Cisco 300-730 Exam Dumps & Practice Test Questions

Question 1:

Which of the following features is used in FlexVPN to support both certificate-based authentication and username/password authentication simultaneously?

A. ISAKMP Policy
B. IKEv2 Authorization Policy
C. AAA Server Group
D. IKEv2 Profile

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

Cisco FlexVPN is a unified VPN technology that uses IKEv2 as its core protocol and simplifies the configuration of different VPN types. A crucial component of FlexVPN is the IKEv2 profile, which serves as a control structure that defines how peers authenticate and communicate.

The IKEv2 profile is designed to offer maximum flexibility and granularity. One of its key capabilities is supporting multiple authentication methods simultaneously. For example, it allows the administrator to configure a VPN tunnel that uses certificate-based authentication for the peer and username/password authentication for the user (also known as EAP-based authentication).

This is particularly useful in enterprise environments where device identity (via certificates) is validated first, followed by user credentials (EAP over IKEv2). This dual-authentication method enhances security and adheres to compliance requirements.

Here's why the other options are incorrect:

• A (ISAKMP Policy): ISAKMP policies are used in IKEv1 and are limited in supporting flexible, multiple authentication methods. They are not used with IKEv2 or FlexVPN.

• B (IKEv2 Authorization Policy): While this feature defines what a user can access after authentication, it doesn't handle the actual process of authentication.

• C (AAA Server Group): AAA server groups are involved in user authentication, but they are not the mechanism that allows multiple authentication types to be combined. The IKEv2 profile references the AAA server group but is the core component for defining the process.

In summary, the IKEv2 profile is the central element in FlexVPN that enables the simultaneous use of certificate and EAP (username/password) authentication. It brings flexibility to tunnel setup and improves the security posture by authenticating both the device and the user.

Question 2:

Which VPN type supported by Cisco 300-730 allows for dynamic tunnel creation without requiring a preconfigured crypto map?

A. DMVPN
B. GETVPN
C. Site-to-Site IPsec
D. SSL VPN

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN) is a Cisco solution that provides scalable and dynamic VPN connectivity without the need to manually configure a crypto map for every peer. This makes DMVPN ideal for large or rapidly changing networks, such as those with remote offices or cloud extensions.

At its core, DMVPN uses:

• Multipoint GRE (mGRE) to allow one tunnel interface to support multiple destinations.

• Next Hop Resolution Protocol (NHRP) to dynamically discover remote peers and build tunnels.

• IPsec to encrypt traffic over these tunnels.

The key advantage of DMVPN is that tunnels are created on-demand. When one spoke (remote site) needs to communicate with another, it queries the hub via NHRP, receives the peer's IP, and forms an encrypted tunnel directly, without needing manual crypto configuration for each endpoint. This "spoke-to-spoke" capability reduces latency and improves performance.

Let’s compare the alternatives:

• B (GETVPN): Group Encrypted Transport VPN is designed for encrypting traffic over a private MPLS core. It doesn't use tunnels and is better suited for large Layer 3 backbones.

• C (Site-to-Site IPsec): Traditional IPsec site-to-site VPNs require static crypto maps and manual tunnel definitions between peers, making them harder to scale.

• D (SSL VPN): While SSL VPNs support client access over HTTPS without needing IPsec, they don’t offer the same dynamic tunneling model as DMVPN for site interconnectivity.

In conclusion, DMVPN is the preferred method in the Cisco 300-730 context when you need dynamic peer discovery and tunnel creation without the complexity of static crypto maps. This functionality makes it especially valuable in modern, distributed network environments.
Correct answer: A

Question 3:

Which of the following statements accurately reflects the behavior of GETVPN in a network with dual key servers operating in COOP mode?

A. The key server determines and pushes the traffic encryption policy to the group members.
B. TEK rekey messages can be distributed across both key servers functioning in cooperative mode.
C. GETVPN relies on NTP synchronization to coordinate pseudotime for replay protection.
D. All group members are required to confirm receipt of KEK and TEK rekeys, regardless of configuration.

