CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) Practice

What is the main purpose of using a protocol like STP in a network?

1. Improving network speed

2. Preventing broadcast storms and loops

3. Enhancing wireless security

4. Managing IP address allocations

The correct answer is: Preventing broadcast storms and loops

The main purpose of using a protocol like Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) in a network is to prevent broadcast storms and loops. In Ethernet networks, multiple switches can create redundant paths for data transmission. While redundancy is beneficial for reliability, it can also lead to broadcast storms when broadcast packets circulate endlessly through the network. This happens when there are multiple active paths between transmitting and receiving devices. STP works by identifying and disabling one or more of these redundant paths, ensuring there is only one active path between any two devices. This capability effectively prevents network loops, which can degrade performance and potentially bring down network segments. By maintaining a loop-free topology, STP enhances overall network stability, reliability, and performance. The other options relate to different aspects of network management. For instance, improving network speed typically involves optimizing throughput and reducing latency, which are not the primary functions of STP. Enhancing wireless security pertains to securing wireless communications, which is outside the domain of STP. Managing IP address allocations involves DHCP and similar protocols, which handle address assignments but do not directly relate to the physical topology of networks like STP does.