This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network operations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 network administrator is setting up SNMPv3 on a router for secure monitoring. Which of the following is required for SNMPv3 authentication?
Why wrong: Community strings are used in SNMPv1/v2c, not in SNMPv3. SNMPv3 uses a username and password for authentication.
B
Username and password
SNMPv3 authentication requires a username and an authentication password (or passphrase) that is used to generate a hash, verifying the source of the message.
C
Encryption key
Why wrong: An encryption key is used for SNMPv3 privacy (encryption of the payload), not for authentication. Authentication is separate.
D
Public key
Why wrong: SNMPv3 does not use public-key cryptography for authentication. It uses symmetric hashing with a shared secret.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Username and password
SNMPv3 introduces a security model that requires a username and password (authentication passphrase) for authentication, moving away from the community-string-based model of SNMPv1/v2c. The password is used with an authentication protocol like MD5 or SHA to verify the identity of the manager before allowing access. Without a valid username and password combination, SNMPv3 will reject the request.
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.
✗
Community string
Why it's wrong here
Community strings are used in SNMPv1/v2c, not in SNMPv3. SNMPv3 uses a username and password for authentication.
✓
Username and password
Why this is correct
SNMPv3 authentication requires a username and an authentication password (or passphrase) that is used to generate a hash, verifying the source of the message.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Encryption key
Why it's wrong here
An encryption key is used for SNMPv3 privacy (encryption of the payload), not for authentication. Authentication is separate.
✗
Public key
Why it's wrong here
SNMPv3 does not use public-key cryptography for authentication. It uses symmetric hashing with a shared secret.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse the community string (SNMPv1/v2c) with SNMPv3's username/password model, or they mistakenly think an encryption key alone satisfies authentication requirements, when in fact authentication and privacy are configured independently.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SNMPv3 authentication uses the User-Based Security Model (USM), where the router stores a username and an authentication passphrase. The passphrase is hashed using HMAC-MD5-96 or HMAC-SHA-96 to generate a message digest that is appended to each SNMP packet, ensuring the packet's origin and integrity. In a real-world deployment, you must configure both the authentication protocol (e.g., `auth sha`) and the privacy protocol (e.g., `priv aes 128`) separately, as they serve distinct security functions.
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 small business has 20 workstations on the 192.168.1.0/24 network and one public IP from its ISP. The router uses PAT (NAT overload) so all 20 devices share one public address using different source ports. NAT questions test whether you understand the four address terms and which direction each translation applies.
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 Operations — This question tests Network Operations — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Username and password — SNMPv3 introduces a security model that requires a username and password (authentication passphrase) for authentication, moving away from the community-string-based model of SNMPv1/v2c. The password is used with an authentication protocol like MD5 or SHA to verify the identity of the manager before allowing access. Without a valid username and password combination, SNMPv3 will reject the request.
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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