This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 ensure that only authorized employee computers can connect to the wired network. Each computer must be authenticated before it is granted access to the network. Which technology is designed to provide this port-based authentication?
802.1X provides port-based authentication for wired and wireless networks, requiring credentials before granting network access.
B
WPA2
Why wrong: WPA2 is a wireless security protocol for encryption and authentication, but it does not apply to wired networks.
C
MAC filtering
Why wrong: MAC filtering allows or denies devices based on MAC addresses, but it is easily bypassed through spoofing and does not require user authentication.
D
VPN
Why wrong: VPN provides encrypted tunnels for remote access, not physical port authentication on a local network.
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 (NAC). It uses the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) over LAN (EAPoL) to authenticate a device at the switch port before granting full network access. Only after successful authentication does the switch open the port, ensuring that unauthorized computers cannot connect.
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.
✓
802.1X
Why this is correct
802.1X provides port-based authentication for wired and wireless networks, requiring credentials before granting network access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
WPA2
Why it's wrong here
WPA2 is a wireless security protocol for encryption and authentication, but it does not apply to wired networks.
✗
MAC filtering
Why it's wrong here
MAC filtering allows or denies devices based on MAC addresses, but it is easily bypassed through spoofing and does not require user authentication.
✗
VPN
Why it's wrong here
VPN provides encrypted tunnels for remote access, not physical port authentication on a local network.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between authentication (802.1X) and access control methods (MAC filtering), where candidates mistakenly choose MAC filtering because they think it 'authenticates' devices, but it only identifies by MAC address without verifying identity or credentials.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
802.1X operates in a three-party architecture: the supplicant (client), the authenticator (switch), and the authentication server (typically a RADIUS server). The switch initially places the port in an unauthorized state, allowing only EAPoL frames; after successful EAP exchange, the RADIUS server sends a success message, and the switch transitions the port to an authorized state. This mechanism is defined in IEEE 802.1X-2020 and is commonly used in enterprise environments to enforce per-port security policies.
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 practitioner preparing for the N10-009 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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 (NAC). It uses the Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) over LAN (EAPoL) to authenticate a device at the switch port before granting full network access. Only after successful authentication does the switch open the port, ensuring that unauthorized computers cannot connect.
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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