Which term describes the centralization of control logic separate from the data forwarding hardware?

Which term describes the centralization of control logic separate from the data forwarding hardware?

• A. Software-Defined Networking (SDN)
• B. Cross-Domain Connections
• C. Data Sensitivity Levels
• D. Directory Services

Answer: (A)

This question tests the idea of decoupling the control logic from the devices that actually forward traffic. Software-Defined Networking centers the control plane in a centralized controller, while the data plane remains in the forwarding hardware (switches/routers). The controller decides how traffic should be handled and programs the forwarding devices accordingly, rather than each device making independent decisions. This separation makes networks more programmable and easier to manage, since a single controller can enforce policies and push updates across the entire network quickly. It also supports vendor neutrality because the forwarding devices follow the controller’s instructions rather than running vendor-specific control logic.

Other terms describe different concepts: cross-domain connections involve linking networks across security or trust domains, data sensitivity levels deal with how data is classified and handled, and directory services manage identities and access.