Question 976 of 1,152
Security ArchitecturehardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Quick Answer

The answer is to disable dynamic trunk negotiation, configure a static trunk, allow only VLANs 40 and 99, and move the native VLAN to an unused value. This fixes the guest VLAN leakage because the original trunk allowed VLANs 10, 20, and 30 but not guest VLAN 40, so guest frames were being sent untagged on the native VLAN 1, which could then be inadvertently forwarded to internal segments like the printer VLAN. On the Security+ SY0-701 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of VLAN trunk security and native VLAN risks, often appearing as a question about guest isolation or VLAN hopping. A common trap is assuming that simply adding VLAN 40 to the allowed list is enough, but the real issue is that the native VLAN (default 1) can leak untagged traffic across the trunk. Remember the mnemonic: “No DTP, only guest and management, native to the void” to lock down guest isolation.

SY0-701 Security Architecture Practice Question

This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. 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.

An access point connected to a switch suddenly lets guest Wi-Fi users reach an internal printer VLAN, but only on the new wiring closet. The AP uplink is configured as a trunk with dynamic negotiation enabled, native VLAN 1, and allowed VLANs 10, 20, and 30. Guest traffic should be VLAN 40 and must not transit to internal segments. Which change best fixes the issue?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

  • Clue: "best"

    Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

Question 1hardmultiple choice
Open the full VLAN trunking answer →

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

Disable dynamic trunk negotiation, configure a static trunk, allow only VLANs 40 and 99, and move the native VLAN to an unused value.

The issue is that guest traffic (VLAN 40) is not in the allowed list, so the trunk is dropping it; however, the native VLAN 1 is being used for management and may leak traffic. By disabling dynamic trunk negotiation (DTP), configuring a static trunk, allowing only VLANs 40 and 99 (a management VLAN), and changing the native VLAN to an unused value, you ensure guest traffic is properly tagged and isolated from internal VLANs. This prevents the guest VLAN from being inadvertently trunked to internal segments and eliminates the risk of VLAN hopping via the native VLAN.

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.

  • Convert the AP uplink to an access port in VLAN 40 and leave the AP to handle all traffic untagged.

    Why it's wrong here

    An access port cannot properly carry the multiple VLANs typically needed for an access point and management traffic.

  • Disable dynamic trunk negotiation, configure a static trunk, allow only VLANs 40 and 99, and move the native VLAN to an unused value.

    Why this is correct

    This prevents unintended trunk formation, limits the VLANs that can traverse the link, and reduces risk from the native VLAN.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • Add the internal printer VLAN to the allowed list so the AP can filter client traffic itself.

    Why it's wrong here

    Allowing the internal VLAN to traverse the uplink expands exposure rather than fixing the segmentation problem.

  • Keep the trunk settings and add a layer 3 ACL between the guest and internal networks.

    Why it's wrong here

    Layer 3 ACLs do not address a bad trunk configuration or prevent unexpected VLAN exposure at the switch layer.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates think adding an ACL or allowing more VLANs will solve the problem, but the root cause is that VLAN 40 is not allowed on the trunk, and the native VLAN 1 introduces a security risk; the correct fix is to explicitly permit only the necessary VLANs and secure the native VLAN.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Dynamic Trunking Protocol (DTP) can cause a switch port to automatically negotiate trunking, potentially allowing unauthorized VLANs if the AP or switch misbehaves. By setting a static trunk and restricting allowed VLANs to only those needed (e.g., 40 for guest, 99 for management), you enforce strict VLAN segmentation. Changing the native VLAN to an unused ID (e.g., 999) prevents VLAN hopping attacks where an attacker on the native VLAN could double-tag frames to reach other VLANs (IEEE 802.1Q double-tagging attack).

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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.

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 SY0-701 question test?

Security Architecture — This question tests Security Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Disable dynamic trunk negotiation, configure a static trunk, allow only VLANs 40 and 99, and move the native VLAN to an unused value. — The issue is that guest traffic (VLAN 40) is not in the allowed list, so the trunk is dropping it; however, the native VLAN 1 is being used for management and may leak traffic. By disabling dynamic trunk negotiation (DTP), configuring a static trunk, allowing only VLANs 40 and 99 (a management VLAN), and changing the native VLAN to an unused value, you ensure guest traffic is properly tagged and isolated from internal VLANs. This prevents the guest VLAN from being inadvertently trunked to internal segments and eliminates the risk of VLAN hopping via the native VLAN.

What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.

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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This SY0-701 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the SY0-701 exam.