Cisco 300-415 Implementing SD-WAN Solutions (ENSDWI) Exam Dumps and Practice Test Questions Set 12 Q166-180

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Question 166

Which SD-WAN feature enables administrators to segment the network into logical domains to enforce isolation and apply policies based on application, department, or security requirements?

A) Local Policy
B) Intent-Based Segmentation
C) Application-Aware Routing
D) TLOC Color Assignment

Answer: B) Intent-Based Segmentation

Explanation:

Local Policy provides site-specific enforcement of QoS, ACLs, and traffic shaping but does not create isolated logical domains across the SD-WAN overlay. Its scope is limited to the branch or device level and does not provide the organizational segmentation needed for multi-tenant or departmental isolation. Application-Aware Routing ensures that traffic follows optimal paths based on WAN performance metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss, and while it improves application experience, it does not implement network segmentation or enforce isolation between different traffic types. TLOC Color Assignment assigns logical identifiers to transport connections to differentiate between MPLS, broadband, or LTE links and to support policy enforcement, but it does not create isolated domains or enforce segmentation policies. Intent-Based Segmentation is the correct answer because it allows administrators to divide the SD-WAN overlay into logical segments based on application, user group, department, or security requirements. Each segment can have dedicated routing rules, security policies, and SLA objectives. For example, finance applications can be isolated from guest traffic, or production systems can be separated from development environments. This ensures that traffic is confined within its designated segment, preventing unauthorized access or policy violations. Intent-Based Segmentation integrates with Business Intent Overlays and vSmart controllers to propagate segment definitions and enforce rules consistently across the entire overlay. Devices within each segment can communicate according to defined policies while isolation is maintained between segments. The mechanism also allows dynamic updates: when a new branch is added, segment membership and corresponding policies are automatically applied without manual configuration. By enforcing isolation and aligning network behavior with organizational intent, Intent-Based Segmentation enhances security, supports compliance requirements, and ensures predictable application performance for each segment. It is critical in multi-tenant or complex enterprise deployments, where traffic separation is necessary for operational, security, or regulatory reasons. Furthermore, it allows seamless integration with local policies for branch-specific enforcement while maintaining overlay-wide consistency. By combining segmentation with policy automation, administrators can reduce operational overhead, ensure predictable SLA compliance, and simplify management of complex WAN environments. Intent-Based Segmentation works in conjunction with SLA-based path selection, application-aware routing, and encryption to provide a secure, scalable, and adaptive SD-WAN architecture. Therefore, the correct answer is Intent-Based Segmentation.

Question 167

Which SD-WAN mechanism ensures continuous monitoring of WAN paths and triggers automatic rerouting when SLA thresholds are violated?

A) TLOC Color Assignment
B) SLA-Based Path Selection
C) Business Intent Overlay
D) Zero-Touch Provisioning

Answer: B) SLA-Based Path Selection

Explanation:

TLOC Color Assignment provides logical labels to WAN transport connections to differentiate MPLS, broadband, or LTE links. While it helps in routing decisions, it does not continuously monitor path performance or trigger rerouting when thresholds are violated. Business Intent Overlay defines high-level enterprise priorities and application requirements, translating them into routing and forwarding policies, but it does not itself perform continuous path monitoring or automatic rerouting in response to SLA violations. Zero-Touch Provisioning automates device onboarding by retrieving configurations, certificates, and controller information, but it does not influence path selection or monitor network performance. SLA-Based Path Selection is the correct answer because it continuously measures WAN path performance metrics, including latency, jitter, and packet loss, to evaluate whether current paths meet defined SLAs for applications. When performance thresholds are not met, this mechanism triggers automatic rerouting to alternate paths that satisfy the SLA requirements. For example, if VoIP traffic experiences excessive jitter on a broadband link, SLA-Based Path Selection can redirect traffic to an MPLS link that meets low-latency requirements. This ensures mission-critical applications maintain predictable performance without manual intervention. The system works in real-time and integrates with vEdge routers, vSmart controllers, and Business Intent Overlay to enforce dynamic routing decisions based on both network conditions and business priorities. SLA monitoring includes both data-plane metrics and overlay-level observations, allowing the SD-WAN fabric to adapt rapidly to congestion, outages, or fluctuating link quality. It also supports multiple applications simultaneously, applying priority-based rerouting to ensure critical traffic is always delivered over optimal paths. By combining real-time telemetry, SLA enforcement, and automated path selection, SLA-Based Path Selection enhances application reliability, reduces user-impacting disruptions, and supports hybrid WAN environments with diverse transport types. This mechanism is particularly essential for cloud-based or SaaS applications where performance variability on public broadband links could otherwise degrade service quality. In addition, SLA-Based Path Selection complements other SD-WAN features like Application-Aware Routing and Intent-Based Segmentation by enforcing policies while maintaining the business intent and traffic isolation across segments. It ensures that enterprise-defined service levels are consistently met while reducing operational overhead, providing a highly adaptive and resilient SD-WAN architecture. Therefore, the correct answer is SLA-Based Path Selection.

