Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
A company wants to prevent unauthorized personal devices from connecting to the corporate wired network. Employees must authenticate using their domain credentials before gaining full network access. Which security measure should be implemented on the switch ports?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Distractor review
MAC filtering
MAC filtering is easy to circumvent by spoofing a legitimate MAC address; it does not verify user identity.
B
Best answer
802.1X
802.1X uses Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) to authenticate devices/users against a central authentication server, enforcing access based on credentials.
C
Distractor review
Port security with sticky MAC
Port security limits the number of MAC addresses per port but does not authenticate users; it can be bypassed by spoofing.
D
Distractor review
VLAN hopping prevention
VLAN hopping prevention (e.g., disabling DTP, using native VLAN tagging) secures trunk links but does not authenticate end devices.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Authentication checks who the user is.
- Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
- Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
- AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
- Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
- Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
- Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
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More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A network engineer needs to connect two switches located 400 meters apart. The cable run includes high electromagnetic interference from nearby machinery. The engineer decides to use fiber optic cabling. Which transceiver type and fiber combination should be used to ensure the link reaches 400 meters while remaining cost-effective?
Question 2
A network engineer is designing a new switched network and needs to ensure that broadcast traffic from one department does not reach another department's workstations. The engineer plans to use VLANs. Which of the following must be configured on the switches to isolate broadcast domains as intended?
Question 3
A security engineer is configuring a site-to-site VPN between two branch offices. The requirement is to encrypt all traffic between the two networks using IPsec. Which IPsec mode should be used to encrypt the entire IP packet including the original header?
Question 4
A network administrator is connecting two switches to increase bandwidth and provide redundancy. Which technology should be used to combine multiple physical links into a single logical link?
Question 5
A network administrator is experiencing issues where unauthorized devices are offering IP addresses to clients, causing connectivity problems. Which security feature should be enabled on switches to prevent this?
Question 6
A network administrator is troubleshooting a connectivity issue and suspects the problem is related to the physical cabling. At which layer of the OSI model should the administrator begin their investigation?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
Authentication checks who the user is.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: 802.1X — 802.1X port-based authentication requires a device (supplicant) to authenticate with a RADIUS server before the switch grants access. MAC filtering can be bypassed through MAC spoofing, and port security alone does not authenticate users. VLAN hopping prevention addresses trunking attacks, not authentication.
What should I do if I get this N10-009 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
Discussion
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