HP HPE7-A02 Aruba Certified Network Security Professional Exam Exam Practice Test

For a company that wants to apply a standard configuration to all AOS-CX switch ports and dynamically adjust their configuration based on the identity of the user or device that connects, the best approach is to have the switches download user-roles from HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM). This method centralizes the configuration of identity-based settings in CPPM, allowing it to dynamically assign roles and policies to switch ports based on authentication and authorization results. This ensures consistent and secure network access control tailored to each user or device.

When establishing a cluster of HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass servers, it is recommended to install a CA-signed certificate for HTTPS on the Subscriber before it joins the cluster. This ensures secure communication between the servers in the cluster and provides a trusted certificate for client connections.

1.HTTPS Security: A CA-signed certificate for HTTPS ensures that all web-based communication to and from the ClearPass server is encrypted and secure.

2.Cluster Communication: Secure communication between ClearPass nodes in the cluster is essential for synchronization and data integrity.

3.Client Trust: Clients accessing the ClearPass server will trust the CA-signed certificate, avoiding security warnings and ensuring smooth operations.

When setting up a ClearPass cluster, it is critical to ensure secure communication between the cluster nodes and the client devices. For this purpose, certain certificates must be properly configured.

1. Why HTTPS Requires a CA-Signed Certificate?

HTTPS communication is used for inter-cluster communication and for the web-based user interface that administrators use to manage the ClearPass cluster.

Before joining the cluster, it is strongly recommended to install a CA-signed HTTPS certificate on the Subscriber to ensure secure communication and prevent warnings/errors due to untrusted certificates.

Without a CA-signed certificate, the Subscriber might use a self-signed certificate, leading to security risks and lack of trust validation.

2. Analysis of Other Certificate Types

B. Database:

Incorrect: Database communications within ClearPass clusters are secured using internal certificates or keys. These are not user-facing and do not require a CA-signed certificate before joining the cluster.

C. RADIUS/EAP:

Incorrect: RADIUS/EAP certificates are important for client authentication, but they are not required on the Subscriber prior to cluster joining. These can be configured after the Subscriber is part of the cluster.

D. RadSec:

Incorrect: RadSec is an optional feature for secure RADIUS communication over TLS, and its certificate configuration is typically performed post-cluster setup.

Final Recommendation

To ensure secure cluster operations and seamless web-based management, a CA-signed HTTPS certificate should be installed on the Subscriber before it joins the ClearPass cluster.

References

ClearPass Deployment Guide for Version 6.9.

Best Practices for Certificate Management in ClearPass Clusters.

HPE Aruba ClearPass Cluster Configuration Guide.

Why MD5 Authentication on Lag 1 is Preferred:

Lag 1 is the primary link between Switch-2 and Switch-1, both of which are Layer 3 switches running OSPF.

By enabling MD5 authentication, OSPF routers exchange authenticated packets, preventing unauthorized or rogue OSPF routers from forming adjacencies or injecting routes.

MD5 is a secure authentication method and ensures the integrity and authenticity of OSPF communications.

Other Options Analysis:

A. Configure OSPF authentication on VLANs 10-19 in password mode: While configuring authentication on VLAN interfaces could secure VLAN-specific OSPF traffic, it is less effective because the main threat of rogue OSPF comes from unauthorized L3 devices connected via the backbone (Lag 1).

C. Disable OSPF entirely on VLANs 10-19: Disabling OSPF on these VLANs is not a preferred solution because OSPF is needed to route traffic in this design.

D. Configure passive-interface as the OSPF default and disable OSPF passive on Lag 1: While passive interfaces prevent OSPF from forming adjacencies, it does not directly prevent rogue routers. Passive mode only limits OSPF advertisements on specific interfaces.

For ClearPass to periodically query Microsoft Intune / Endpoint Manager for device attributes (compliance, owner, OS, etc.), you must configure Intune as an authentication source in Policy Manager. The ClearPass–Intune integration is implemented through an API-based auth source which CPPM polls on a schedule; it is not done via Guest extensions or syslog/event sources.

Aruba’s Intune integration guides describe configuring a “Microsoft Intune” (or “Endpoint Manager”) authentication source in ClearPass and supplying the Azure app registration details so CPPM can poll Intune via Microsoft Graph.

Option A is incorrect: the Intune integration is not a ClearPass Guest extension.

