ISC2 CC Network Security Practice Question
A network administrator is troubleshooting connectivity issues and suspects a problem at the Data Link layer. Which of the following addresses would be most relevant to examine?
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
✓
MAC address
The Data Link layer (Layer 2) uses MAC addresses to identify devices on the same network segment. IP addresses operate at the Network layer (Layer 3), and port numbers at the Transport layer (Layer 4).
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
IP address
Why it's wrong here
IP addresses are used at Layer 3.
- ✓
MAC address
Why this is correct
MAC addresses are used at Layer 2 for frame delivery.
- ✗
Port number
Why it's wrong here
Port numbers are used at Layer 4.
- ✗
Domain name
Why it's wrong here
Domain names are resolved at the Application layer.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.