350-401 Question #373: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

Question

What is the data policy in a Cisco SD-WAN deployment?

Options

• Alist of ordered statements that define node configurations and authentication used within the SD-WAN
• BSet of statements that defines how data is forwarded based on IP packet information and specific
• Cdetailed database mapping several kinds of addresses with their corresponding location
• Dgroup of services tested to guarantee devices and links liveliness within the SD-WAN overlay

Explanation

Cisco SD-WAN Data Policy Explained

Why B is Correct: In Cisco SD-WAN, a data policy is applied on the vSmart controller and consists of ordered statements that control how data plane traffic is forwarded, filtered, or manipulated based on IP packet attributes such as source/destination IP, DSCP values, ports, and protocols. It directly influences traffic forwarding decisions across the overlay network.

Why the Distractors are Wrong:

• Option A describes a control policy or device template, which governs node configurations and authentication - not data forwarding behavior.
• Option C describes a mapping database, which aligns more with ARP tables, DNS, or Cisco's OMP routing table - not a policy construct.
• Option D describes BFD (Bidirectional Forwarding Detection) or SLA policies, which monitor device/link liveness - a fundamentally different function.

Memory Tip: Think of "Data Policy = Data Packets" - if it deals with how actual IP packets move through the network (forwarding, QoS, traffic engineering), it's a data policy. If it controls what routing information is shared between devices, that's a control policy. The word "data" is your clue that it operates at the packet/forwarding level.

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