Turbocharge Your IT Journey: Ace the Cisco Certified Network Pro Test 2025 – Network Ninja Style!

Managing unused switch ports effectively is an important part of network security and resource optimization. Shutting down unused switch ports is considered a best practice because it prevents unauthorized access to the network. When ports are left active, they create potential entry points for unauthorized devices, which can lead to security breaches or other issues.

Additionally, shutting down unused ports conserves resources by reducing the number of active interfaces that need monitoring and management. In environments where switch resources are limited or performance is critical, this can help maintain the overall health of the network.

Keeping ports active can lead to security vulnerabilities, while setting them to trunk mode is only applicable for ports intended to carry traffic from multiple VLANs, which is unnecessary for unused ports. Adding ports to a monitoring group does not prevent unauthorized access either; it merely alters how they are monitored. Therefore, the approach of shutting down unused ports effectively mitigates risks while contributing to better network management practices.