CISM Question #560: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

Question

Which of the following is the purpose of media access control (MAC) address filtering in wireless network security?

Options

• ATo prevent unauthorized devices from connecting to the network
• BTo optimize network performance and reduce latency
• CTo encrypt data packets transmitted over the network
• DTo assign IP addresses to connected devices dynamically

Explanation

MAC address filtering is a wireless security mechanism that allows a network administrator to create a whitelist of approved device hardware addresses, blocking any device not on that list from associating with the access point - making A correct.

Why the distractors are wrong:

• B is wrong because MAC filtering is a security control, not a performance optimization; it adds slight overhead and has no effect on latency.
• C is wrong because encryption (e.g., WPA2/WPA3) is handled by separate protocols, not MAC filtering, which operates at Layer 2 before any encryption is applied.
• D is wrong because dynamic IP assignment is the job of DHCP, which operates at a higher network layer entirely.

Memory tip: Think of MAC filtering as a guest list at a club door - the bouncer checks your ID (MAC address) before you even get inside; it has nothing to do with what you say once you're in (encryption) or where you sit (IP addressing).

No community discussion yet for this question.