SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
A network administrator is configuring a switch to prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to a specific switch port. The administrator wants to restrict access based on the device's MAC address. Which feature should be implemented?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse port security with other switch security features like DAI, which protect against specific attacks but do not control port access based on MAC addresses.
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
✓
Port security
Port security is the switch feature that restricts access to a port based on MAC addresses. It can be configured to allow only specific MAC addresses or a maximum number of addresses. When a violation occurs, the switch can drop packets, send an alert, or shut down the port. This effectively prevents unauthorized devices from connecting.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI)
Why it's wrong here
DAI validates ARP packets to prevent ARP spoofing attacks. It does not restrict which MAC addresses can connect to a port. DAI relies on DHCP snooping to build a trusted binding table, but it does not enforce port access based on MAC addresses.
- ✓
Port security
Why this is correct
Port security allows the administrator to specify which MAC addresses are allowed on a switch port. It can restrict access to a single MAC address or a limited number, and can take actions like shutting down the port if a violation occurs. This directly meets the requirement to prevent unauthorized devices based on MAC address.
- ✗
VLAN pruning
Why it's wrong here
VLAN pruning is used to reduce broadcast traffic by limiting which VLANs are allowed on trunk links. It does not control which devices can connect to a specific access port based on MAC address. Therefore, it does not prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to a switch port.
- ✗
Spanning Tree Protocol (STP)
Why it's wrong here
STP prevents loops in a switched network by blocking redundant paths. It does not provide port-based access control or MAC address filtering. While STP is important for network stability, it does not restrict unauthorized devices from connecting to a switch port.
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
Related to this question
About these practice questions
This SSCP question is part of Courseiva's 971-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.