminates multiple remote access VPN tunnels, establishing an encrypted tunnel between each employee’s remote computer and the corporate network. This encrypted tunnel, built using protocols like IPsec or TLS, encapsulates all traffic to internal resources such as email and file servers, ensuring data is protected from interception over the internet. On the CompTIA Network+ N10-009 exam, this concept tests your understanding of how remote access VPNs differ from site-to-site VPNs; a common trap is confusing a VPN concentrator with a VPN gateway used for site-to-site links. Remember that a concentrator handles many individual client tunnels, while a gateway connects entire networks. A useful memory tip: think of the concentrator as a “hub” that concentrates many remote users into one secure entry point—just like a train station funneling passengers through a single secure tunnel.
N10-009 Network Security Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 allow employees to securely access internal resources (email, file servers) when working from home over the internet. Which technology should be implemented to create an encrypted tunnel between the employee's remote computer and the corporate network?
A VPN concentrator terminates VPN connections from remote clients, providing encrypted tunnels for secure access to internal resources.
B
Firewall
Why wrong: A firewall filters traffic based on rules but does not provide encrypted tunnels for remote access. It can be used in conjunction with a VPN.
C
DMZ
Why wrong: A DMZ is a network segment that exposes external-facing services (e.g., web servers) while protecting the internal network. It does not provide remote user access.
D
Intrusion detection system (IDS)
Why wrong: An IDS monitors network traffic for suspicious activity but does not provide encrypted remote access.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
VPN concentrator
A VPN concentrator is the correct technology because it terminates VPN tunnels from remote users, creating an encrypted tunnel (using protocols like IPsec or TLS) between the employee's remote computer and the corporate network. This ensures that all traffic to internal resources such as email and file servers is securely encapsulated and protected from interception over the internet.
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.
✓
VPN concentrator
Why this is correct
A VPN concentrator terminates VPN connections from remote clients, providing encrypted tunnels for secure access to internal resources.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Firewall
Why it's wrong here
A firewall filters traffic based on rules but does not provide encrypted tunnels for remote access. It can be used in conjunction with a VPN.
✗
DMZ
Why it's wrong here
A DMZ is a network segment that exposes external-facing services (e.g., web servers) while protecting the internal network. It does not provide remote user access.
✗
Intrusion detection system (IDS)
Why it's wrong here
An IDS monitors network traffic for suspicious activity but does not provide encrypted remote access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse a firewall's ability to allow or block VPN traffic (e.g., permitting UDP 500 for IPsec) with the firewall itself being the device that terminates the VPN tunnel, but only a VPN concentrator or VPN gateway performs the actual encryption and tunnel management.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A VPN concentrator typically supports multiple concurrent tunnels using protocols such as IPsec (IKEv2 with AES-256 encryption) or SSL/TLS (e.g., OpenVPN), and it authenticates users via certificates or RADIUS. In a real-world scenario, the concentrator can be configured with split tunneling to allow remote users to access the internet directly while only encrypting traffic destined for the corporate network, reducing bandwidth load on the VPN gateway.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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 Security — This question tests Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: VPN concentrator — A VPN concentrator is the correct technology because it terminates VPN tunnels from remote users, creating an encrypted tunnel (using protocols like IPsec or TLS) between the employee's remote computer and the corporate network. This ensures that all traffic to internal resources such as email and file servers is securely encapsulated and protected from interception over the internet.
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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