Option B is insufficient: adding dictionaries only defines attributes; it does not enable scheduled polling.

Option D is incorrect: Intune is not used as a syslog/event source for this use case; ClearPass initiates the polling via the authentication source.

Therefore, the correct configuration step is: Create an Intune authentication source on CPPM (Option C).

In HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Device Insight (CPDI), the clusters shown in the exhibit represent groups of unclassified devices that CPDI's machine learning algorithms have identified as having similar attributes. These clusters are formed based on observed characteristics and behaviors of the devices, helping administrators to categorize and manage devices more effectively.

1.Machine Learning: CPDI uses machine learning to analyze device attributes and group them into clusters based on similarities.

2.Unclassified Devices: These clusters typically represent devices that have not yet been explicitly classified by admins but share common attributes that suggest they belong to the same category.

3.Management: This clustering helps in simplifying the process of managing and applying policies to groups of similar devices.

When you have created a rule in a ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) service's enforcement policy to quarantine devices with endpoint conflicts, it is important to consider whether the company has devices that use PXE boot. PXE booting devices can create conflicts in the profiler because they may temporarily have different network attributes (e.g., MAC address or IP address) before fully booting and obtaining their final configuration. Understanding whether PXE boot is in use can help determine if profiler parameters need to be adjusted to ignore such temporary conflicts, ensuring that devices are not incorrectly quarantined.

To simplify the setup of 802.1X authentication with HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) and ensure clients are steered to the correct VLANs for local forwarding, you should assign consistent names to VLANs of the same type across the AOS-CX switches and have user-roles reference these names. This approach allows for a more straightforward configuration and management process, as the user roles can apply consistent policies based on VLAN names rather than specific IDs. It also helps in maintaining clarity and reducing errors in VLAN assignments across different switches.

To follow best security practices for 802.1X authentication settings in Windows domain clients:

Specify at least two server names under "Connect to these servers":

Admins should explicitly list trusted RADIUS server names (e.g., radius.example.com) to prevent the client from connecting to unauthorized or rogue servers.

This mitigates man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks where an attacker attempts to present their own RADIUS server.

Select the desired Trusted Root Certificate Authority and "Don't prompt users":

Select the Trusted Root CA that issued the RADIUS server's certificate. This ensures clients validate the correct server certificate during the EAP-TLS/PEAP authentication process.

Enabling "Don't prompt users" ensures end users are not confused or tricked into accepting certificates from untrusted servers.

Why the other options are incorrect:

Option C: Incorrect. Wildcards in server names (e.g., *.example.com) weaken security and allow broader matching, increasing the risk of rogue servers.

Option D: Incorrect. Clearing "Use simple certificate selection" requires users to select certificates manually, which can lead to errors and usability issues. Simple certificate selection is recommended when properly configured.

Recommended Settings for Best Security Practices:

Server Validation: Specify the exact RADIUS server names in the "Connect to these servers" field.

Root CA Validation: Ensure only the correct Trusted Root Certificate Authority is selected.

User Prompts: Enable "Don't prompt users" to enforce automatic and secure authentication without user intervention.

Comprehensive Detailed Explanation

The configuration includes the command aaa authentication allow-fail-through, which specifies that if the TACACS+ server fails to respond (e.g., times out), the switch will proceed to the next authentication method in the sequence, which is local. In this scenario:

The switch first attempts to authenticate the user against the TACACS+ server.

When the TACACS+ server fails to respond, the switch falls back to local authentication.

The user netadmin is a local account configured on the switch and belongs to the operators group.

As a result, the user is successfully authenticated locally and is granted operator level access.

References

Aruba AOS-CX User Guide: Authentication fallback mechanisms.

TACACS+ fallback behavior for HPE Aruba switches.

To ensure that HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) applies tag-based rules to a client immediately after learning the client has that tag, verify that both 802.1X services have the "Profile Endpoints" option enabled and an appropriate Change of Authorization (CoA) profile selected in the Profiler tab. This setup ensures that when a device is profiled and tagged, CPPM can immediately enforce the updated policies through CoA.

1.Profile Endpoints: Enabling this option ensures that endpoint profiling is active, allowing CPPM to gather and use device information dynamically.

2.CoA Profile: Selecting an appropriate CoA profile ensures that CPPM can push policy changes immediately to the network devices, applying the new rules without delay.