Question 168

Which SD-WAN component is responsible for distributing encryption keys, routing information, and policies to all WAN edge devices to maintain a secure and consistent overlay?

A) vManage
B) vBond
C) vSmart
D) vEdge

Answer: C) vSmart

Explanation:

vManage is the centralized management and orchestration platform that provides configuration templates, monitoring, and analytics for the SD-WAN network. While it deploys policies and operational workflows, it does not directly distribute encryption keys or manage control-plane routing information to devices. vBond facilitates device authentication and initial onboarding, ensuring devices are trusted and can securely connect to controllers, but it does not continuously propagate routing information or enforce overlay-wide policies. vEdge routers are the data-plane devices responsible for forwarding application traffic, enforcing locally received policies, and establishing encrypted tunnels with other devices. Although they maintain secure communications, they do not distribute keys or routing information to other devices. vSmart is the correct answer because it acts as the control-plane intelligence for the SD-WAN overlay. It maintains knowledge of the overlay topology, distributes routing information to all vEdge devices, enforces security and segmentation policies, and distributes encryption keys for secure data-plane and control-plane communications. vSmart ensures consistency of routing, policy enforcement, and secure communication across the network. It also supports dynamic path selection and integrates with Business Intent Overlay and SLA monitoring to maintain performance and business objectives. Without vSmart, WAN edge devices would lack unified control-plane instructions, leading to inconsistent routing, misconfigured policies, and potential security vulnerabilities. vSmart is essential for the operational integrity, security, and reliability of Cisco SD-WAN deployments, ensuring all devices operate in a synchronized and secure manner. Therefore, the correct answer is vSmart.

Question 169

Which Cisco SD-WAN feature allows administrators to define enterprise-wide goals and automatically translates them into routing, forwarding, and QoS policies for applications?

A) Application-Aware Routing
B) Business Intent Overlay
C) Zero-Touch Provisioning
D) SLA-Based Path Selection

Answer: B) Business Intent Overlay

Explanation:

Application-Aware Routing is a mechanism that monitors WAN path metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss to dynamically steer traffic across multiple links. It ensures applications use optimal paths and improves user experience, particularly for latency-sensitive applications like VoIP and video conferencing. However, while it optimizes traffic based on real-time performance, it does not provide a centralized framework for defining high-level business priorities or translating enterprise objectives into detailed routing, forwarding, and QoS policies. Zero-Touch Provisioning automates the initial deployment of WAN edge devices by allowing them to retrieve configuration templates, certificates, and controller addresses upon first connection to the network. This reduces manual configuration effort, accelerates onboarding, and ensures secure authentication, but it does not perform policy translation or application-level routing decisions. SLA-Based Path Selection continuously measures WAN path performance against predefined service-level agreements and automatically reroutes traffic when thresholds are violated. While SLA monitoring is critical to maintain application performance, it is reactive to path conditions rather than a mechanism for defining enterprise goals and mapping them to routing and QoS policies. Business Intent Overlay is the correct answer because it provides a centralized policy framework that enables administrators to specify high-level business objectives, such as which applications are critical, what level of performance they require, and which transport paths should be prioritized. These objectives are then automatically translated into detailed configurations enforced across all SD-WAN devices, including routing decisions, forwarding instructions, and quality-of-service markings. For instance, administrators can define policies ensuring that VoIP traffic always traverses low-latency paths, cloud applications are routed over optimal internet connections, and bulk file transfers utilize less expensive backup links. Business Intent Overlay integrates with SLA monitoring, Application-Aware Routing, and TLOC Color Assignment to dynamically adjust traffic flows in response to changing WAN conditions while maintaining compliance with defined business objectives. This ensures that enterprise priorities are reflected in real-time network behavior, improving application performance, user experience, and operational efficiency. By combining high-level intent with automated policy enforcement, Business Intent Overlay reduces operational errors, simplifies configuration management, and provides predictability in large-scale deployments. It supports segmentation, SLA adherence, and path optimization across all branches, data centers, and cloud sites. Administrators can use the overlay to enforce global policies consistently, while edge devices adapt locally based on performance telemetry, maintaining the intended business outcomes. Furthermore, Business Intent Overlay allows for continuous adaptation: if a link degrades or an application exceeds its SLA thresholds, traffic is automatically rerouted over alternative paths that meet performance requirements without manual intervention. This integration of policy, telemetry, and automation ensures that mission-critical services perform reliably, operational complexity is minimized, and the network aligns with strategic business goals. In summary, while Application-Aware Routing and SLA-Based Path Selection contribute to traffic optimization, and Zero-Touch Provisioning facilitates deployment, only Business Intent Overlay provides a holistic mechanism to define enterprise-wide objectives and automatically implement them in routing, forwarding, and QoS policies, ensuring that SD-WAN behavior is directly aligned with organizational priorities. Therefore, the correct answer is Business Intent Overlay.

