Cybersecurity Guide For Beginners: DHCP Snooping Configuration on Cisco Devices

As networks become more complex and distributed, it is important to have security measures in place to protect against malicious users and other security threats. One such measure is DHCP snooping, a network security feature that prevents unauthorized DHCP servers from assigning IP addresses to network devices.
 
DHCP snooping, or DHCP filtering, is a feature that prevents DHCP servers from assigning IP addresses to devices that are not authorized to receive them. This prevents malicious users from gaining access to a network and prevents unwanted devices from obtaining IP addresses from unauthorized servers. It also helps to ensure that all of the devices on the network are properly configured with the correct IP addresses.
 
When DHCP snooping is enabled, the network switch examines all incoming DHCP packets and filters out any unauthorized requests. It then creates a database of authorized DHCP servers and clients and only allows requests from those servers and clients to go through. This helps to ensure that only authorized DHCP servers are able to assign IP addresses to network devices.
 
In addition to providing security, DHCP snooping also helps to improve network performance. Without it, DHCP requests can consume a lot of bandwidth and slow down the entire network. By filtering out unauthorized requests, the switch can ensure that only the necessary requests are sent and received, which helps to keep the network running smoothly.
 
Overall, DHCP snooping is an important security measure for networks of all sizes. It helps to protect the network from malicious users and unauthorized devices, as well as improve network performance. If you have a network that needs extra security, DHCP snooping is a great option to consider.