- A
Inline between the firewall and the core switch
Why wrong: Inline placement introduces latency and a potential point of failure; IDSs typically operate out-of-band.
- B
Connected to a network tap or spanned port on the core switch
Using a network tap or SPAN port allows the IDS to passively listen to traffic without affecting the data path.
- C
Directly connected to the internet router
Why wrong: This would only see traffic going through that specific router, not all traffic, and could be inline.
- D
Connected to the management network
Why wrong: Management network traffic is only administrative; it would not capture user data traffic.
Question 403 of 520
N10-009 Network Security Practice Question
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 security team is deploying a new intrusion detection system (IDS) and wants to analyze all traffic entering and exiting the network without introducing latency or a single point of failure. How should the IDS be connected to the network?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Connected to a network tap or spanned port on the core switch
Connecting the IDS to a network tap or a spanned port (SPAN/mirror port) on the core switch allows it to receive a copy of all traffic entering and exiting the network without being in the data path. This passive deployment introduces zero latency because the IDS never forwards or blocks traffic, and it eliminates a single point of failure since the network continues to operate if the IDS fails or is taken offline.
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.
- ✗
Inline between the firewall and the core switch
Why it's wrong here
Inline placement introduces latency and a potential point of failure; IDSs typically operate out-of-band.
- ✓
Connected to a network tap or spanned port on the core switch
Why this is correct
Using a network tap or SPAN port allows the IDS to passively listen to traffic without affecting the data path.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Directly connected to the internet router
Why it's wrong here
This would only see traffic going through that specific router, not all traffic, and could be inline.
When this WOULD be correct
If the question asked for a method to monitor all internet-bound traffic with minimal cost and without requiring switch configuration, connecting the IDS directly to the internet router could be correct, assuming the router supports port mirroring and the IDS is passive.
- ✗
Connected to the management network
Why it's wrong here
Management network traffic is only administrative; it would not capture user data traffic.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking how to securely manage an IDS appliance, with constraints like 'the IDS must be accessible only to administrators and isolated from production traffic' would make connecting it to the management network correct.
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.
✓Connected to a network tap or spanned port on the core switchCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Using a network tap or SPAN port allows the IDS to passively listen to traffic without affecting the data path.
✗Inline between the firewall and the core switchWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Inline placement introduces latency and creates a single point of failure, contradicting the requirement to avoid both.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
When deploying an intrusion prevention system (IPS) that must actively block malicious traffic, inline connection between firewall and core switch is required.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may assume IDS must be inline to see all traffic, confusing IDS with IPS or firewall functionality.
✗Directly connected to the internet routerWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Connecting the IDS directly to the internet router would place it inline with all internet traffic, but this creates a single point of failure and introduces latency, contradicting the requirement to avoid both.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
If the question asked for a method to monitor all internet-bound traffic with minimal cost and without requiring switch configuration, connecting the IDS directly to the internet router could be correct, assuming the router supports port mirroring and the IDS is passive.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think the internet router is the single chokepoint for all external traffic, so connecting there seems like a simple way to see all traffic, overlooking the failure and latency issues.
✗Connected to the management networkWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
Connecting the IDS to the management network would only allow it to see management traffic, not all network traffic entering and exiting the network, failing to meet the requirement to analyze all traffic.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking how to securely manage an IDS appliance, with constraints like 'the IDS must be accessible only to administrators and isolated from production traffic' would make connecting it to the management network correct.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may think the management network is a secure place to connect security devices, overlooking that the IDS needs visibility into production traffic, not just management traffic.
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?”
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The N10-009 exam often tests the distinction between inline (active) and passive (out-of-band) deployments, and the trap here is that candidates mistakenly choose inline placement because they think the IDS must 'see' all traffic by being in the path, ignoring the latency and single-point-of-failure consequences.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A network tap physically splits the signal, sending the original traffic to the destination and a copy to the IDS, ensuring zero packet loss even under full line rate. SPAN ports on switches can drop packets under high utilization due to CPU or buffer limitations, so in high-throughput environments a dedicated tap is preferred. Real-world deployments often use a combination of taps for critical links and SPAN for lower-priority segments to balance cost and reliability.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
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: Connected to a network tap or spanned port on the core switch — Connecting the IDS to a network tap or a spanned port (SPAN/mirror port) on the core switch allows it to receive a copy of all traffic entering and exiting the network without being in the data path. This passive deployment introduces zero latency because the IDS never forwards or blocks traffic, and it eliminates a single point of failure since the network continues to operate if the IDS fails or is taken offline.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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