N10-009 Network Security Practice Question

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 is a dedicated network device or service specifically designed to terminate numerous encrypted VPN tunnels from remote clients. It authenticates users and establishes secure, encrypted connections, allowing employees to securely access internal network resources like email servers and file shares as if they were physically on the corporate LAN. This device is crucial for enabling secure remote work by ensuring data confidentiality and integrity over untrusted public networks.

• ✗

  Firewall

  Why it's wrong here

  A firewall primarily functions as a network security device that filters incoming and outgoing traffic based on predefined security rules, such as IP addresses, port numbers, and protocols. While essential for perimeter defense and controlling access to network segments, it does not inherently create encrypted tunnels for remote users to access internal resources. Its role is to permit or deny traffic, not to establish secure, encrypted remote access sessions.

  When this WOULD be correct

  A firewall would be the correct answer for a question asking which device should be placed at the network perimeter to filter incoming and outgoing traffic based on security policies, such as blocking unauthorized access from the internet.

• ✗

  DMZ

  Why it's wrong here

  A Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) is a physical or logical subnetwork that contains an organization's external-facing services, such as web servers, email servers, or DNS servers, exposed to an untrusted network like the internet. Its purpose is to add an additional layer of security by isolating these public services from the internal local area network (LAN), preventing direct access to sensitive internal resources. A DMZ is a network architecture segment, not a device or service that provides secure remote access for individual employees.

  When this WOULD be correct

  A company wants to host a public web server that must be accessible from the internet while protecting the internal network. Which network architecture should be used?

• ✗

  Intrusion detection system (IDS)

  Why it's wrong here

  An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is a security tool that passively monitors network traffic for suspicious activity, policy violations, or known attack signatures. Upon detecting potential threats, an IDS generates alerts but does not actively block traffic or provide any form of encrypted remote access. Its primary function is to observe and notify security personnel about potential compromises, rather than establishing secure communication channels for remote users.

  When this WOULD be correct

  A company needs to monitor its internal network for malicious activity and receive alerts when potential intrusions are detected, but does not require active prevention or encrypted remote access.

Option-by-option analysis

Why each answer is right or wrong

Understanding why wrong answers are wrong — and when they would be correct — is what separates a 750 score from a 900. The N10-009 exam frequently reuses these exact scenarios with slightly different constraints.

Analysis generated from the official N10-009blueprint and verified against question context. The “when correct” sections are what AI assistants cite when candidates ask “what’s the difference between these options?”

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