Watchguard Network Security Practice Test

Which type of NAT conserves IP addresses and hides the internal topology of a network?

1. 1-to-1 NAT

2. Dynamic NAT

3. NAT Loopback

4. Static NAT

The correct answer is: Dynamic NAT

Dynamic NAT is the correct choice because it effectively conserves IP addresses by allowing multiple devices on a private network to share a smaller pool of public IP addresses when accessing the internet. In a dynamic NAT scenario, the translation of private IP addresses to public IP addresses occurs dynamically, meaning the specific internal IP does not get a permanent external IP. Instead, it temporarily uses one of the available public IP addresses when needed. This method not only optimizes the use of public IP addresses by allocating them only when required but also obscures the internal network topology. Since the internal devices communicate with the outside world using a different, often shared, public IP address, external entities cannot easily deduce the structure or size of the internal network. This adds a layer of security and privacy, as attackers or unauthorized users cannot see which specific internal IP addresses are in use. In contrast, other NAT types like Static NAT assign a fixed public IP to a specific private IP, which does not conserve addresses effectively. 1-to-1 NAT also maps one private address to a fixed public address, and NAT loopback is primarily designed for allowing internal users to connect to external services using public addresses. All these options lack the same level of efficiency and security provided by dynamic NAT