3.Real-Time Enforcement: This configuration allows for the immediate application of new tags and associated policies, ensuring compliance with security requirements.

MAC Spoofing Detection with Endpoint Conflict:

When two devices attempt to use the same MAC address, ClearPass identifies a Conflict state in the Endpoints Repository.

This condition can be used to detect and quarantine clients that spoof legitimate devices.

Option D: Correct. The Conflict EQUALS true condition identifies devices with duplicate MAC addresses.

Option A: Incorrect. Endpoint compliance checks posture, not MAC spoofing.

Option B: Incorrect. Device Insight Tags are used for profiling but do not identify conflicts.

Option C: Incorrect. Compromised devices relate to security incidents, not MAC address conflicts.

To support 802.1X authentication and download user roles from HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) on AOS-CX switches, you must install the root CA certificate for CPPM's RADIUS certificate in a Trust Anchor (TA) profile on the switches. This ensures that the switches trust the RADIUS server certificate presented by CPPM during the authentication process.

1.Root CA Certificate: Installing the root CA certificate ensures that the switch can verify the authenticity of the RADIUS server certificate provided by CPPM.

2.Trust Anchor Profile: The TA profile on the switch holds the root CA certificate, establishing a trust relationship between the switch and the CPPM RADIUS server.

3.Secure Authentication: This setup is essential for securing the 802.1X authentication process and enabling the download of user roles.

To capture only the traffic sent in the mirroring session between an AOS-CX switch and a management station running Wireshark, you should apply a capture filter that isolates the specific traffic of interest. In this case, using the filter udp port 5555 will capture the traffic associated with the mirroring session. This is because AOS-CX switches typically use UDP port 5555 for mirrored traffic, ensuring that only the relevant mirrored packets are captured and excluding other traffic generated by the management station.

For a company that lacks visibility into various types of user and IoT devices on its internal network, HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Device Insight (CPDI) is the recommended solution. CPDI provides comprehensive visibility and profiling of all devices connected to the network. It uses machine learning and AI to identify and classify devices, offering detailed insights into their behavior and characteristics. This enhanced visibility enables the security team to effectively monitor and manage network devices, improving overall network security and compliance.

To assign managers to groups on the AOS-CX switch by name using HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) as a TACACS+ server, you should add the Aruba

service to the TACACS+ enforcement profile and set the Aruba-Admin-Role to the group name. This configuration ensures that the appropriate administrative roles are assigned to managers based on their group membership, allowing for role-based access control on the AOS-CX switches.

Running periodic subnet scans on devices from HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) can be used to gather DHCP fingerprints, which help determine a client's device category and operating system. DHCP fingerprints are unique patterns in DHCP request packets that provide valuable information about the device type and OS, assisting in device profiling and policy enforcement.

1.DHCP Fingerprinting: This technique captures specific details from DHCP packets to identify the type and operating system of a device.

2.Device Profiling: By running subnet scans, CPPM can continuously update its device database with accurate profiles, ensuring that policies are applied correctly based on the device type.

3.Network Visibility: Regular scanning helps maintain up-to-date visibility of all devices on the network, improving security and management.

To control which commands managers are allowed to execute on AOS-CX switches using ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) as a TACACS+ server, you must configure the Shell service in the TACACS+ enforcement profile. The Shell service provides the ability to define granular access controls for commands. It supports policy-driven command authorization, which is essential in controlling administrative tasks based on roles.

References

Official HPE Aruba ClearPass documentation on TACACS+ integration and command authorization.

Industry best practices for AAA (Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting) configuration in network security architectures.

ClearPass Role Mapping Policy:

The Endpoint namespace is used to reference attributes and tags related to endpoint devices.

Device Insight Tags are part of endpoint profiling information and are stored in the Endpoint Repository.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. The Endpoint namespace includes Device Insight Tags.

Option B: Incorrect. TIPS refers to system attributes and configuration data, not endpoint tags.

Option C: Incorrect. Device is not a valid namespace in this context.

Option D: Incorrect. Application relates to application-level attributes, not Device Insight Tags.

Wireshark: Follow TCP Stream:

Wireshark provides an intuitive feature to filter and display a complete TCP conversation.

By right-clicking any packet within the conversation and selecting "Follow → TCP Stream", Wireshark isolates and displays the entire conversation.

