Watchguard Network Security Practice Test

When configuring NAT rules, which type should be used if the goal is to allow multiple devices to share a single public IP address?

1. Static NAT

2. 1-to-1 NAT

3. Dynamic NAT

4. Policy-based NAT

The correct answer is: Dynamic NAT

Dynamic NAT is the appropriate choice when the goal is to allow multiple devices to share a single public IP address. This method facilitates translation from a pool of private IP addresses to a smaller pool of public IP addresses. In a dynamic NAT configuration, internal devices are allowed to use a public IP address only when they initiate a connection to the outside world. Once the connection is terminated, the public IP can be reassigned to another device from the pool. This flexibility is essential for managing a limited number of public IP addresses efficiently, allowing multiple devices behind a NAT to access the internet without requiring a unique public IP for each one. Static NAT, on the other hand, maps a specific private IP address to a specific public IP address, which doesn’t allow for sharing among multiple devices. 1-to-1 NAT serves a similar purpose to static NAT and also does not facilitate sharing a single public IP among numerous devices. Policy-based NAT applies specific policies for the translation of IP addresses but does not inherently provide the solution of sharing a public IP address among many devices as effectively as dynamic NAT does.