SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
A network architect is designing a solution to protect against ARP spoofing attacks on a flat Layer 2 network. The architect wants to ensure that only valid IP-to-MAC address mappings are used by hosts. Which feature should be enabled on the switches?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse ARP spoofing mitigation with general Layer 2 security features like port security or DHCP snooping, which address different threats.
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
✓
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI)
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) is the switch feature specifically designed to prevent ARP spoofing by validating ARP packets against a trusted binding table. It drops packets with invalid IP-to-MAC mappings, ensuring that hosts only receive legitimate ARP information. The other options do not provide this capability, although DHCP snooping is often used to build the binding table that DAI relies on.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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802.1X authentication
Why it's wrong here
802.1X authentication controls access to the network based on user or device credentials, but it does not inspect or validate ARP packets after authentication. Once a device is authenticated, it can still send spoofed ARP messages. Therefore, 802.1X does not directly prevent ARP spoofing, although it can complement other security measures by ensuring only authorized devices connect.
- ✗
DHCP snooping
Why it's wrong here
DHCP snooping filters DHCP messages and can prevent rogue DHCP servers, but it does not directly validate ARP mappings. It can be used in conjunction with Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) to build a binding table, but DHCP snooping alone does not protect against ARP spoofing. It is a complementary feature that provides the necessary IP-to-MAC bindings for DAI to function.
- ✓
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI)
Why this is correct
Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI) validates ARP packets on untrusted ports by comparing the IP-to-MAC binding against a trusted database, typically built by DHCP snooping. It drops ARP packets with invalid mappings, preventing ARP spoofing attacks. DAI is the specific feature designed to protect against ARP spoofing on Layer 2 switches, making it the correct choice for this scenario.
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Port security
Why it's wrong here
Port security limits the number of MAC addresses that can be learned on a switch port and can take action when a violation occurs. While it can help prevent MAC flooding attacks, it does not validate ARP mappings or protect against ARP spoofing. An attacker could still send spoofed ARP packets from an allowed MAC address, so port security alone is insufficient for this scenario.
Visual reference
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 |
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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
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