Question 170

Which SD-WAN component is responsible for establishing encrypted control and data-plane tunnels between WAN edge devices, distributing policies, and maintaining overlay security?

A) vEdge
B) vManage
C) vBond
D) vSmart

Answer: D) vSmart

Explanation:

vEdge devices are responsible for forwarding traffic, enforcing locally applied policies, and establishing IPsec or DTLS tunnels with other edge devices. While vEdge handles data-plane operations and executes policies, it does not manage the distribution of encryption keys, routing information, or global policy enforcement to other devices. vManage provides centralized management, configuration templates, monitoring, and analytics for the SD-WAN fabric. It orchestrates deployments, applies templates, and provides operational visibility, but does not directly distribute encryption keys or routing information to WAN edge devices. vBond is the orchestrator responsible for authenticating new devices, enabling them to securely connect to controllers, and facilitating initial connectivity. While critical for onboarding, it does not maintain overlay security or distribute policies continuously. vSmart is the correct answer because it acts as the control-plane intelligence of Cisco SD-WAN. It maintains topology knowledge, distributes routing information, applies segmentation and security policies, and provides encryption keys to all WAN edge devices to establish secure control and data-plane communications. vSmart ensures that all traffic within the overlay is encrypted, routes are consistent, and policies are applied uniformly across all sites. It works closely with Business Intent Overlay, SLA monitoring, and Application-Aware Routing to guarantee that traffic follows optimal paths while maintaining security and compliance with organizational policies. The continuous distribution of control-plane information and encryption keys enables vSmart to maintain a secure, reliable, and consistent SD-WAN overlay. By ensuring that all WAN edge devices have the necessary routing information, policy definitions, and keys to establish secure tunnels, vSmart maintains overlay integrity, prevents unauthorized access, and supports dynamic path selection for critical applications. It also enables segmentation and isolation between traffic flows, ensuring compliance with security requirements. Without vSmart, WAN edge devices would operate in isolation, risking inconsistent routing, potential security breaches, and policy misalignment. vSmart’s centralized intelligence and policy enforcement make it indispensable for the security, reliability, and performance of the SD-WAN network. Therefore, the correct answer is vSmart.

Question 171

Which Cisco SD-WAN feature monitors application performance in real-time and steers traffic dynamically to ensure critical applications meet SLA requirements across multiple WAN links?

A) SLA-Based Path Selection
B) Business Intent Overlay
C) Local Policy
D) Zero-Touch Provisioning

Answer:  A) SLA-Based Path Selection

Explanation:

Business Intent Overlay allows administrators to define high-level enterprise policies, priorities, and SLAs, translating them into routing and forwarding instructions. While it establishes the intended business goals, it relies on underlying mechanisms to enforce them dynamically and does not itself perform real-time path monitoring or rerouting. Local Policy enables site-specific enforcement of QoS, ACLs, and traffic shaping at the branch level, but it does not provide real-time WAN path monitoring or dynamic application traffic steering. Zero-Touch Provisioning automates device deployment and configuration retrieval, ensuring new devices can securely join the network with minimal manual intervention, but it does not monitor application performance or steer traffic. SLA-Based Path Selection is the correct answer because it continuously measures WAN path performance metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss for each transport link. Evaluating these metrics in real-time determines whether current paths meet the SLA thresholds defined for critical applications. When a threshold is violated, traffic is automatically rerouted over an alternative path that meets performance requirements. This mechanism ensures mission-critical applications like VoIP, video conferencing, or ERP systems consistently achieve the required performance levels regardless of fluctuating WAN conditions. SLA-Based Path Selection integrates with vEdge routers, vSmart controllers, and Business Intent Overlay to enforce policies and dynamically steer traffic according to both application importance and network conditions. It is essential in hybrid WAN environments with multiple transport options, including MPLS, broadband, and LTE, to provide continuous adaptation to congestion, outages, or link degradation. By combining real-time telemetry, SLA enforcement, and automated path selection, this feature improves user experience, guarantees predictable application performance, and reduces operational complexity. It also works alongside segmentation and policy frameworks to maintain isolation while optimizing routing for critical applications. SLA-Based Path Selection enables organizations to maintain service quality, comply with internal SLAs, and ensure business continuity across geographically distributed sites. By proactively steering traffic based on monitored metrics, it minimizes disruptions, supports cloud application performance, and aligns network behavior with enterprise objectives. Therefore, the correct answer is SLA-Based Path Selection.

