Cisco Certified Network Professional 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The correct answer is that there would be a loss of protection.

A hub or switch that does not send Bridge Protocol Data Units (BPDUs) essentially fails to participate in the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) process. STP is a network protocol used to prevent loops in network topologies by determining the most efficient path for data traffic. BPDUs are essential for switches to share information about the state and identity of the network topology.

When a switch does not send or receive BPDUs, it cannot effectively engage in decision-making processes to block redundant paths. This results in the potential for network loops to occur, which can lead to broadcast storms and ultimately network congestion or outages. Therefore, the lack of BPDUs leads to a loss of protection, as the necessary mechanisms to maintain a loop-free and efficient network topology are not operational.

By not participating in STP through the transmission of BPDUs, the device compromises the integrity of network traffic management and fails to provide the necessary safeguards against network loops, leading to a clear loss of protection.