CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) Practice

Which statement accurately describes the characteristics of Token Ring?

1. It is a wireless network technology

2. It shares bandwidth with all stations in a ring topology

3. It uses a centralized control for data transmission

4. It utilizes switch technology to control traffic

The correct answer is: It shares bandwidth with all stations in a ring topology

The correct characterization of Token Ring is that it shares bandwidth with all stations in a ring topology. In a Token Ring network, devices are interconnected in a circular manner, and data is transmitted in a token-passing method. Each device waits for an opportunity to send data when it obtains a token, which ensures that only one device transmits at a time, thus preventing collisions. This token-passing mechanism allows all stations in the network to have equal access to the shared bandwidth, promoting orderly transmission and improving efficiency. In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the characteristics of Token Ring. For instance, Token Ring is a wired network technology utilizing physical cabling, not wireless, which excludes the first option. The second option, which implies a centralized control for data transmission, does not apply here, as Token Ring relies on decentralized control via the token-passing protocol rather than a central controller. The mention of switch technology in the last option refers to Ethernet networks, where switches manage traffic more efficiently, a characteristic not inherent to Token Ring, which operates based on the ring topology structure.