- A
RADIUS
Correct. WPA3-Enterprise uses 802.1X for authentication, which requires a RADIUS server to authenticate users against a database.
- B
LDAP
Why wrong: LDAP is a directory service protocol often used to store user credentials, but it is not directly used for 802.1X authentication; RADIUS can query LDAP.
- C
TACACS+
Why wrong: TACACS+ is a Cisco-proprietary AAA protocol often used for device administration, not typically for wireless 802.1X authentication.
- D
Kerberos
Why wrong: Kerberos is used in Windows domains for authentication, but not directly for 802.1X wireless; RADIUS is the standard.
Question 86 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 administrator is configuring a wireless network to use WPA3-Enterprise. Which authentication server protocol is required for WPA3-Enterprise?
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
✓
RADIUS
WPA3-Enterprise requires 802.1X/EAP authentication, which uses RADIUS as the backend authentication server protocol. RADIUS handles the exchange of EAP frames between the authenticator (access point) and the authentication server, enforcing per-user credentials and supporting the mandatory 192-bit security suite for WPA3-Enterprise. Without RADIUS, the 802.1X framework cannot operate, making it the only required protocol for this deployment.
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.
- ✓
RADIUS
- ✗
LDAP
Why it's wrong here
LDAP is a directory service protocol often used to store user credentials, but it is not directly used for 802.1X authentication; RADIUS can query LDAP.
When this WOULD be correct
LDAP would be correct in a question asking: 'Which protocol is used to query and modify directory services (e.g., Active Directory) for user account information?' or 'Which protocol is commonly used for centralized authentication in a non-802.1X environment?'
- ✗
TACACS+
Why it's wrong here
TACACS+ is a Cisco-proprietary AAA protocol often used for device administration, not typically for wireless 802.1X authentication.
When this WOULD be correct
TACACS+ would be correct in a question about authenticating network device administrators (e.g., router or switch login) where the protocol provides separate authentication, authorization, and accounting for management access.
- ✗
Kerberos
Why it's wrong here
Kerberos is used in Windows domains for authentication, but not directly for 802.1X wireless; RADIUS is the standard.
When this WOULD be correct
Kerberos would be the correct answer if the question asked about the authentication protocol used by Active Directory for domain logon or for securing network services like NFS or SMB, not for wireless enterprise authentication.
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.
✓RADIUSCorrect answer▾
Why this is correct
Correct. WPA3-Enterprise uses 802.1X for authentication, which requires a RADIUS server to authenticate users against a database.
✗LDAPWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
WPA3-Enterprise requires an 802.1X/EAP authentication framework, which uses RADIUS as the backend authentication server protocol. LDAP is a directory access protocol, not an authentication server protocol for 802.1X.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
LDAP would be correct in a question asking: 'Which protocol is used to query and modify directory services (e.g., Active Directory) for user account information?' or 'Which protocol is commonly used for centralized authentication in a non-802.1X environment?'
Why candidates choose this
Candidates often confuse LDAP with RADIUS because both are used in authentication contexts, and LDAP is commonly integrated with RADIUS servers to retrieve user credentials, leading to the mistaken belief that LDAP itself can serve as the authentication server.
✗TACACS+Wrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
WPA3-Enterprise requires 802.1X/EAP authentication, which uses RADIUS as the backend authentication server protocol. TACACS+ is a Cisco-proprietary protocol for device administration, not for wireless network authentication.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
TACACS+ would be correct in a question about authenticating network device administrators (e.g., router or switch login) where the protocol provides separate authentication, authorization, and accounting for management access.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse TACACS+ with RADIUS because both are AAA protocols, but TACACS+ is typically used for device administration rather than network access authentication like WPA3-Enterprise.
✗KerberosWrong answer — click to see why▾
Why this is wrong here
WPA3-Enterprise requires an 802.1X/EAP authentication framework, which uses RADIUS as the backend authentication server protocol. Kerberos is a network authentication protocol for domain environments, not for 802.1X wireless authentication.
★ When this WOULD be the correct answer
Kerberos would be the correct answer if the question asked about the authentication protocol used by Active Directory for domain logon or for securing network services like NFS or SMB, not for wireless enterprise authentication.
Why candidates choose this
Candidates may confuse Kerberos with RADIUS because both are used for authentication in enterprise networks, and Kerberos is commonly associated with Windows domain authentication, leading to the assumption it could be used for wireless.
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 TACACS+ with RADIUS because both are AAA protocols, but TACACS+ is used for device administration (e.g., router login) while RADIUS is the only protocol that supports 802.1X/EAP for wireless network access.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, WPA3-Enterprise mandates the use of EAP-pwd or EAP-TLS with a RADIUS server that supports the 802.1X standard (RFC 2865/2866). The RADIUS server acts as the authentication server in the 802.1X framework, relaying EAP messages between the supplicant (client) and the authenticator (AP). A common real-world scenario is that the RADIUS server must also be configured with the correct EAP method and certificate chain to enforce the 192-bit security suite, as WPA3-Enterprise requires at least EAP-TLS with strong ciphers.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
Quick reference
AAA Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port(s) | Encryption | Transport | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RADIUS | 1812 / 1813 | Password only | UDP | Network access control |
| TACACS+ | 49 | Full packet | TCP | Device administration |
| Diameter | 3868 | Full session | TCP / SCTP | Carrier / mobile networks |
| 802.1X | — | EAP-based | Layer 2 | Port-based access control |
TACACS+ encrypts the entire packet; RADIUS only encrypts the password field — a key exam distinction.
What to study next
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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: RADIUS — WPA3-Enterprise requires 802.1X/EAP authentication, which uses RADIUS as the backend authentication server protocol. RADIUS handles the exchange of EAP frames between the authenticator (access point) and the authentication server, enforcing per-user credentials and supporting the mandatory 192-bit security suite for WPA3-Enterprise. Without RADIUS, the 802.1X framework cannot operate, making it the only required protocol for this deployment.
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.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
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