What is the significance of using static ARP entries in a small network?

• A. It helps prevent ARP spoofing or poisoning.
• B. It simplifies routing.
• C. It encrypts ARP traffic.
• D. It increases throughput.

Answer: (A)

Static ARP entries hard-code the mapping of IP addresses to specific MAC addresses, so devices don’t accept dynamic changes to the ARP table. In a small network, this means you predefine who owns important IPs (like the gateway or servers) and lock those mappings in. If someone tries to spoof ARP by sending false replies that claim, for example, that the attacker’s MAC is the router, the static entry prevents the cache from updating to that false mapping. Traffic stays directed to the legitimate device, which is why this approach helps prevent ARP spoofing or poisoning.

This doesn’t relate to routing or encryption, and it doesn’t inherently boost throughput. It’s a direct defense against ARP-based MITM attempts by eliminating the ability of dynamic ARP replies to mislead hosts. However, it requires manual maintenance in a small network and can become impractical if devices move or change often.