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 enforce network access control such that only authenticated users can connect to the wired network. The authentication server will use RADIUS. Which IEEE standard should be implemented?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
802.1X
802.1X is the IEEE standard for port-based network access control (PNAC). It provides a framework for authenticating devices before granting access to a wired or wireless LAN, using an authentication server such as RADIUS. This directly meets the requirement to enforce network access control so that only authenticated users can connect to the wired network.
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.
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802.11i
Why it's wrong here
802.11i is a security standard for wireless networks (WPA2), not for wired port-based access control.
✓
802.1X
Why this is correct
802.1X provides port-based authentication for wired and wireless networks, using RADIUS or other authentication servers.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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802.3af
Why it's wrong here
802.3af is the Power over Ethernet (PoE) standard, which supplies power over Ethernet cables.
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802.1Q
Why it's wrong here
802.1Q is the standard for VLAN tagging on trunk links, not for network access control.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that 802.11i sounds security-related and is often confused with 802.1X because both involve authentication, but 802.11i is strictly for wireless encryption (WPA2) and does not control port-based access on wired networks.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, 802.1X operates between a supplicant (client), an authenticator (switch), and an authentication server (RADIUS). The switch blocks all traffic on the port except EAPoL (Extensible Authentication Protocol over LAN) frames until authentication succeeds, at which point the port transitions to an authorized state. In real-world deployments, dynamic VLAN assignment via RADIUS can place authenticated users into specific network segments based on their credentials or device posture.
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 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: 802.1X — 802.1X is the IEEE standard for port-based network access control (PNAC). It provides a framework for authenticating devices before granting access to a wired or wireless LAN, using an authentication server such as RADIUS. This directly meets the requirement to enforce network access control so that only authenticated users can connect to the wired network.
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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