Correct Answer: B

Explanation:

GETVPN (Group Encrypted Transport VPN) is a Cisco technology tailored for encrypting IP traffic across trusted private WAN environments like MPLS, where full-mesh scalability and routing transparency are important. One of its standout architectural elements is its reliance on a centralized Key Server (KS) that manages security policies and keys for a group of routers known as Group Members (GMs).

A key feature of GETVPN is its support for Cooperative (COOP) Key Server mode, which allows more than one key server to operate simultaneously to ensure redundancy and resilience. In COOP mode, key servers synchronize their cryptographic state, share rekey responsibilities, and can perform load-balanced TEK (Traffic Encryption Key) rekeying. This approach ensures continuous service even if one key server goes down, and also helps distribute the load of cryptographic operations across multiple servers. Therefore, Option B is correct: TEK rekeys can be load-balanced between two cooperating key servers, providing both scalability and fault tolerance.

Let’s examine why the other options are incorrect:

• A is incorrect because, although the key server defines the traffic encryption policy (using Group Security Associations), the selection of what traffic to encrypt (match criteria like access lists) must be manually configured on each group member. The key server does not push traffic selectors in GETVPN.

• C is also wrong. GETVPN uses a mechanism called pseudotime to enforce anti-replay protection. However, this pseudotime is generated and managed internally by the key server and does not rely on external NTP synchronization. NTP has no direct influence on replay detection in GETVPN.

• D is inaccurate because GETVPN does not mandate that all group members acknowledge KEK (Key Encryption Key) and TEK messages. The rekey mechanism can be configured to operate in reliable or best-effort modes. In multicast scenarios especially, rekey messages may not be acknowledged to preserve scalability. Thus, acknowledgment behavior is flexible, not mandatory.

In summary, GETVPN’s ability to share TEK rekeying between COOP-enabled key servers enhances its high availability and efficiency. That makes B the correct and most accurate statement regarding this behavior.

Question 4:

In the process of upgrading a DMVPN deployment from Phase 2 to Phase 3 with EIGRP, which two modifications are essential to enable optimal spoke-to-spoke routing? (Select two.)

A. Configure NHRP shortcuts on the hub
B. Enable NHRP redirects on each spoke
C. Turn off EIGRP next-hop-self on the hub
D. Turn on EIGRP next-hop-self on the hub
E. Enable NHRP redirects on the hub

Correct Answers: C and E

Explanation:

Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN) is a flexible, scalable solution for creating dynamic, secure VPNs in a hub-and-spoke topology. Cisco developed it in multiple phases, with Phase 3 offering the most optimized routing paths, especially for spoke-to-spoke communication.

In DMVPN Phase 2, spokes can initiate direct tunnels to other spokes, but this often leads to suboptimal routing behavior when using dynamic routing protocols like EIGRP. That's because, by default, EIGRP updates from the hub rewrite the next-hop address to the hub itself. This prevents spokes from discovering each other's real IP addresses, thus inhibiting direct communication.

DMVPN Phase 3 introduces two crucial features: NHRP redirects and NHRP shortcuts. These features enable a spoke to discover the real destination address of another spoke dynamically, and form a direct tunnel—leading to better performance and more efficient routing.

Let’s evaluate the correct answers:

• C (Disable EIGRP next-hop-self on the hub) is correct. This ensures that the next-hop IP addresses advertised via EIGRP reflect the actual origin of the route (another spoke), not the hub. It enables the spokes to learn each other’s addresses and establish direct tunnels.

• E (Enable NHRP redirects on the hub) is also correct. When a spoke sends traffic to another spoke via the hub, the hub recognizes this inefficient path and sends a NHRP redirect to the source spoke, prompting it to build a direct shortcut tunnel to the destination.

Why the other options are incorrect:

• A (Configure NHRP shortcuts on the hub) is incorrect because NHRP shortcuts are only relevant for spokes. The hub only issues redirects; it doesn’t initiate shortcuts.

