CCDE Network Design Prep practice questions and answers 2026. Tap an option to test yourself — you'll see the correct answer and a plain-English explanation for every question. Free, no login.
Q21A financial institution is implementing a zero-trust security model. Which design approach best supports this security model?
✓ Correct answer: D. Micro-segmentation with continuous authentication and authorization
Micro-segmentation with continuous authentication and authorization provides the granular control and verification needed for a zero-trust security model, where no user or device is inherently trusted regardless of location.
Q22When designing a network to comply with PCI DSS requirements, which segmentation approach is most appropriate for the cardholder data environment?
✓ Correct answer: C. A separate security zone with dedicated firewalls
A separate security zone with dedicated firewalls provides the strongest isolation for cardholder data environments, allowing specific security controls and monitoring to be applied to meet PCI DSS requirements.
Q23Which security design element best addresses the risk of compromised credentials in a network with multiple remote sites?
✓ Correct answer: B. Multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication requires multiple verification methods, significantly reducing the risk posed by compromised passwords or credentials, especially in distributed networks with multiple remote access points.
Q24A healthcare organization needs to implement a security solution that ensures protected health information (PHI) remains private during transit across their network. Which technology should be recommended?
✓ Correct answer: A. End-to-end encryption
End-to-end encryption ensures that protected health information remains encrypted throughout its journey across the network, protecting it from eavesdropping and meeting HIPAA compliance requirements.
Q25When designing security for an SD-WAN deployment, which approach is most critical to address the security challenges introduced by direct internet access at branch offices?
✓ Correct answer: D. Distributed security policy enforcement with local inspection
Distributed security policy enforcement with local inspection ensures that branch offices with direct internet access have appropriate security controls to inspect and filter traffic locally, rather than backhauling to a central location.
Q26Which design element is most important when implementing a security strategy focused on detecting and responding to threats that have bypassed preventative controls?
✓ Correct answer: C. Advanced threat detection with behavioral analytics
Advanced threat detection with behavioral analytics can identify anomalous patterns and potential threats that have already bypassed preventative controls, enabling faster response to security incidents.
Q27A company is concerned about protection against sophisticated attacks that target their data center. Which security design approach provides the most comprehensive protection?
✓ Correct answer: B. Defense-in-depth with multiple security technologies
Defense-in-depth with multiple security technologies provides layered protection against sophisticated attacks, ensuring that if one security control is bypassed, others remain to detect or prevent the attack.
Q28When designing a network security architecture for a company with strict regulatory compliance requirements, which approach to security policy management is most effective?
✓ Correct answer: A. Centralized policy management with automated compliance reporting
Centralized policy management with automated compliance reporting provides consistent enforcement of security policies across the network while generating the documentation needed to demonstrate regulatory compliance.
Q29Which network design element best supports the principle of least privilege in an enterprise environment?
✓ Correct answer: D. Role-based access control with fine-grained permissions
Role-based access control with fine-grained permissions implements the principle of least privilege by ensuring users and devices have only the specific access rights needed for their roles, limiting potential damage from compromised accounts.
Q30A manufacturing company with industrial control systems (ICS) needs to connect these systems to their enterprise network. Which security design approach is most appropriate?
✓ Correct answer: C. Air-gapped networks or strictly controlled demilitarized zones
Air-gapped networks or strictly controlled demilitarized zones provide the necessary isolation for industrial control systems, protecting them from potential threats that could disrupt operations while allowing controlled information exchange.
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