Which statement best describes PMK caching and Fast BSS Transition (802.11r) in fast roaming?

Which statement best describes PMK caching and Fast BSS Transition (802.11r) in fast roaming?

• A. PMK caching increases encryption strength of WPA2.
• B. PMK caching and Fast BSS Transition (802.11r) reduce handoff latency during fast roaming.
• C. PMK caching assigns IP addresses more quickly.
• D. PMK caching is a version of DHCP.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that fast roaming reduces the delay when you move between access points by reusing authentication material and pre-authenticating for the next AP. PMK caching stores the cryptographic material from an initial authentication, so when you roam to another AP within the same network, the device can quickly derive the needed session keys without going through a full re-authentication with the authentication server. 802.11r, known as Fast BSS Transition, formalizes this process and often enables pre-authentication with the next AP before the roam completes, further cutting the time the link is unsettled and data is paused. Together, these mechanisms specifically target roaming latency, not encryption strength, IP address assignment, or DHCP.

The key idea is that fast roaming reduces the delay when you move between access points by reusing authentication material and pre-authenticating for the next AP. PMK caching stores the cryptographic material from an initial authentication, so when you roam to another AP within the same network, the device can quickly derive the needed session keys without going through a full re-authentication with the authentication server. 802.11r, known as Fast BSS Transition, formalizes this process and often enables pre-authentication with the next AP before the roam completes, further cutting the time the link is unsettled and data is paused. Together, these mechanisms specifically target roaming latency, not encryption strength, IP address assignment, or DHCP.