This feature allows you to view the communication in a simplified, sequential manner, including requests and responses.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. Capture filters only apply during packet capturing, not for analyzing already saved packet captures.

Option B: Incorrect. Sorting packets helps with organizing data but does not isolate a complete conversation.

Option C: Incorrect. A capture filter for TCP port 5448 would have to be applied before capturing; it does not work for saved data.

Option D: Correct. Right-clicking a packet and choosing "Follow TCP Stream" is the simplest way to display the full conversation between 10.1.70.90 and 10.1.79.11 on port 5448.

Steps in Wireshark to Follow a TCP Stream:

Locate any packet within the desired conversation (e.g., between 10.1.70.90 and 10.1.79.11 on TCP port 5448).

Right-click on the packet.

Choose "Follow" → "TCP Stream".

Wireshark will display the entire TCP conversation, including both directions of communication.

This feature is especially useful when troubleshooting or analyzing detailed interactions between hosts.

Dynamic ARP Inspection (DAI):

ARP inspection verifies ARP packets against a trusted IP-to-MAC binding table to prevent ARP spoofing attacks.

DHCP snooping is required to construct the IP-to-MAC binding table dynamically.

To avoid traffic disruption, uplink ports that connect to trusted switches, DHCP servers, or routers must be explicitly configured as trusted ports for ARP inspection.

Steps to Prevent Traffic Disruption:

Trust the Uplinks: ARP inspection must treat uplink ports as trusted to allow ARP traffic from legitimate DHCP servers and upstream switches.

Enable DHCP Snooping: DHCP snooping must be enabled on Switch-2 to ensure consistent IP-to-MAC bindings upstream.

Why the Answer is Correct:

Option A: Incorrect. ARP inspection on Switch-2 is important but not required first to prevent disruption on Switch-1.

Option B: Incorrect. DHCP snooping must be enabled upstream eventually, but this alone will not stop immediate traffic disruption on Switch-1.

Option C: Correct. Switch-1 uplinks must be trusted ARP inspection ports first to allow legitimate upstream traffic and prevent ARP disruption.

Option D: Incorrect. Static bindings are not required if DHCP snooping is enabled, and they are manual, limiting scalability.

Conclusion:

To avoid traffic disruption, configure Switch-1 uplinks as trusted ARP inspection ports to ensure valid ARP traffic can pass upstream and downstream.

To enable HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) to process Syslog messages from a Palo Alto Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) and quarantine clients involved in security incidents, you need to configure the Palo Alto as a context server on CPPM. This setup allows CPPM to receive and understand the context of the Syslog messages sent by the Palo Alto NGFW, enabling it to take appropriate actions such as quarantining clients.

1.Context Server Configuration: Configuring the Palo Alto NGFW as a context server in CPPM ensures that CPPM can process and respond to Syslog messages effectively.

2.Security Incident Response: By understanding the context of the Syslog messages, CPPM can automatically trigger actions like client quarantine based on security incidents detected by the NGFW.

3.Integration: This integration enhances the overall security posture by enabling coordinated responses between the firewall and CPPM.

Rogue AP Containment Methods:

HPE Aruba Networking recommends using wireless deauthentication as the preferred method for rogue AP containment.

Deauthentication sends deauth frames to clients connected to rogue APs, causing them to disconnect. This method is effective without introducing unnecessary disruptions to the wired infrastructure.

Key Points:

Wireless Deauthentication is simple, efficient, and widely supported across client devices.

Tarpit Containment is more aggressive and may cause unintentional disruptions to legitimate clients.

Wired Containment involves blocking traffic at the switch level but is complex and may impact legitimate infrastructure traffic.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. Wireless deauthentication is the recommended method as it targets rogue AP clients without excessive network impact.

Option B: Incorrect. Combining wireless tarpit and wired containment is overkill and not typically recommended.

Option C: Incorrect. Wireless tarpit can be effective but is generally not the first choice due to its aggressive nature.

Option D: Incorrect. Wired containment is more complex and reserved for specific use cases, not general recommendations.

To set up HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) to enforce certificate-based authentication for clients using Tunneled EAP (TEAP), you need to select an EAP-TLS-type authentication method for TEAP's inner method. TEAP allows for a combination of certificate-based (EAP-TLS) and password-based (EAP-MSCHAPv2) authentication. By choosing EAP-TLS as the inner method, you ensure that the clients are authenticated using their certificates, thus enforcing certificate-based authentication within the TEAP framework.

When using OpenSSL to obtain a certificate signed by a Certification Authority (CA), you should submit the Certificate Signing Request (CSR) file, which is file1.pem, to the CA. The CSR contains the information about the entity requesting the certificate and the public key, but not the private key, which is in file2.pem. The CA uses the information in the CSR to create and sign the certificate.

1.CSR Submission: The CSR (file1.pem) includes the public key and the entity information required by the CA to issue a certificate.

2.Private Key Security: The private key (file2.pem) should never be sent to the CA or shared; it remains securely stored on the requestor’s server.

3.Certificate Issuance: After the CA signs the CSR, the resulting certificate can be used with the private key to establish secure communications.

User-Based Tunneling (UBT) with VRRP:

UBT allows traffic from authenticated users to be tunneled to an HPE Aruba Networking gateway.

In the case of VRRP, where two gateways are configured for redundancy, the AOS-CX switch will always send the traffic to the primary gateway defined in the UBT zone configuration.

The VRRP state (master/backup) does not impact the UBT decision; the UBT primary configuration takes precedence.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. UBT does not strictly follow the VRRP master; it adheres to the UBT primary gateway configuration.

Option B: Correct. The switch tunnels all traffic to the primary gateway configured in the UBT zone.

Option C: Incorrect. UBT does not load-share traffic between gateways.

Option D: Incorrect. UBT uses the primary gateway configured in the UBT zone, not dynamically determined active devices.

An HPE Aruba Networking AP's Device (TPM) certificate is signed by an HPE Aruba Networking Certificate Authority (CA) and is trusted by many HPE Aruba Networking solutions. This certificate is used for secure communications and device authentication within the Aruba network ecosystem.

1.CA-Signed Certificate: The Device (TPM) certificate is signed by a trusted Aruba CA, ensuring its authenticity and integrity.

2.Trust Across Solutions: Because it is signed by an Aruba CA, it is recognized and trusted by various Aruba solutions, facilitating secure interactions and communications.

3.Security: Using a CA-signed certificate enhances the security of the network by preventing unauthorized access and ensuring that communications are secure.

802.11 Traffic and Protection Bits:

In the 802.11 protocol, protection bits and the Initialization Vector (IV) are used in encrypted wireless traffic.

If the traffic is captured directly from an AP, the frames may include encrypted content.

Wireshark may misinterpret these protection bits or fail to display the frames correctly unless it is configured to ignore protection bits and correctly parse the IV.

Key Scenario:

When traffic is captured directly from an AP managed by HPE Aruba Networking Central, the frames are often captured before decryption occurs.

In such cases, you must configure Wireshark to ignore the protection bits and handle the IV properly for correct frame interpretation.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. Data plane traffic sent to a remote IP is usually decrypted, so Wireshark does not require this adjustment.

Option B: Incorrect. Switch port mirroring captures traffic at Layer 2/3, not raw 802.11 frames.

Option C: Correct. Traffic captured directly from an AP via HPE Aruba Networking Central often includes encrypted wireless frames, requiring Wireshark adjustments.

Option D: Incorrect. Control plane traffic is typically management data and not raw wireless frames needing IV interpretation.

When enabling Wireless IDS/IPS infrastructure and client detection at a high level on HPE Aruba Networking APs without enabling prevention settings, HPE Aruba Networking recommends configuring detection at a custom level and adjusting settings to minimize false positives. This approach allows for effective monitoring while reducing the risk of unnecessary alerts and maintaining the accuracy of detections.

1.Custom Level Configuration: By customizing the detection settings, you can tailor the system to your specific environment, ensuring that only relevant threats are detected and reducing false positives.

2.False Positive Reduction: Disabling or tuning settings that are likely to produce false positives helps in maintaining the reliability of the detection system and prevents alert fatigue.

3.Focused Detection: Custom configuration ensures that the IDS/IPS focuses on critical detections, improving overall security posture.

To enforce 802.1X authentication for Windows domain computers to HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) and have the computers authenticate as both machines and users in the same session, you should set up TEAP (Tunneled EAP) as the authentication method. TEAP supports both machine and user authentication within a single 802.1X session, making it suitable for scenarios where both types of authentication are required simultaneously.

