- A
A: SNMPv1
Why wrong: SNMPv1 sends community strings in plaintext and has no encryption or authentication of data origin.
- B
B: SNMPv2c
Why wrong: SNMPv2c also uses plaintext community strings and lacks security features.
- C
C: SNMPv3
SNMPv3 provides both authentication and encryption, meeting the requirements.
- D
D: SNMPv2
Why wrong: There is no standard SNMPv2; SNMPv2c is the common version. It lacks security.
Question 501 of 520
N10-009 Network Operations Practice Question
This N10-009 practice question tests your understanding of network operations. 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 network administrator wants to ensure that SNMP traffic between the network monitoring server and managed devices is encrypted and provides authentication of the data origin. Which version of SNMP should be implemented?
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
✓
C: SNMPv3
SNMPv3 is the correct choice because it provides both encryption (via the AuthPriv security level) and data origin authentication (via the AuthNoPriv or AuthPriv levels). Unlike earlier versions, SNMPv3 includes a security model that ensures confidentiality, integrity, and authentication, meeting the administrator's requirements.
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.
- ✗
A: SNMPv1
Why it's wrong here
SNMPv1 sends community strings in plaintext and has no encryption or authentication of data origin.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking for the simplest SNMP version that is widely supported for basic monitoring in a trusted, isolated network where security is not a concern, and only read-only access is needed.
- ✗
B: SNMPv2c
Why it's wrong here
SNMPv2c also uses plaintext community strings and lacks security features.
When this WOULD be correct
A question asking for the simplest SNMP version that supports bulk retrieval of MIB data (e.g., GETBULK) and uses community-based authentication, without requiring encryption or strong authentication.
- ✓
C: SNMPv3
Why this is correct
SNMPv3 provides both authentication and encryption, meeting the requirements.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
D: SNMPv2
Why it's wrong here
There is no standard SNMPv2; SNMPv2c is the common version. It lacks security.
When this WOULD be correct
A question that asks for a version that supports bulk retrieval of MIB data (GetBulk) or improved error handling, without requiring security features, would make SNMPv2 the correct answer.
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.
✓C: SNMPv3Correct answer▾
Why this is correct
SNMPv3 provides both authentication and encryption, meeting the requirements.
✗A: SNMPv1Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
SNMPv1 does not support encryption or authentication; it uses community strings in plaintext, so it cannot provide the required security for data origin authentication and encryption.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking for the simplest SNMP version that is widely supported for basic monitoring in a trusted, isolated network where security is not a concern, and only read-only access is needed.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse SNMPv1 with being 'secure enough' for basic monitoring, or they may not realize that SNMPv1 lacks any security features beyond a plaintext community string.
✗B: SNMPv2cWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
SNMPv2c uses community strings for authentication, which are transmitted in plaintext, and does not provide encryption or data origin authentication, failing the question's requirements.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question asking for the simplest SNMP version that supports bulk retrieval of MIB data (e.g., GETBULK) and uses community-based authentication, without requiring encryption or strong authentication.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse SNMPv2c's community strings as providing some form of authentication, or they may recall that SNMPv2c is widely used and mistakenly think it supports encryption.
✗D: SNMPv2Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
SNMPv2 (and SNMPv2c) lacks encryption and authentication; it only uses community strings in plaintext, which does not meet the requirement for encrypted and authenticated data origin.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
A question that asks for a version that supports bulk retrieval of MIB data (GetBulk) or improved error handling, without requiring security features, would make SNMPv2 the correct answer.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse SNMPv2 with SNMPv3, thinking that 'v2' implies improved security, or they may recall that SNMPv2 introduced some enhancements but overlook that security was not addressed until v3.
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 trap here is that candidates often confuse SNMPv2c's improved efficiency and bulk retrieval (e.g., GetBulk) with security enhancements, but SNMPv2c still lacks encryption and authentication, making SNMPv3 the only viable option for secure SNMP traffic.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SNMPv3 defines three security levels: noAuthNoPriv (no authentication or encryption), authNoPriv (HMAC-MD5 or HMAC-SHA authentication but no encryption), and authPriv (authentication plus encryption using DES or AES). The authentication process uses a shared secret key and a message digest to verify the origin, while encryption is applied to the payload using a symmetric cipher. In real-world deployments, SNMPv3 is often used with USM (User-based Security Model) to manage users and keys, and it is defined in RFC 3410-3418.
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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this N10-009 question test?
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: C: SNMPv3 — SNMPv3 is the correct choice because it provides both encryption (via the AuthPriv security level) and data origin authentication (via the AuthNoPriv or AuthPriv levels). Unlike earlier versions, SNMPv3 includes a security model that ensures confidentiality, integrity, and authentication, meeting the administrator's requirements.
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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