221. What is the primary function of an intent-based networking (IBN) system?
- a) Translating business policies into network configurations
- b) Encrypting all network traffic by default
- c) Replacing CLI with voice commands
- d) Prioritizing IoT device connections
Answer: A - IBN uses declarative models to continuously align network state with high-level business intent.
222. Which protocol is used for network automation at scale with YANG models?
- a) NETCONF
- b) SNMP
- c) BGP
- d) OSPF
Answer: A - NETCONF (RFC 6241) provides transactional configuration management using YANG-defined operations.
223. What is the purpose of a network assurance engine in IBN?
- a) Continuous validation of intent compliance
- b) Accelerating packet forwarding
- c) Generating encryption keys
- d) Prioritizing video traffic
Answer: A - Assurance engines use telemetry and ML to detect configuration drift from intended state.
224. Which NIST-approved algorithm provides quantum-resistant digital signatures?
- a) CRYSTALS-Dilithium
- b) RSA-4096
- c) ECDSA
- d) SHA-3
Answer: A - Dilithium is a lattice-based scheme selected in NIST's Post-Quantum Cryptography Standardization.
225. What does the Network Configuration Protocol (NCP) provide in automation frameworks?
- a) Transactional configuration updates with rollback
- b) Hardware acceleration for routing
- c) Quantum key distribution
- d) Optical signal processing
Answer: A - NCP ensures atomic configuration changes across devices with validation capabilities.
226. Which technology enables intent translation between domains in multi-vendor networks?
- a) Intent Northbound Interface (NBI)
- b) BGP route reflectors
- c) VLAN trunking
- d) Quantum repeaters
Answer: A - Intent NBIs standardize how higher-layer systems express requirements to network controllers.
227. What is the primary advantage of hash-based post-quantum signatures?
- a) Minimal computational overhead
- b) Unlimited key reuse
- c) Backward compatibility with RSA
- d) Native optical encryption
Answer: A - Schemes like XMSS/LMS use efficient hash operations resistant to Shor's algorithm.
228. Which component maintains the "golden state" in intent-based networks?
- a) Intent repository
- b) Data plane switches
- c) Quantum key servers
- d) Optical transceivers
Answer: A - The repository stores authorized configurations and serves as the single source of truth.
229. What is the purpose of the Hybrid Public Key Encryption (HPKE) standard?
- a) Transitioning to quantum-resistant crypto
- b) Accelerating optical signals
- c) Prioritizing IoT traffic
- d) Replacing TCP/IP
Answer: A - HPKE (RFC 9180) combines classical and post-quantum algorithms for forward secrecy.
230. Which protocol provides network-wide transaction consistency in automation?
- a) Network Configuration Lock Protocol (NCLP)
- b) BGP Flowspec
- c) OSPFv3
- d) SNMPv3
Answer: A - NCLP implements two-phase commits for atomic multi-device configuration changes.
231. What does a "closed-loop" system refer to in intent-based networking?
- a) Continuous observe-orient-decide-act cycle
- b) Isolated network segments
- c) Quantum encryption loops
- d) Optical ring topologies
Answer: A - Closed-loop automation constantly measures and adjusts to maintain intent compliance.
232. Which lattice-based algorithm provides quantum-resistant key encapsulation?
- a) CRYSTALS-Kyber
- b) RSA-4096
- c) ECDH
- d) AES-256
Answer: A - Kyber was selected by NIST as the primary PQC standard for public-key encryption.
233. What is the purpose of a network digital twin in automation?
- a) Safe testing of configuration changes
- b) Encrypting management traffic
- c) Prioritizing voice packets
- d) Replacing physical routers
Answer: A - Digital twins simulate network behavior before deploying changes to production.
234. Which technology provides cryptographically verifiable network intent?
- a) Blockchain-based attestation
- b) Quantum key distribution
- c) Optical encryption
- d) AI-driven routing
Answer: A - Distributed ledgers can immutably record and verify network policy compliance.
235. What is the primary benefit of zero-touch provisioning (ZTP) in automation?
- a) Eliminating manual device configuration
- b) Faster optical switching
- c) Quantum-safe communications
- d) Prioritizing AR/VR traffic
Answer: A - ZTP devices automatically download configurations from centralized controllers.
236. Which post-quantum algorithm is based on multivariate equations?
- a) Rainbow
- b) Kyber
- c) Dilithium
- d) NTRU
Answer: A - Rainbow uses oil-and-vinegar multivariate quadratic equations for digital signatures.
237. What does the Network Intent Composition Engine (NICE) provide?
- a) Conflict resolution between overlapping intents
- b) Hardware acceleration for encryption
- c) Quantum repeaters
- d) Optical signal regeneration
Answer: A - NICE arbitrates between competing business/security/performance requirements.
238. Which technology enables intent-based segmentation?
- a) Group-Based Policy (GBP)
- b) VLANs
- c) BGP route filtering
- d) OSPF areas
Answer: A - GBP abstracts segmentation rules from underlying mechanisms (VXLAN, VLAN, etc.).
239. What is the purpose of post-quantum pre-shared keys (PPK)?
- a) Hybrid classical/quantum-resistant key exchange
- b) Accelerating routing convergence
- c) Prioritizing IoT traffic
- d) Replacing optical amplifiers
Answer: A - PPKs combine traditional keys with quantum-resistant secrets for transitional security.
240. Which intent-based networking component translates SLAs into technical policies?
- a) Intent orchestration layer
- b) Data plane switches
- c) Quantum key servers
- d) Optical transceivers
Answer: A - Orchestrators convert business objectives (e.g., "Gold SLA") into QoS/security rules.