Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

What action does port security violation protect perform?

1. Keeps port in down state and disables it

2. Keeps port in upstate but does not allow it to send or receive data

3. Keeps port in upstate and sends data but not receives

4. Keeps port in upstate and sends an error report

The correct answer is: Keeps port in upstate but does not allow it to send or receive data

The action that port security violation protect performs is designed to maintain the operational state of the port while still enforcing security policies. When port security is configured on a switch port, the protect option allows the port to remain in an up state, meaning it is still operational and will not be disabled. However, it will block traffic from any device that is not recognized or allowed based on the configured security policy. In this mode, legitimate traffic from authorized devices can continue to flow, while any unauthorized access attempts are dropped silently. This approach allows for a more flexible implementation of network access control, as it prevents the disruption that could be caused by completely shutting down the port for violations. This function is particularly useful in environments where uptime is critical, and network administrators want to ensure that legitimate users remain connected while still preventing unauthorized access. By allowing the port to stay active without sending or receiving traffic from unauthorized devices, the protect mode strikes a balance between security and availability.