Question 172

Which Cisco SD-WAN feature provides granular control at branch devices to enforce QoS, ACLs, and traffic shaping locally without relying on centralized policy enforcement?

A) Business Intent Overlay
B) Application-Aware Routing
C) Local Policy
D) Zero-Touch Provisioning

Answer: C) Local Policy

Explanation:

Business Intent Overlay allows administrators to define enterprise-wide priorities, application requirements, and SLA thresholds at a high level, automatically translating these into routing, forwarding, and QoS configurations across the SD-WAN overlay. While BIO defines policies centrally, it does not provide local, branch-specific enforcement independent of the central controllers. Application-Aware Routing continuously monitors WAN path performance metrics, including latency, jitter, and packet loss, and steers traffic dynamically based on application needs. While it ensures optimal path selection, it does not allow administrators to enforce local QoS, ACLs, or traffic shaping independently at each branch site. Zero-Touch Provisioning automates device onboarding by allowing WAN edge devices to retrieve configuration templates, certificates, and controller addresses upon first connection. Although it reduces manual configuration effort and ensures secure initial deployment, it does not provide ongoing local traffic control or policy enforcement. Local Policy is the correct answer because it provides the capability to enforce rules directly at the vEdge or cEdge device, allowing site-specific control over QoS markings, ACL enforcement, and traffic shaping. Administrators can define policies that prioritize critical applications, restrict unauthorized traffic, or shape bandwidth usage according to branch requirements without relying on continuous centralized control. Local Policy integrates with centralized mechanisms like Business Intent Overlay and SLA-Based Path Selection, allowing edge devices to implement branch-specific adaptations while still adhering to global network objectives. This provides flexibility in scenarios where site-specific network conditions, security requirements, or operational priorities differ from global policies. By allowing granular control at the branch level, Local Policy ensures that critical traffic receives appropriate treatment even during temporary disconnections from vManage or vSmart controllers. It is particularly useful for large-scale deployments with heterogeneous sites, where uniform enforcement from central controllers may not accommodate localized performance or security considerations. Local Policy enables network operators to fine-tune bandwidth allocation, prioritize mission-critical applications, enforce access control, and optimize overall traffic handling for each branch, ensuring predictable application performance and enhanced user experience. The combination of Local Policy with other SD-WAN features, such as Application-Aware Routing, TLOC Color Assignment, and SLA monitoring, allows organizations to achieve a balance between centralized orchestration and localized traffic control, providing both scalability and adaptability. This makes Local Policy essential for meeting operational, security, and performance objectives in complex, distributed SD-WAN networks. Therefore, the correct answer is Local Policy.

Question 173

Which SD-WAN component authenticates devices, orchestrates initial connectivity to controllers, and enables secure onboarding across NAT and firewall boundaries?

A) vSmart
B) vManage
C) vBond
D) vEdge

Answer: C) vBond

Explanation:

vSmart serves as the control-plane intelligence of the SD-WAN overlay, distributing routing information, policies, and encryption keys to all WAN edge devices. While it enforces security and policy across the network, it does not authenticate new devices or orchestrate initial connectivity. vManage provides centralized management, analytics, monitoring, and configuration template deployment across the SD-WAN network. It ensures operational visibility and template-based enforcement, but it does not facilitate secure onboarding or device authentication. vEdge devices handle the data-plane functions of forwarding application traffic, enforcing locally applied policies, and establishing encrypted tunnels with other edge routers. While they participate in secure communications once onboarded, they do not initiate or orchestrate secure connections for new devices joining the network. vBond is the correct answer because it serves as the orchestrator responsible for authenticating new vEdge or cEdge devices and facilitating their initial connection to vSmart and vManage controllers. When a new device is powered on, it contacts vBond, which verifies its certificate, confirms authorization, and provides the information needed to connect securely to the overlay. vBond also supports NAT traversal and firewall penetration, ensuring that devices located behind private networks or restrictive security environments can successfully reach controllers. This authentication and orchestration process guarantees that only trusted devices can join the SD-WAN overlay, maintaining network integrity and security. By securely distributing control-plane and management-plane endpoints to devices, vBond enables automated and rapid onboarding while minimizing operational complexity. vBond ensures secure trust establishment across the network before devices begin exchanging routing information, policies, or encryption keys from vSmart, thereby preventing unauthorized access or policy violation. It works in conjunction with Zero-Touch Provisioning, vSmart, and vManage to ensure seamless device integration, enforce security standards, and maintain consistency across the overlay. Without vBond, onboarding would require manual configuration, exposing the network to potential security risks, delays, and human error. By providing authentication, orchestration, and secure connectivity, vBond is essential for scaling deployments, maintaining overlay integrity, and ensuring operational efficiency in Cisco SD-WAN architectures. Therefore, the correct answer is vBond.

