Which items are considered network components?

• A. A diagram showing system components and connections within a networked environment.
• B. Firewalls, switches, routers, wireless access points, network appliances, and other security appliances.
• C. A passive technique that monitors or collects network communications and decodes protocols.
• D. A protocol for synchronizing clocks across devices.

Answer: (B)

Network components are the actual devices that form the network infrastructure and handle traffic, routing, filtering, and protection. The best choice names firewalls, switches, routers, wireless access points, network appliances, and other security devices—these are the hardware and software elements that participate in network communication and enforce security controls.

The other items are not network components themselves. A diagram is a visualization of components and connections, not a device or item that traffic passes through. A passive technique that monitors and decodes network traffic describes an activity or tool used for analysis, not a component that forms the network. A protocol for synchronizing clocks across devices is a method used over the network, not a standalone network component.