What VLAN number should you avoid assigning to the management VLAN?

• A. 0
• B. 2
• C. 999
• D. 1

Answer: (D)

The main idea is to keep management traffic on its own dedicated network, separate from user data, to reduce security risks and mistakes.

VLANs that start out as the default on most switches are the ones you want to avoid using for management. This default VLAN is typically the one that carries untagged or native traffic on trunk links, and it’s the easiest target for misconfigurations or attackers who know many devices use it for management by default. By placing management on a different, non-default VLAN, you limit exposure, improve segmentation, and make it harder for someone to reach the management interfaces through normal user traffic. Pair that with proper access controls and, ideally, out-of-band management, and you’ve got a much safer setup.

Other VLAN numbers aren’t the standard default, so they don’t carry the same risk profile in the same way.