One use case that companies can fulfill using HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager's (CPPM's) Device Profiler is leveraging artificial intelligence to more accurately identify Internet of Things (IoT) devices. ClearPass Device Profiler uses AI and machine learning to analyze network traffic and device behavior, providing detailed and accurate identification of IoT devices on the network. This helps in managing and securing diverse and numerous IoT devices by ensuring they are correctly profiled and assigned appropriate access policies.

TACACS+ Enforcement Profile:

The profile specifies a Service Attribute under Aruba:Common with:

Name: Aruba-Admin-Role

Value: operators

AOS-CX Role Mapping:

On Aruba AOS-CX switches, the Aruba-Admin-Role attribute maps the authenticated user to predefined roles:

operators: Operator-level privileges (read-only access, limited commands).

administrators: Full administrator privileges.

Other roles like auditors may exist based on configuration.

Analysis:

The value operators explicitly maps the user to operator-level privileges, granting read-only access to the AOS-CX switch.

Since the Aruba-Admin-Role is correctly set and recognized, the switch assigns the appropriate role without errors.

Option Breakdown:

Option A: Correct. The switch assigns operator-level privileges based on the Aruba-Admin-Role value.

Option B: Incorrect. Administrator-level privileges require the role value to be administrators.

Option C: Incorrect. The manager is successfully authenticated and authorized; there is no error.

Option D: Incorrect. There is no reference to an auditor role in the configuration shown.

Conclusion:

The operators value in the TACACS+ enforcement profile ensures that the manager is assigned operator-level privileges on the AOS-CX switch.

RAPIDS Ad-Hoc Detection:

The alert "Detect ad-hoc using Valid SSID" indicates that a device is broadcasting an SSID that matches a valid network SSID in ad-hoc mode. This can be an indication of an infrastructure attack or misconfiguration.

Next Steps:

Use Aruba Central floorplans or AP location data to identify the physical area where the offending device is detected.

Locate and investigate the device to determine if it is malicious or simply misconfigured.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Incorrect. While tuning thresholds is useful for reducing false positives, this step does not directly address a potential threat.

Option B: Incorrect. Faulty drivers can cause similar behavior, but this step is not immediately actionable without locating the device first.

Option C: Correct. Floorplans or AP identities help locate the threat's physical area for further investigation.

Option D: Incorrect. RAPIDS focuses on detecting devices via SSID and MAC, not IP addresses, making this approach less relevant.

The preferred method for assigning clients to a role on the AOS firewall is to configure HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager (CPPM) to assign the role using a RADIUS enforcement profile with an Aruba-User-Role VSA (Vendor-Specific Attribute). This method allows ClearPass to dynamically assign the appropriate user roles to clients during the authentication process, ensuring that role-based access policies are consistently enforced across the network.

Why Monitoring Control Plane Policing (CoPP) with an NAE Agent Is Effective for Detecting DoS Attacks

Control Plane Policing (CoPP): AOS-CX switches use CoPP to protect the CPU from excessive traffic caused by DoS attacks (e.g., ARP floods, ICMP floods). CoPP enforces rate limits and drops malicious traffic at the control plane level.

NAE (Network Analytics Engine) Agent:

The NAE on AOS-CX switches can monitor CoPP counters in real time and trigger alerts if thresholds for certain traffic types (e.g., ICMP, ARP) are exceeded.

Admins can use NAE to automate detection and respond faster to DoS attacks.

Analysis of Each Option

A. Deploy an NAE agent on the switches to monitor control plane policing (CoPP):

Correct:

NAE agents provide real-time visibility into CoPP behavior, helping detect DoS attacks more quickly.

By analyzing CoPP statistics, the NAE can pinpoint abnormal traffic patterns and alert admins.

This is the most efficient and scalable solution for this use case.

B. Configure the switches to implement RADIUS accounting to HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass and enable HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Insight:

Incorrect:

While ClearPass can provide visibility into user authentication and device activity, it is not specifically designed to detect or mitigate DoS attacks against switches.

C. Implement ARP inspection on all VLANs that support end-user devices:

Incorrect:

ARP inspection helps mitigate ARP spoofing or poisoning, but it does not directly address detection of DoS attacks like ICMP or ARP floods.

It is a preventative measure, not a detection tool.

D. Enabling debugging of security functions on the switches:

Incorrect:

Debugging logs can help troubleshoot specific issues but are not practical for real-time detection of DoS attacks.

Enabling debugging can overload the switch and is not suitable for proactive monitoring.

