Security+ WAP Performance Based Questions
If you’re planning to take the Security+ exam you can expect to see some Security+ WAP performance based questions. These questions expect you to know how to configure a wireless access point (WAP). Even if you’ve done it once or twice, it might not be fresh in your mind so it’s good to review the topics.
Networks commonly use wireless access points (WAPs) and configuring security with them is an important skill to have. CompTIA stresses this on both the Network+ and Security+ exams. You should be able to configure basics such as:
- Change the SSID
- Enable/disable SSID broadcast
- Enable MAC address filtering
- Configure security such as WPA and WPA2
- Configure WPA/WPA2 Enterprise
Ideally, you should get your hands on a WAP or a wireless router used in many homes and small offices home offices (SOHOs). They are easily accessible and aren’t expensive and the experience configuring it is valuable for on the job and the exam.
The following sections show how to configure a Cisco M20 wireless router. All devices aren’t exactly the same, but you’ll find similar settings if you click around.
CompTIA Security+: Get Certified Get Ahead: SY0-401 Study Guide
Accessing the Administration Page
Wireless access points have web pages you can use to configure settings. You can access the administration pages by entering the IP address of the access point into the web browser. The IP address of most access points is either 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1.
After entering the IP address, you’re prompted to enter the name and password for the administrator account. These also have defaults such as “admin” for the administrator account and “admin” for the password but it is highly recommended to change the defaults.
Change the SSID
The service set identifier (SSID) is the name of the network. It is a case sensitive string of up 32 characters. Devices come with a default SSID and it’s recommended to change the SSID from the default as a best practice.
The following figure shows the basic setting for SSID. On this WAP, you have to select the Wireless main menu and the Basic Wireless Settings submenu. You then enter the desired network name for in the Network Name (SSID) text box. In the figure, I used the SSID of MyHomeWAP but any name with 32 characters can be used.
Enable/Disable SSID Broadcast
You can hide a wireless network from casual users by disabling SSID broadcast and a performance based question might require you to select one of these settings. The following figure shows how this is done on a sample access point.
It’s important to realize that even if you disable SSID broadcast, attackers can still discover the SSID with a wireless sniffer. In other words, disabling SSID broadcast doesn’t provide any real security. You can read more about in the Disable SSID Broadcast or Not? blog.
Enable MAC Address Filtering
Another configuration you might need to implement for Security+ WAP performance based questions is media access control (MAC) address filtering. The MAC address is assigned to the network interface card (NIC) when it is manufactured and you can use it to identify specific devices. When used within a MAC address filter, you can restrict access to the wireless network to specific devices based on their MAC address.
As an example, the following figure shows a MAC address filter configured on a wireless access point. You can see that it is enabled and configured to “Permit PCs listed below to access the wireless network.” The wireless client list includes five MAC addresses. Devices with these MAC addresses will be allowed access to the network, but other devices will be blocked.
This setting isn’t restricted to only PCs. Any wireless device has a MAC address including tablet devices and smartphones.
You can also configure a MAC address filter to block specific devices. For example, if your neighbor is using your access point to access the Internet, you can block his system using his MAC address. You would select the first setting “Prevent PCs listed below from accessing the wireless network” and enter the MAC address of his system.
Configure Security Such as WPA and WPA2
You also need to know how to configure basic security setting such as Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) or Wi-Fi Protected Access version 2 (WPA2). You can typically select the appropriate setting from a drop down box and then enter the appropriate passphrase. The settings entered on the access point must be used on all devices that connect to the access point.
The following figure shows these settings.
Configure WPA/WPA2 Enterprise
Both WPA and WPA2 operate in either Personal or Enterprise modes. Most home and small business networks use Personal mode using a passphrase or password.
Larger enterprises add additional security to WAPs with WPA Enterprise or WPA2 Enterprise. Enterprise mode provides additional security by adding an authentication server and requiring each user to authenticate through this server. Authentication requires all users to prove their identities and a common way authentication is accomplished is with a username and password. A user claims an identity with a username and proves the identity with a password.
Enterprise mode requires an 802.1x server typically configured as a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Service (RADIUS) server, which is configured separately from the access point. The RADIUS server has access to the user’s authentication credentials and can verify when a user has entered authentication information correctly.
The following figure shows the configuration for an access point using WPA2 Enterprise. After selecting WPA2 Enterprise from the drop down box, the selections change. You then need to enter the IP address of the RADIUS server and the shared secret configured on the RADIUS server. The default port for RADIUS is 1812 and you only need to change this if the RADIUS server is using a non-default port.
