Sample Questions from Cisco Certified Network Professional – Enterprise (ENCOR 350-401)

Preview a few questions below — answers are revealed when you take the exam.

1. A team needs to implement a scalable and secure network architecture for a multinational corporation. The architecture must support high availability, load balancing, and secure data transmission across multiple geographic locations. What approach should they take?

   • Deploy a centralized data center with redundant servers and use VPNs for secure communication between sites.
   • Implement a distributed architecture with multiple data centers in different regions, using Anycast DNS for load balancing and IPsec tunnels for secure communication.
   • Use a cloud-based solution with a single provider, leveraging their built-in security and load balancing features.
   • Set up a mesh network topology with direct connections between all sites, using MPLS for secure and efficient data transmission.

2. Consider the situation where a company experiences frequent network outages due to hardware failures. Which method solves it best?

   • Replace all existing hardware with newer models and implement a strict maintenance schedule.
   • Adopt a redundant network design with multiple paths and failover mechanisms, along with regular hardware health checks.
   • Outsource network management to a third-party provider to handle all hardware-related issues.
   • Increase the budget for network hardware and purchase more robust equipment without changing the current design.

3. Which option best evaluates the effectiveness of a network's security posture against advanced persistent threats (APTs)?

   • Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing.
   • Implement a next-generation firewall and rely on its threat intelligence features.
   • Use a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system to monitor network traffic for suspicious activities.
   • Perform a comprehensive security audit that includes threat modeling, red team exercises, and continuous monitoring.

4. How should a professional assess the impact of implementing Software-Defined Networking (SDN) in a traditional network environment?

   • Evaluate the current network infrastructure, identify pain points, and perform a cost-benefit analysis of SDN implementation.
   • Assume that SDN will automatically improve network performance and reduce costs without detailed analysis.
   • Focus solely on the potential reduction in hardware costs and ignore the operational changes required.
   • Conduct a pilot SDN deployment in a non-critical part of the network and measure its performance against traditional networking.

5. What strategy should be applied when designing a network to support a hybrid cloud environment with both on-premises and cloud-based resources?

   • Use a single, unified network policy across all environments and rely on cloud provider security features.
   • Implement a segmented network design with distinct policies for on-premises and cloud resources, and use secure connectivity options like VPNs or Direct Connect.
   • Deploy all resources in the cloud and decommission on-premises infrastructure to simplify management.
   • Create a separate VLAN for cloud traffic and isolate it from the on-premises network to enhance security.