What type of network attack is most effectively mitigated by enabling BPDU guard?

What type of network attack is most effectively mitigated by enabling BPDU guard?

• A. IP spoofing
• B. Rogue switches
• C. Denial of Service
• D. Man-in-the-middle

Answer: (B)

Enabling BPDU guard is an effective mitigation strategy against rogue switches in a network. BPDU guard works by preventing a switch port from sending or receiving Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) when it is configured to be an access port. When a rogue switch connects to a port that has BPDU guard enabled, the switch detects the unexpected BPDU and automatically shuts down that port. Rogue switches can disrupt a network by attempting to participate in the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and could create loops or alter network paths, thereby compromising the integrity and performance of the network. By employing BPDU guard, network administrators can protect against this type of unauthorized device connection, ensuring only legitimate switches participate in the STP process and maintaining network stability. Other options involve different types of attacks or vulnerabilities that BPDU guard does not specifically address. For example, IP spoofing and man-in-the-middle attacks deal with manipulating IP addresses and intercepting communications, respectively, while denial of service attacks typically aim to overwhelm network resources rather than create issues related to STP. Thus, BPDU guard is specifically tailored to counteract rogue switches effectively.

Enabling BPDU guard is an effective mitigation strategy against rogue switches in a network. BPDU guard works by preventing a switch port from sending or receiving Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) when it is configured to be an access port. When a rogue switch connects to a port that has BPDU guard enabled, the switch detects the unexpected BPDU and automatically shuts down that port.

Rogue switches can disrupt a network by attempting to participate in the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) and could create loops or alter network paths, thereby compromising the integrity and performance of the network. By employing BPDU guard, network administrators can protect against this type of unauthorized device connection, ensuring only legitimate switches participate in the STP process and maintaining network stability.

Other options involve different types of attacks or vulnerabilities that BPDU guard does not specifically address. For example, IP spoofing and man-in-the-middle attacks deal with manipulating IP addresses and intercepting communications, respectively, while denial of service attacks typically aim to overwhelm network resources rather than create issues related to STP. Thus, BPDU guard is specifically tailored to counteract rogue switches effectively.