Question 174

Which SD-WAN mechanism assigns logical identifiers to WAN transport connections to differentiate between MPLS, broadband, and LTE links and enforce policy based on link type?

A) Application-Aware Routing
B) TLOC Color Assignment
C) Business Intent Overlay
D) SLA-Based Path Selection

Answer: B) TLOC Color Assignment

Explanation:

Application-Aware Routing monitors WAN path performance metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss to dynamically steer traffic for applications. While it optimizes performance and ensures SLA compliance, it does not label or differentiate WAN transport connections for policy enforcement or topology awareness. Business Intent Overlay provides centralized high-level policy definitions and translates enterprise goals into routing, forwarding, and QoS policies. However, it does not assign unique logical identifiers to WAN links and cannot differentiate MPLS, broadband, or LTE connections without the underlying TLOC framework. SLA-Based Path Selection continuously monitors WAN path performance and reroutes traffic when SLA thresholds are violated. While it ensures traffic meets performance objectives, it does not provide a mechanism to logically identify or label transport links for topology-aware policy enforcement. TLOC Color Assignment is the correct answer because it assigns unique logical identifiers to each WAN transport connection, allowing vEdge devices and vSmart controllers to recognize and differentiate links such as MPLS, broadband, or LTE. These color labels are used to enforce routing policies, support topology-aware path selection, and implement failover or prioritization rules for specific link types. For example, administrators can configure critical VoIP or video traffic to always prefer MPLS links labeled with a specific color while directing bulk file transfers over broadband or LTE links. TLOC Color Assignment provides the foundation for Business Intent Overlay, SLA-Based Path Selection, and Application-Aware Routing to operate effectively, as these mechanisms rely on distinct link identifiers to make routing and forwarding decisions. By combining color assignment with telemetry and SLA monitoring, SD-WAN ensures predictable application performance, efficient bandwidth utilization, and rapid adaptation to WAN conditions. It also allows policy-based segmentation, redundancy, and failover planning, making it essential for maintaining a resilient and adaptive overlay network. TLOC Color Assignment enables granular control over WAN transport selection, supports business-driven routing priorities, and simplifies policy implementation in multi-transport hybrid WAN environments. Therefore, the correct answer is TLOC Color Assignment.

Question 175

Which Cisco SD-WAN mechanism enables automatic rerouting of traffic when measured WAN path metrics, such as latency, jitter, or packet loss, exceed predefined SLA thresholds?

A) TLOC Color Assignment
B) SLA-Based Path Selection
C) Business Intent Overlay
D) Local Policy

Answer: B) SLA-Based Path Selection

Explanation:

TLOC Color Assignment provides logical identifiers to WAN transport connections such as MPLS, broadband, and LTE. While these colors are used for topology-aware routing and policy enforcement, they do not measure WAN performance metrics or trigger automatic rerouting when SLA thresholds are violated. Business Intent Overlay allows administrators to define high-level business goals, application priorities, and policies for the entire network, translating them into routing and QoS configurations across the overlay. Although BIO defines SLAs for applications, it does not itself monitor path performance in real-time or perform dynamic rerouting. Local Policy enforces QoS, ACLs, and traffic shaping at branch devices. While it enables granular local control, it does not continuously monitor WAN links or adjust traffic paths automatically based on SLA performance. SLA-Based Path Selection is the correct answer because it continuously monitors the performance of WAN paths and ensures that traffic for critical applications meets the defined SLA thresholds. Metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss are measured in real-time, and when any path fails to meet the SLA, traffic is automatically redirected to an alternate path that satisfies the SLA. This mechanism ensures that mission-critical applications such as VoIP, video conferencing, or ERP systems experience predictable performance even in cases of link degradation or congestion. SLA-Based Path Selection integrates with Business Intent Overlay, Application-Aware Routing, and TLOC Color Assignment to provide dynamic, intelligent path selection while enforcing enterprise policies. For example, when a primary MPLS link shows increased latency exceeding VoIP SLA requirements, traffic can be rerouted over a broadband or LTE link that meets the performance objective, maintaining voice quality without requiring manual intervention. By combining real-time monitoring, SLA enforcement, and automatic rerouting, this feature enhances user experience, improves operational efficiency, and reduces network downtime. It is particularly valuable in hybrid WAN environments with multiple transport types where path conditions can change rapidly. SLA-Based Path Selection also complements Local Policy by ensuring that traffic flows adhere to both branch-specific rules and overall SLA objectives. It reduces operational complexity by automating decisions that would otherwise require constant manual intervention, enabling organizations to maintain high levels of application performance across geographically distributed sites. This mechanism is essential for guaranteeing compliance with service-level agreements, maintaining predictable performance for business-critical applications, and ensuring that hybrid WAN deployments are both reliable and adaptive. Therefore, the correct answer is SLA-Based Path Selection.