Final Recommendation

Deploying an NAE agent to monitor CoPP is the best solution because it provides real-time detection, alerting, and insights into traffic patterns that indicate DoS attacks.

References

AOS-CX Network Analytics Engine (NAE) Configuration Guide.

HPE Aruba AOS-CX Control Plane Policing Documentation.

Best Practices for Protecting Switches Against DoS Attacks in Aruba Networks.

Tag Updates Action - "Apply for All Tag Updates":

This setting ensures that all updated tags from Device Insight (CPDI) are applied dynamically.

It is particularly useful when you want to trigger Change of Authorization (CoA) without explicitly predefining the tag values.

Option D: Correct. This setting allows CPPM to issue CoAs automatically for updated tags without requiring prior configuration of specific tags.

Option A: Incorrect. The setting is not directly related to reducing the poll interval latency.

Option B: Incorrect. Disconnecting devices based on dangerous tags would require predefined enforcement rules.

Option C: Incorrect. Posture information updates do not directly rely on this setting.

RADIUS Change of Authorization (CoA):

CoA is triggered when ClearPass determines that a client’s posture status has changed (e.g., Healthy, Quarantine).

The RADIUS enforcement policy is where you configure actions and enforcement profiles that respond to these posture changes.

Option Analysis:

Option A: Correct. RADIUS enforcement policies are used to configure actions, including triggering CoA.

Option B: Incorrect. OnGuard settings configure posture agent behavior, not enforcement rules.

Option C: Incorrect. The posture policy evaluates compliance but does not trigger CoA.

Option D: Incorrect. WEBAUTH enforcement policies are for web-based authentication, not posture-related CoA.

To block all clients connected through HPE Aruba Networking Central-managed APs from accessing YouTube, you should enable DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) and then create application rules to deny YouTube on the firewall roles. DPI allows the network to inspect and classify traffic based on application signatures, making it possible to enforce application-specific policies. By creating rules that specifically block YouTube traffic, you can effectively prevent clients from accessing the service.

Why a Mirror Session Is the Correct Choice

To analyze a wired client’s traffic with Wireshark, you need the traffic mirrored to your management station where Wireshark is installed. The most effective way to achieve this is by configuring a mirror session on the AOS-CX switch, specifying the client port as the source and your management station as the destination.

Analysis of Each Option

A. Access the client's switch's CLI from your management station. Access the switch shell and run a TCP dump on the client port:

Incorrect:

AOS-CX switches do not natively support packet capture (e.g., tcpdump) directly on the switch CLI.

This approach is not feasible for capturing and analyzing live client traffic.

B. Go to the client's switch in HPE Aruba Networking Central. Use the "Security" page to run a packet capture:

Incorrect:

HPE Aruba Networking Central provides security insights but does not directly support initiating packet captures for detailed analysis.

Traffic analysis with tools like Wireshark requires local packet capture at the management station.

C. Set up a policy that implements a captive portal redirect to your management station. Apply that policy to the client's port:

Incorrect:

Captive portals are designed for user authentication and redirection, not traffic analysis.

This would disrupt the client’s network activity without enabling traffic analysis in Wireshark.

D. Set up a mirror session on the client's switch; set the client port as the source and your station IP address as the tunnel destination:

Correct:

Mirroring the client port to your management station is the standard method for analyzing live network traffic with Wireshark.

Steps include:

Configure a mirror session on the client’s AOS-CX switch.

Set the client’s port as the source.

Set your management station as the destination using its IP address (via GRE tunnel or physical interface).

Start capturing traffic with Wireshark on the management station.

Final Recommendation

To analyze the client's traffic, configure a mirror session on the switch, set the client port as the source, and direct the traffic to your management station where Wireshark is running.

References

AOS-CX Switch Port Mirroring Configuration Guide.

HPE Aruba Networking Central Monitoring and Troubleshooting Best Practices.

Wireshark Traffic Analysis and Capture Techniques.

When HPE Aruba Networking Central detects an Infrastructure Attack, such as "Detect adhoc using Valid SSID," the next step is to locate the general area of the threat. You can use HPE Aruba Networking Central floorplans or the identities of the detecting APs to pinpoint the approximate location of the adhoc network. This allows you to physically investigate and address the source of the threat, ensuring that unauthorized or rogue networks are quickly identified and mitigated.