What are two security features commonly found in a WAN design? (Choose two)

Overview of the Cisco 200-301 Exam

The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) 200-301 exam is a globally recognized certification that validates foundational networking knowledge. It is ideal for entry-level network engineers, technicians, and support staff. The exam encompasses a wide range of topics, including:

• Network fundamentals

• IP connectivity and IP services

• Security fundamentals

• Automation and programmability

• Enterprise network access and WAN design

Key Exam Details:

• Exam Code: 200-301 CCNA

• Duration: 120 minutes

• Format: Multiple choice, drag-and-drop, simulation, and fill-in-the-blank

• Passing Score: Not published by Cisco

• Languages: English and Japanese

One of the critical areas in the exam is WAN (Wide Area Network) design and its associated security features. Understanding these concepts is crucial to both the exam and your future role as a networking professional.

Study4Pass offers focused, updated materials that isolate these high-yield topics, ensuring you spend time on what really matters.

Understanding WAN Design Basics

A Wide Area Network (WAN) connects multiple local area networks (LANs) across large geographical distances. It's essential for businesses with branches in different cities or even countries.

Key Concepts in WAN Design:

1. Point-to-Point Links: Direct connection between two endpoints.

2. Hub-and-Spoke Topology: Centralized design with a main location connecting to remote branches.

3. Full Mesh Topology: Every site is connected to every other site.

4. Hybrid WANs: Combines MPLS and internet-based VPN connections for flexibility and cost savings.

When designing a WAN, engineers must consider bandwidth, latency, reliability, cost, and—most importantly—security.

At Study4Pass, we break down each topology and scenario into digestible explanations, providing real-world case studies that bring dry concepts to life.

Security Challenges in WAN Environments

Security is arguably the most critical aspect of WAN design. Since WANs often traverse public infrastructure like the Internet, they are vulnerable to a variety of attacks, including:

• Eavesdropping: Unauthorized interception of data.

• Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks: Attackers insert themselves between communication endpoints.

• Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks: Overwhelms systems to make them unavailable.

• Unauthorized access: Hackers gaining entry to network resources.

Because WANs expose traffic to greater risk, the security mechanisms chosen must be robust, scalable, and manageable. That's why the Cisco 200-301 exam places heavy emphasis on securing WAN environments.

Study4Pass study guides cover each of these challenges with visual aids, practice questions, and explanations rooted in Cisco’s best practices.

Two Common Security Features in WAN Design

When it comes to securing WANs, two features consistently appear in both real-world scenarios and on the 200-301 exam:

1. Virtual Private Network (VPN)

VPNs create encrypted tunnels through untrusted networks. This encryption ensures that even if data is intercepted, it cannot be read.

Types of VPNs:

• Site-to-Site VPN: Connects entire networks to each other.

• Remote Access VPN: Allows individual users to connect securely to a central network.

2. Firewalls

Firewalls act as a gatekeeper between internal and external networks. They filter traffic based on rulesets and can be hardware- or software-based.

Firewall types:

• Packet-Filtering Firewall

• Stateful Inspection Firewall

• Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)

Both VPNs and firewalls form the core of WAN security and are favorite topics in the CCNA exam.

The good news? Study4Pass has question banks that specifically target these topics, ensuring you become fluent in identifying and understanding their roles in various scenarios.

Why VPN and Firewalls Are Commonly Chosen

Now that we understand what VPNs and firewalls are, let's explore why they are so frequently chosen in WAN design:

Key Benefits of VPNs:

• Confidentiality: Encrypts data to prevent eavesdropping.

• Integrity: Ensures data hasn’t been tampered with.

• Authentication: Validates the identity of users and devices.

• Cost-effectiveness: Utilizes public infrastructure securely, reducing cost.

Key Benefits of Firewalls:

• Traffic Filtering: Filters packets based on source, destination, and port.

• Policy Enforcement: Enforces security policies consistently.

• Intrusion Prevention: Some firewalls include IDS/IPS functionalities.

• Application Awareness: Advanced firewalls can filter traffic based on application behavior.

Cisco expects CCNA candidates to understand how these tools work together to form a secure network perimeter. Many exam questions simulate real-world scenarios where you're asked which two features best protect data across a WAN.

Study4Pass drills these concepts with layered questions, diagrams, and dynamic flashcards, helping you internalize the "why" behind each choice.

Other Security Features (Distractors in the Exam)

In "choose two" type questions, Cisco often includes distractor options—technologies that are related but not correct in the context given. Let’s look at a few of these:

Common Distractors:

• Access Control Lists (ACLs): These filter traffic but are not full security solutions for WANs.

• Switchport Security: Relevant for LANs, not WANs.

• 802.1X: Useful for port-based authentication, not directly related to WAN security.

• DMZ (Demilitarized Zone): Often part of network design but not typically used to secure WAN connections directly.

• NAT (Network Address Translation): Used to map private IPs to public ones; helps with anonymity but not encryption or threat prevention.

Study4Pass provides side-by-side comparison charts in its study guides to help you quickly identify distractors and focus on the best choices.

How to Approach 'Choose Two' Questions in the Exam

The 200-301 exam includes many multiple-answer questions that can be tricky. Here's how you should approach them:

1. Read the Question Twice

Ensure you understand the scenario. Cisco often embeds clues in the wording.

2. Identify the Goal

Are you securing data in transit? Preventing intrusion? Protecting endpoints?

3. Eliminate Distractors

Use your knowledge to eliminate options that don’t directly meet the scenario’s needs.

4. Validate the Remaining Options

Ask yourself: Do these two features work well together? Are they commonly deployed in this kind of network setup?

Study4Pass includes practice questions modeled after Cisco’s real exam structure. You get detailed explanations after every question, so you're not just memorizing answers—you’re learning the logic behind them.

Final Thoughts

The Cisco 200-301 CCNA exam is a pivotal milestone for anyone entering the networking field. Topics like WAN design and security are foundational, not just for passing the exam, but for succeeding in real-world IT roles. To master this domain, it’s not enough to skim over topics. You need depth, clarity, and practice—and that’s where Study4Pass shines.

Special Discount: Offer Valid For Limited Time “200-301 Study Material”

Sample Questions For Cisco 200-301 Practice Test

Which two security features are commonly implemented in a WAN design? (Choose two)

A) VPN (Virtual Private Network)
B) Firewall
C) DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol)
D) NAT (Network Address Translation)

In WAN security, which two technologies help protect data transmission? (Choose two)

A) IPSec (Internet Protocol Security)
B) Encryption
C) HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol)
D) ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol)

Which two security mechanisms are often used to secure WAN connections? (Choose two)

A) DMZ (Demilitarized Zone)
B) Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
C) FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
D) Telnet

What two security measures help prevent unauthorized access in a WAN? (Choose two)

A) Access Control Lists (ACLs)
B) Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
C) DNS (Domain Name System)
D) ARP (Address Resolution Protocol)

Which two are essential for securing WAN traffic? (Choose two)

A) SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security)
B) Zero Trust Networking
C) SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol)
D) TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol)