Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) Practice Exam

Which area network separates the control and management processes from the underlying networking hardware for simplified configuration and deployment?

1. Wireless local area network (WLAN)

2. Software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN)

3. Wide area network (WAN)

4. Local area network (LAN)

The correct answer is: Software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN)

The chosen answer, Software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN), is correct because it fundamentally transforms how network management and operations are conducted. SD-WAN separates the control plane from the data plane, allowing for centralized control and management of network resources independent of the underlying hardware. This decoupling leads to more straightforward configuration and deployment processes, as policies and configurations can be managed through software rather than being tied to specific hardware devices. In contrast, wireless local area networks (WLAN), wide area networks (WAN), and local area networks (LAN) do not inherently provide this level of separation between control and data planes. WLAN focuses primarily on wireless connectivity, while WAN and LAN are more traditional network types that involve direct reliance on hardware configurations for management and operation. They do not have the same capability for abstracting the management processes from the physical infrastructure, making SD-WAN a more flexible and efficient option for modern networking needs.