• B (Enable NHRP redirects on each spoke) is invalid since only the hub needs to send redirects. Spokes merely respond to redirects with shortcut creation.

• D (Enable EIGRP next-hop-self on the hub) contradicts the requirement of Phase 3. Keeping next-hop-self enabled would continue to obscure the real source of the routing updates and prevent shortcut tunnels from being formed.

In summary, successful migration to DMVPN Phase 3 with EIGRP involves disabling EIGRP next-hop-self on the hub and configuring NHRP redirects on the hub, enabling optimized spoke-to-spoke communication. These two changes are essential to achieving Phase 3’s full benefits.

Question 5:

Which two options can be used to associate a VPN session with a specific tunnel group when the tunnel-group list is not presented to the user? (Choose two.)

A. group-alias
B. certificate map
C. optimal gateway selection
D. group-url
E. AnyConnect client version

Correct Answers: A, D

Explanation:

In Cisco ASA VPN configurations, it's important for the firewall to identify which tunnel group a connecting user should be placed in. While one common approach is to present users with a menu of tunnel groups via the tunnel-group list, this is not always desirable. In environments where the list is hidden—often for security or simplicity—alternative identification methods are needed. Two of the most effective and widely used techniques are the group-alias and group-url features.

The group-alias is an alternate name configured under a specific tunnel group. When a user connects using Cisco AnyConnect (or a similar client), they can enter this alias at the login screen. This alias directs the ASA to associate the connection with the correct tunnel group without the need to display a full list. It's a manual but secure method, commonly used in split-access deployments or when limiting user confusion is a goal.

The group-url, on the other hand, is a more automated approach. It involves assigning a specific web URL to a tunnel group—for example, https://vpn.example.com/sales. The portion of the URL after the slash (sales) directly maps to a tunnel group with the same name. If a user connects via this URL, the ASA recognizes the intended group automatically. This method is particularly useful when pre-configuring VPN clients or when distributing direct URLs to different user departments.

Let’s examine why the other options don’t apply:

• B (certificate map): This can be used for certificate-based authentication, but it only works if you’ve already implemented a certificate authority and mapped certificate fields to groups. While technically valid in niche cases, it is not commonly relied upon for general tunnel-group mapping.

• C (optimal gateway selection): OGS helps the AnyConnect client choose the best ASA gateway geographically or based on performance, but it doesn’t map sessions to tunnel groups.

• E (AnyConnect client version): The version of the client influences compatibility and policy enforcement but plays no role in selecting the tunnel group.

To summarize, when the tunnel-group list is suppressed, administrators commonly rely on group-alias and group-url for tunnel group association. These methods offer flexibility, automation, and better user experience while maintaining security and proper session routing.

Question 6:

Which feature is used to automatically install network routes for remote VPN tunnel endpoints?

A. policy-based routing
B. CEF
C. reverse route injection
D. route filtering

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

In VPN networking, especially in IPsec-based VPN configurations, dynamic route management becomes crucial for ensuring that traffic to remote protected networks is properly forwarded. One effective way to handle this is through Reverse Route Injection (RRI). RRI is a powerful feature that enables a Cisco router or ASA firewall to automatically install static routes into the routing table, specifically for remote networks accessible through a VPN tunnel.

RRI comes into play when a VPN tunnel is established using a crypto map. Once the tunnel is active, RRI injects a route for the remote subnet(s) associated with that tunnel, pointing them to the peer at the other end of the IPsec tunnel. This behavior is essential in complex deployments, such as hub-and-spoke VPN architectures, where the central hub may need to manage dynamic connectivity to many remote spokes.

By dynamically injecting routes based on tunnel activity, RRI ensures that the network routing table stays up to date without requiring manual configuration. This reduces administrative overhead, lowers the chance of misconfiguration, and improves scalability in enterprise VPN environments.

Let’s look at the other options and understand why they aren’t applicable:

• A (policy-based routing): This is used to enforce routing decisions based on policies—such as sending specific traffic types out specific interfaces—but it doesn’t create or inject routes dynamically. It is more about directing existing traffic than building the routing table.

• B (CEF): Cisco Express Forwarding is a forwarding mechanism used for efficient packet switching. It doesn’t create routes; it uses existing routes to build a forwarding table. CEF speeds up packet delivery but doesn’t contribute to routing intelligence.

• D (route filtering): Route filtering helps control which routes are accepted or advertised in dynamic routing protocols, like OSPF or BGP. It doesn’t generate new routes or help in mapping VPN tunnel destinations dynamically.

In conclusion, Reverse Route Injection (RRI) is the correct mechanism for dynamically installing routes that point to remote tunnel endpoints in an IPsec VPN. It helps streamline large-scale VPN deployments by automating route creation, enabling more resilient and maintainable network architectures.

Question 7:

Which of the following features is used in FlexVPN to support both certificate-based authentication and username/password authentication simultaneously?

A. ISAKMP Policy
B. IKEv2 Authorization Policy
C. AAA Server Group
D. IKEv2 Profile

Correct Answer: D

Explanation:

Cisco FlexVPN is a unified VPN technology that uses IKEv2 as its core protocol and simplifies the configuration of different VPN types. A crucial component of FlexVPN is the IKEv2 profile, which serves as a control structure that defines how peers authenticate and communicate.

The IKEv2 profile is designed to offer maximum flexibility and granularity. One of its key capabilities is supporting multiple authentication methods simultaneously. For example, it allows the administrator to configure a VPN tunnel that uses certificate-based authentication for the peer and username/password authentication for the user (also known as EAP-based authentication).

This is particularly useful in enterprise environments where device identity (via certificates) is validated first, followed by user credentials (EAP over IKEv2). This dual-authentication method enhances security and adheres to compliance requirements.

Here's why the other options are incorrect:

• A (ISAKMP Policy): ISAKMP policies are used in IKEv1 and are limited in supporting flexible, multiple authentication methods. They are not used with IKEv2 or FlexVPN.

• B (IKEv2 Authorization Policy): While this feature defines what a user can access after authentication, it doesn't handle the actual process of authentication.

• C (AAA Server Group): AAA server groups are involved in user authentication, but they are not the mechanism that allows multiple authentication types to be combined. The IKEv2 profile references the AAA server group but is the core component for defining the process.

In summary, the IKEv2 profile is the central element in FlexVPN that enables the simultaneous use of certificate and EAP (username/password) authentication. It brings flexibility to tunnel setup and improves the security posture by authenticating both the device and the user.

Question 8:

Which VPN type supported by Cisco 300-730 allows for dynamic tunnel creation without requiring a preconfigured crypto map?

A. DMVPN
B. GETVPN
C. Site-to-Site IPsec
D. SSL VPN

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

Dynamic Multipoint VPN (DMVPN) is a Cisco solution that provides scalable and dynamic VPN connectivity without the need to manually configure a crypto map for every peer. This makes DMVPN ideal for large or rapidly changing networks, such as those with remote offices or cloud extensions.

At its core, DMVPN uses:

• Multipoint GRE (mGRE) to allow one tunnel interface to support multiple destinations.

• Next Hop Resolution Protocol (NHRP) to dynamically discover remote peers and build tunnels.

• IPsec to encrypt traffic over these tunnels.

The key advantage of DMVPN is that tunnels are created on-demand. When one spoke (remote site) needs to communicate with another, it queries the hub via NHRP, receives the peer's IP, and forms an encrypted tunnel directly, without needing manual crypto configuration for each endpoint. This "spoke-to-spoke" capability reduces latency and improves performance.

Let’s compare the alternatives:

• B (GETVPN): Group Encrypted Transport VPN is designed for encrypting traffic over a private MPLS core. It doesn't use tunnels and is better suited for large Layer 3 backbones.

• C (Site-to-Site IPsec): Traditional IPsec site-to-site VPNs require static crypto maps and manual tunnel definitions between peers, making them harder to scale.

• D (SSL VPN): While SSL VPNs support client access over HTTPS without needing IPsec, they don’t offer the same dynamic tunneling model as DMVPN for site interconnectivity.

In conclusion, DMVPN is the preferred method in the Cisco 300-730 context when you need dynamic peer discovery and tunnel creation without the complexity of static crypto maps. This functionality makes it especially valuable in modern, distributed network environments.

Question 9:

In Cisco AnyConnect remote access VPN, which feature allows posture assessment to determine the security compliance of connecting devices?

A. DAP (Dynamic Access Policy)
B. Split Tunneling
C. IKEv2 Profile
D. SSL Certificate Pinning

Correct Answer: A

Explanation:

In Cisco AnyConnect remote access VPN, Dynamic Access Policy (DAP) is a feature that enables administrators to enforce context-based rules during user VPN sessions. It is particularly important for posture assessment, where the system evaluates whether a connecting endpoint complies with organizational security policies before granting or modifying access.

DAP evaluates conditions such as:

• Operating system version

• Antivirus or anti-malware presence

• Disk encryption status

• Certificate attributes

• Endpoint location (public or corporate network)

If a device fails to meet the predefined criteria, DAP can restrict access, redirect to remediation portals, or apply limited policies. For example, if a user's laptop lacks an up-to-date antivirus, DAP might allow access only to a patch server until the condition is resolved.

Why the other options are incorrect:

• B (Split Tunneling): This is a configuration that defines which traffic goes through the VPN tunnel and which accesses the internet directly. It has nothing to do with posture checking.

• C (IKEv2 Profile): This applies to site-to-site or FlexVPN configurations. While it supports authentication, it does not perform posture assessment.

• D (SSL Certificate Pinning): This is a security feature used in web applications and mobile clients to prevent impersonation of servers. It is not related to posture validation.

In summary, DAP is the mechanism in Cisco remote access VPNs that enforces posture validation, allowing organizations to control access based on security status dynamically. It enhances the zero-trust approach by ensuring only compliant devices can access sensitive resources.

Question 10:

Which of the following statements is true about IKEv2 when used in Cisco VPN deployments?

A. It does not support EAP authentication.
B. It uses aggressive mode during initial negotiation.
C. It supports mobility and multihoming through MOBIKE.
D. It is only supported on Cisco ASA, not on routers.

Correct Answer: C

Explanation:

IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2) is a modern VPN protocol widely used in Cisco VPN solutions, including FlexVPN and AnyConnect. One of its standout features is its support for MOBIKE (Mobility and Multihoming Protocol), which allows VPN connections to survive changes in IP addresses without requiring re-establishment of the entire tunnel.

This is especially useful in environments where users switch between Wi-Fi and cellular networks or move between IP subnets—common in mobile and remote work scenarios. The MOBIKE extension enables seamless handover, improving user experience and reducing downtime.

Let’s break down why the other options are incorrect:

• A (It does not support EAP authentication): Incorrect. IKEv2 does support EAP (Extensible Authentication Protocol), especially in AnyConnect deployments where username/password credentials are used alongside certificates.

• B (It uses aggressive mode during initial negotiation): False. Aggressive mode is a feature of IKEv1, not IKEv2. IKEv2 uses a more secure and efficient two-message initial exchange known as the IKE_SA_INIT and IKE_AUTH.

• D (It is only supported on Cisco ASA, not on routers): Incorrect. IKEv2 is supported on both Cisco ASA firewalls and IOS routers, particularly in FlexVPN configurations.

In conclusion, MOBIKE support makes IKEv2 ideal for mobile devices and dynamic IP environments. Its robust security, extensibility, and resilience under changing network conditions are key reasons Cisco recommends IKEv2 in modern VPN architectures.