Security+ WAP Performance Based Questions Summary
You can expect to see some Security+ WAP performance based questions on the Security+ exam. These questions expect you to know how to configure a wireless access point (WAP) including the SSID, MAC address filtering, and security settings such as WPA2 Personal or WPA2 Enterprise.
Could we expect to see any performance based questions concerning RAID systems or subnet masking? I really don’t have a firm grasp about subnet masking and haven’t been able to find many good examples other than what’s in your book.
You might like to check out this blog post on RAID. Also, the gcgapremimum site now has some performance-based questions on RAID.
Hi Seth,
If you’re asking me to give a specific answer to an actual question, I can’t do that.
Not sure where you’re getting information on “the log performance based question” but you might like to look at this page: Unauthorized Training Materials and Third-Party Offers Policy.
Comptia says “Individuals who utilize such materials in preparation for any CompTIA examination, may be precluded from taking a CompTIA examination and/or have their certifications revoked in accordance with the Candidate Agreement.”
This page is useful too: The 5 dangers of brain dumps.
I see that you have one of the Security+ study packages and it includes information you might find useful.
I’d encourage you to read these pages:
Log in and go to Member Home.
Click on ~~~ Read this first ~~~ to read that page
It includes a strategy you can use to help you pass the performance-based questions.
It includes a listing of links for the seven simulated performance-based question sets (soon to be 8)
It includes a link to Performance-based Question Notes
The Performance-based Question Notes page has additional information that is useful to help you prepare.
Hope this helps.
Thanks Darril! I was just reading your blog and noticed people in the comments mentioning logs so I was curious, but I completely understand and would never want to compromise anything! I will brush up on your performance based question section. I love your study materials and I am really starting grasp the concepts very well! Thanks for all you do!
Darril,
Is there any chance you can give some examples of the log performance based question? I am confused about what I am supposed to be looking for when it concerns logs and knowing if the device did it’s job properly. Thank you!
Hi
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Congratulations Tamaa,
Great to hear you passed, and good to know the online resources helped you.
Good luck with your next adventure.
Darril
Darrill, I purchased your getcertifiedgetahead study resources. I’ve been going through the questions and getting a better feel as to how to answer the questions. I want to do the same for the performance based questions. where are these questions in the material I purchased? I will like to get a good positive feel about them also.
thanks,
dkelly
Hi dkelly,
Good to hear you’re getting a feel for the how to answer the questions.
They are on the member home page on http://gcgapremium.com/. Log in normally, and you’ll go right to that page.
On the member home page, you’ll have a group labeled “Security+ Practice Test Questions.” This includes the following links:
~~ Performance Based Question Notes ~~
Performance Based Question – Set 1
Performance Based Question – Set 2
Performance Based Question – Set 3
Performance Based Question – Set 4
Performance Based Question – Set 5
Click on any of those links to either read the notes or take a mini-quiz with one of the simulated performance-based questions.
Hope this helps.
Darril
Darril, I would think that one of the instructions/tasks would be to change the username and the password from the login defaults.
Glad to hear that the information is helping you settle your nerves some.
>>>Do you mean that we will leave the port at 1812 (default) unless the test question/simulation tells us the RADIUS port is using a non-default number?
The intent here isn’t to give the answers to specific test questions.
Think about this from a different perspective. SMTP uses a default port of 25. When configuring SMTP you rarely need to configure it to use port 25 because that is the default port. If SMTP needs to use a different port number for some reason, then you need to configure the SMTP port.
You can replace SMTP with RADIUS and 25 with 1812 and the meaning is the same.
If you want to brush up on the use of ports, you might like to check out this blog: https://blogs.getcertifiedgetahead.com/understanding-ports-security-2/
I am preparing for my Security+ exam and I am familiar with setting up wireless routers, etc but I have never had the opportunity to be in a company that utilized a RADIUS server. In your section titled Configure WPA/WPA2 Enterprise, your last sentence is “The default port for RADIUS is 1812 and you only need to change this if the RADIUS server is using a non-default port.”
Do you mean that we will leave the port at 1812 (default) unless the test question/simulation tells us the RADIUS port is using a non-default number? Correct?
Thanks for your blog, the performance based questions help settle the nerves…
Need more Performance questions samples for Security+ Exam.