Question 176

Which SD-WAN component is responsible for central management, configuration template deployment, monitoring, and orchestration across the entire overlay network?

A) vEdge
B) vSmart
C) vBond
D) vManage

Answer: D) vManage

Explanation:

vEdge devices are responsible for forwarding application traffic, enforcing locally applied policies, and establishing encrypted tunnels with other edge routers. While they execute policies and participate in control-plane communications, they do not provide centralized management, analytics, or template orchestration. vSmart serves as the control-plane intelligence for the SD-WAN overlay, distributing routing information, encryption keys, and policies to WAN edge devices. Although vSmart enforces consistency and ensures secure control-plane communications, it does not provide centralized operational monitoring or configuration template management. vBond is responsible for authenticating new devices, orchestrating initial connectivity to controllers, and enabling secure onboarding. While critical for trust and secure device registration, vBond does not handle ongoing network-wide monitoring, configuration deployment, or orchestration. vManage is the correct answer because it acts as the centralized management and orchestration platform for Cisco SD-WAN. It provides administrators with a single-pane-of-glass interface to configure devices, deploy templates, enforce policies, monitor network health, and automate operational workflows. vManage collects telemetry from all edge devices, generates performance reports, provides alerts for potential network issues, and allows administrators to troubleshoot WAN or application-level problems proactively. It also integrates with Business Intent Overlay to ensure that enterprise goals and application priorities are translated into configuration and policy enforcement consistently across all sites. vManage enables both centralized and template-driven management, reducing manual configuration errors and ensuring that policies are uniformly applied across the network. It supports large-scale deployments, allowing hundreds or thousands of devices to be configured and monitored efficiently. Additionally, vManage provides operational visibility into SLA compliance, link performance, and application behavior, allowing organizations to maintain predictable performance and meet business requirements. By centralizing management, monitoring, and orchestration, vManage ensures consistency, security, and operational efficiency across the SD-WAN overlay, making it essential for managing hybrid WAN environments and achieving the desired business outcomes. Therefore, the correct answer is vManage.

Question 177

Which SD-WAN feature dynamically directs application traffic across the optimal WAN path based on real-time performance metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss?

A) Business Intent Overlay
B) Application-Aware Routing
C) Local Policy
D) Zero-Touch Provisioning

Answer: B) Application-Aware Routing

Explanation:

Business Intent Overlay allows administrators to define enterprise priorities, SLAs, and policies for applications across the overlay, translating these into routing, QoS, and forwarding rules. While BIO defines the intended behavior for applications, it does not directly monitor WAN path metrics or make real-time decisions to steer traffic dynamically. Local Policy provides granular, branch-level enforcement of QoS, ACLs, and traffic shaping, but it does not evaluate WAN path performance or automatically redirect traffic based on real-time network conditions. Zero-Touch Provisioning automates device onboarding by allowing vEdge and cEdge devices to retrieve configuration templates, certificates, and controller addresses upon first connection to the network. While ZTP accelerates deployment and ensures secure initialization, it does not handle dynamic traffic steering or path selection. Application-Aware Routing is the correct answer because it continuously evaluates the performance of all available WAN links by monitoring metrics such as latency, jitter, and packet loss. Based on these measurements, it dynamically directs application traffic to the path that best meets performance requirements, ensuring that critical applications maintain SLA compliance. For example, VoIP traffic requiring low latency and minimal jitter can be steered over an MPLS or high-quality broadband link, while bulk file transfers may be routed over less expensive backup links. Application-Aware Routing integrates with SLA-Based Path Selection, Business Intent Overlay, and TLOC Color Assignment to enforce policies while adapting in real-time to changing network conditions. This mechanism ensures predictable application performance, enhances user experience, and reduces the risk of congestion-related degradation. It also provides operational efficiency by automating traffic management decisions that would otherwise require manual intervention. By combining real-time telemetry with policy enforcement, Application-Aware Routing allows organizations to optimize hybrid WAN performance, maintain SLA compliance, and dynamically adapt to network changes without disruption. It is particularly critical in environments with multiple transport types and cloud-based applications, where path quality can fluctuate. The feature supports business-critical workflows, ensures mission-critical application reliability, and aligns network behavior with enterprise objectives. Therefore, the correct answer is Application-Aware Routing.

