Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) Practice Exam

Which three statements about the features of SNMPv2 and SNMPv3 are true?

1. SNMPv3 enhanced SNMPv2 security features.

2. SNMPv3 added the Inform protocol message to SNMP.

3. SNMPv2 added the Inform protocol message to SNMP.

4. SNMPv2 added the GetBulk protocol message to SNMP.

The correct answer is: SNMPv3 enhanced SNMPv2 security features.

The assertion that SNMPv3 enhanced SNMPv2 security features is accurate because SNMPv3 introduced important advancements in security to address the vulnerabilities present in earlier versions. Unlike SNMPv1 and SNMPv2, which offered limited security mechanisms primarily based on community strings, SNMPv3 incorporates robust security protocols. These include authentication and encryption capabilities, which help to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of SNMP messages. This evolution was necessary to protect network management traffic from being easily intercepted or tampered with. In addition to this, it's important to understand that other statements present in the question can help clarify the broader context. While SNMPv2 did enhance some aspects of SNMP, it did not add certain features that are often misattributed to it, such as the Inform message, which is specifically a part of SNMPv3's enhancements. Furthermore, SNMPv2 introduced the GetBulk message to improve efficiency in retrieving large sets of data, whereas SNMPv3 maintained and further developed the framework established by SNMPv2. Understanding these developments forms a well-rounded view of how SNMP versions progressed.