How does Network Address Translation (NAT) help prevent attackers from discovering internal network details? Learn why NAT is essential for hiding private IP addresses and reducing attack surface—key knowledge for CompTIA Security+ (Plus) SY0-701 exam success.
Table of Contents
Question
An organization wants to prevent attackers from discovering the details of their internal network. Which practice can help achieve this?
A. Network address translation (NAT)
B. Using WEP encryption
C. Implementing a guest Wi-Fi network
D. Enabling port forwarding
E. Using static IP addresses
Answer
A. Network address translation (NAT)
Explanation
NAT hides internal IP addresses from external attackers, making network reconnaissance more difficult.
The most effective practice for preventing attackers from discovering the details of an organization’s internal network is Network Address Translation (NAT).
NAT hides internal IP addresses by translating them to a single public IP address when devices communicate with external networks. This means that outsiders only see the public IP, not the individual private IPs of devices inside the network.
By masking the internal network structure, NAT makes it significantly more difficult for attackers to map out or target specific devices within the organization. Attackers cannot easily identify or scan individual internal hosts, reducing the risk of targeted attacks.
NAT also acts as a barrier, blocking unsolicited inbound connections from the internet. Only responses to outgoing requests are allowed back in, further limiting exposure to external threats.
This approach not only enhances privacy and security but also reduces the attack surface, as attackers have fewer entry points and less information about the internal network layout.
In addition, NAT is widely used in both enterprise and cloud environments for these security benefits, and is considered a foundational network security practice.
NAT hides internal IP addresses from external networks, making network reconnaissance and targeted attacks much more difficult for potential attackers.
CompTIA Security+ (Plus) SY0-701 certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the CompTIA Security+ (Plus) SY0-701 exam and earn CompTIA Security+ (Plus) SY0-701 certification.