Question 178

Which SD-WAN component maintains the overlay topology, distributes routing information, and enforces centralized policies for all WAN edge devices?

A) vEdge
B) vSmart
C) vBond
D) vManage

Answer: B) vSmart

Explanation:

vEdge devices are primarily responsible for forwarding traffic, enforcing locally applied policies, and establishing encrypted tunnels with other WAN edge devices. While they participate in control-plane communication and execute policies, they do not maintain the overlay topology or distribute routing information network-wide. vBond handles device authentication, initial onboarding, and facilitates secure connections to controllers, particularly for devices located behind NAT or firewalls. While vBond is critical for ensuring secure device trust, it does not maintain topology knowledge, distribute routing information, or enforce centralized policies on edge devices. vManage acts as the centralized management and orchestration platform, providing monitoring, analytics, template deployment, and operational visibility across the network. While it defines policies and pushes templates to devices, it does not handle the distribution of routing information or maintain real-time overlay topology for traffic forwarding decisions. vSmart is the correct answer because it serves as the control-plane intelligence for the SD-WAN overlay. It maintains the topology of all WAN edge devices, distributes routing updates, enforces segmentation and security policies, and propagates encryption keys to all edge devices to establish secure tunnels. vSmart ensures consistent routing and policy enforcement across all sites, integrating with Business Intent Overlay to translate enterprise objectives into enforceable network configurations. It supports dynamic path selection, Application-Aware Routing, and SLA monitoring to optimize performance based on real-time network conditions. By maintaining a complete view of the overlay topology, vSmart enables WAN edge devices to make intelligent forwarding decisions while ensuring centralized policies are consistently applied. It is essential for the operational integrity, security, and reliability of SD-WAN deployments because, without vSmart, edge devices would lack a synchronized view of the network, potentially leading to inconsistent routing, security vulnerabilities, and performance degradation. vSmart works in conjunction with vBond, vManage, and edge devices to maintain a secure, resilient, and optimized WAN overlay. Its responsibilities include policy enforcement, route distribution, topology awareness, and encryption key management, ensuring that enterprise-defined objectives are met while dynamically adapting to changing network conditions. In large-scale deployments, vSmart allows centralized control while providing real-time updates to edge devices, enabling consistent, reliable, and secure communication across all sites. Therefore, the correct answer is vSmart.

Question 179

Which SD-WAN feature allows devices to automatically authenticate, retrieve configuration, and establish secure connectivity to controllers upon first power-up?

A) Business Intent Overlay
B) Zero-Touch Provisioning
C) SLA-Based Path Selection
D) Local Policy

Answer: B) Zero-Touch Provisioning

Explanation:

Business Intent Overlay enables administrators to define enterprise priorities, application requirements, and SLAs, automatically translating them into routing, forwarding, and QoS policies across the SD-WAN overlay. While BIO defines high-level policies and objectives, it does not handle initial device authentication or configuration retrieval. SLA-Based Path Selection continuously monitors WAN link performance, dynamically steering traffic to maintain SLA compliance, but it assumes devices are already onboarded and operational. Local Policy allows site-specific enforcement of QoS, ACLs, and traffic shaping at branch locations, providing granular local control, but it does not automate device onboarding, certificate retrieval, or secure initial connectivity. Zero-Touch Provisioning is the correct answer because it automates the onboarding process for new WAN edge devices. When a device is powered on, it contacts the vBond orchestrator, which authenticates the device using pre-installed certificates and verifies authorization. Once authentication is successful, vBond provides the device with the addresses of vSmart and vManage controllers, enabling secure communication for control-plane and management-plane functions. The device then retrieves its configuration template from vManage, including policies, interface definitions, and routing parameters, without requiring manual intervention. Zero-Touch Provisioning simplifies large-scale deployments, reduces configuration errors, and ensures that devices are securely integrated into the overlay within minutes of powering on. It supports NAT traversal, enabling devices deployed behind firewalls or private networks to establish secure connectivity with controllers. ZTP works in conjunction with other SD-WAN mechanisms, such as Business Intent Overlay and vSmart, to ensure that devices not only join the network securely but also enforce enterprise policies and receive routing updates immediately after onboarding. By eliminating the need for manual configuration, ZTP significantly reduces operational overhead, accelerates deployment timelines, and ensures that new sites are fully operational in a consistent and secure manner. This mechanism is particularly critical for organizations with geographically distributed sites, cloud integration, or hybrid WAN architectures, where manual configuration would be impractical and error-prone. Therefore, the correct answer is Zero-Touch Provisioning.

