Watchguard Network Security Practice Test

Which NAT type is used when connecting from a private network to servers on the internet?

1. 1:1 NAT

2. NAT loopback

3. Dynamic NAT

4. Static NAT

The correct answer is: Dynamic NAT

Dynamic NAT is the correct choice for connecting from a private network to servers on the internet because it allows for the translation of private IP addresses to public IP addresses dynamically as needed. In this scenario, multiple devices on a private network can share a limited number of public IP addresses. When a device on the internal network requests access to the internet, the NAT device assigns one of its available public addresses to that device for the duration of the session. Once the session ends, the IP address can then be reused by another device, making Dynamic NAT efficient for managing IP address usage in a network. In contrast, 1:1 NAT is typically used when a specific internal IP address needs a specific public IP address, which is not the case for general internet access. NAT loopback is used primarily for accessing internal services using the public IP from within the same network and would not apply when connecting to external servers. Static NAT involves a fixed mapping of a private IP to a public IP address, which doesn't accommodate the flexible, shared access required for multiple devices on a private network accessing internet servers.