The correct answer is to implement VLANs to separate departments and use a router-on-a-stick configuration with a capable router. VLAN segmentation directly reduces broadcast traffic by dividing the flat /24 subnet into smaller broadcast domains, which cuts down on excessive ARP requests and improves network performance during peak hours. This also enhances security by containing malware spread, as infected workstations are isolated within their own VLAN. On the SSCP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of network segmentation as a core security control, often appearing in questions about mitigating broadcast storms and lateral movement. A common trap is assuming a basic home-grade router can handle inter-VLAN routing, but the key is that it must support 802.1Q trunking—if not, a new capable router is required. Memory tip: “VLANs chop the chatter, router-on-a-stick links the matter.”
SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of network and communications security. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 medium-sized company with 200 employees has a single office with a flat network topology. Recently, the IT team noticed that network performance has degraded significantly during peak hours. A network analysis reveals excessive broadcast traffic and a high number of ARP requests. Additionally, the security team is concerned about the lack of segmentation, as a workstation infected with malware was able to spread rapidly to other systems. The company uses a single /24 subnet (192.168.1.0/24) and all devices are connected to a layer 2 switch. The IT manager wants to improve both performance and security without purchasing new hardware. The existing switch is a managed layer 2 switch that supports VLANs, but the router is a basic home-grade device that does not support VLAN routing. The company's internet connection is provided by a cable modem. What is the BEST course of action to address both performance and security concerns?
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.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Implement VLANs to separate departments and use a router-on-a-stick configuration with a capable router.
Option C is correct because implementing VLANs segments the flat network into smaller broadcast domains, reducing ARP and broadcast traffic, which improves performance. A router-on-a-stick configuration using a capable router that supports VLAN routing (802.1Q trunking) allows inter-VLAN communication without requiring a new switch, addressing both performance and security concerns without purchasing new hardware.
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.
✗
Divide the network into multiple subnets and connect each to a separate port on the cable modem.
Why it's wrong here
Cable modems typically provide only one public IP; not feasible.
✗
Upgrade the router to a business-grade model that supports VLAN routing and keep the network flat.
Why it's wrong here
A flat network still has no segmentation, so malware can spread easily.
✓
Implement VLANs to separate departments and use a router-on-a-stick configuration with a capable router.
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Replace the switch with a layer 3 switch to route between VLANs without a router.
Why it's wrong here
The prompt says no new hardware, but replacing the switch is new hardware.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the misconception that a layer 3 switch is required for inter-VLAN routing, but in this scenario, a router-on-a-stick with a capable router is the correct solution given the constraint of no new hardware purchases.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In a flat /24 subnet, all devices share the same broadcast domain, so ARP requests (broadcast frames) are sent to every host, causing congestion during peak hours. VLANs logically separate the network into multiple broadcast domains at Layer 2, and a router-on-a-stick configuration uses a single trunk link (802.1Q) to the router to route between VLANs, requiring the router to have a separate subinterface for each VLAN. This approach reduces broadcast traffic and contains malware spread, as infected hosts in one VLAN cannot directly communicate with hosts in another VLAN without passing through the router, where ACLs can be applied.
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.
Network and Communications Security — This question tests Network and Communications Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Implement VLANs to separate departments and use a router-on-a-stick configuration with a capable router. — Option C is correct because implementing VLANs segments the flat network into smaller broadcast domains, reducing ARP and broadcast traffic, which improves performance. A router-on-a-stick configuration using a capable router that supports VLAN routing (802.1Q trunking) allows inter-VLAN communication without requiring a new switch, addressing both performance and security concerns without purchasing new hardware.
What should I do if I get this SSCP 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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Question Discussion
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