Which feature distinguishes SNMPv3 from SNMPv1/v2c?

• A. Simple plaintext community strings
• B. Authentication, privacy, and access control
• C. No security improvements
• D. Only supports read-only access

Answer: (B)

SNMPv3 is defined by its security features: authentication to verify who is communicating, privacy to encrypt the data so it can’t be read in transit, and access control to enforce who can access what information. These protections are provided by the User-based Security Model (USM) for authentication and encryption, and by the View-based Access Control Model (VACM) for permissions. In contrast, SNMPv1 and SNMPv2c rely on plaintext community strings and offer no built-in authentication or encryption, and they use a simpler, less granular access approach. So, the combination of authentication, privacy, and access control is what sets SNMPv3 apart.