Question 180

Which SD-WAN mechanism provides visibility into WAN link health, application performance, and SLA compliance while enabling proactive troubleshooting and operational optimization?

A) vManage
B) vBond
C) vSmart
D) vEdge

Answer:  A) vManage

Explanation:

vBond authenticates new devices, facilitates initial connectivity to controllers, and ensures secure onboarding, but it does not provide continuous monitoring or analytics for WAN link performance, application behavior, or SLA compliance. vSmart serves as the control-plane intelligence, distributing routing information, encryption keys, and policies to all WAN edge devices. While it supports policy enforcement and topology awareness, it does not provide centralized visibility into operational metrics or analytics dashboards for troubleshooting. vEdge devices forward traffic, enforce local policies, and participate in control-plane communications, but they lack centralized aggregation and visualization of performance data across the overlay. vManage is the correct answer because it provides centralized management, monitoring, and analytics for Cisco SD-WAN. It collects real-time telemetry from WAN edge devices, including interface statistics, link quality metrics, application performance, and SLA compliance data. Administrators can use vManage to view dashboards, generate alerts, and create reports that identify trends, detect anomalies, and provide proactive troubleshooting capabilities. vManage integrates with Business Intent Overlay, SLA-Based Path Selection, and Application-Aware Routing to ensure that network behavior aligns with defined policies and enterprise objectives. By providing operational visibility, vManage allows administrators to quickly identify link degradations, application performance issues, or misconfigurations before they impact end users. It also enables network optimization by analyzing trends and usage patterns, assisting in capacity planning, and validating policy effectiveness. vManage is the centralized management platform in Cisco SD-WAN that provides a unified interface for configuring, monitoring, and managing the entire SD-WAN overlay. Unlike vSmart, which handles control-plane functions such as routing and policy distribution, or vBond, which focuses on initial device authentication and trust establishment, vManage serves as the operational hub for network administrators. It supports large-scale deployments by centralizing network operations, enabling visibility across multiple sites, and simplifying the enforcement of policies and configurations.

One of the core strengths of vManage is its ability to aggregate data from all connected SD-WAN devices, including branch routers, data center routers, and cloud endpoints. This data includes link performance metrics, device health, traffic patterns, and application usage. By collecting both real-time and historical telemetry, vManage provides comprehensive insights into network operations. Administrators can use this information to detect anomalies, troubleshoot issues, and optimize application performance across the WAN. Centralized analytics also support capacity planning, allowing organizations to forecast bandwidth needs, evaluate link performance, and proactively address potential bottlenecks.

vManage enables centralized management of configuration templates, policies, and orchestration workflows, which is particularly valuable in large-scale SD-WAN environments. Instead of configuring each device individually, administrators can define standardized templates and business intent policies that are automatically propagated across the network. This ensures consistency, reduces the likelihood of configuration errors, and accelerates deployment timelines. For example, policies can specify application-specific routing preferences, security rules, and prioritization of critical traffic, ensuring that key business applications maintain high performance while less critical traffic is efficiently routed over available WAN paths.

The platform’s single-pane-of-glass interface simplifies operational oversight by providing intuitive dashboards, visual topology maps, and real-time alerts. Administrators can quickly assess network health, track performance against service-level agreements (SLAs), and identify underperforming links or devices. The ability to visualize the entire SD-WAN fabric in one interface reduces operational complexity, enabling faster decision-making and more efficient incident response.

vManage also enhances overall network reliability and operational efficiency. By providing centralized control, it enables automated provisioning, policy enforcement, and software updates across all sites. This automation reduces the need for manual intervention, minimizes errors, and ensures that all devices operate according to organizational standards. The combination of real-time monitoring, historical analytics, and automated policy enforcement allows organizations to maintain consistent application performance and a high level of SLA compliance across diverse WAN environments, including hybrid deployments with MPLS, broadband, and LTE links.

vManage is the operational and analytical backbone of SD-WAN, providing centralized visibility, control, and management across large-scale deployments. By aggregating data from multiple sites, offering a single-pane-of-glass interface, and enabling consistent configuration and policy enforcement, vManage improves network reliability, operational efficiency, and application performance. Its centralized approach ensures that administrators can efficiently manage complex, distributed SD-WAN environments while maintaining security, compliance, and optimal user experience.