Question 1mediummultiple choice
Full question →mediummultiple choiceObjective-mapped
Which statement best explains why SSH is safer than Telnet for remote management?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Good practice is not just finding the correct option. The wrong answers often show the exact trap the exam wants you to fall into.
A
Best answer
SSH encrypts the remote management session, while Telnet does not.
This is correct because encryption is the main security advantage of SSH.
B
Distractor review
SSH removes the need for authentication.
This is wrong because SSH still requires authentication.
C
Distractor review
Telnet is safer because it is simpler to troubleshoot.
This is wrong because simplicity does not make Telnet more secure.
D
Distractor review
SSH is required for VLAN trunking.
This is wrong because SSH is unrelated to switchport trunking.
Common exam trap
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A frequent exam trap is selecting the option that SSH removes the need for authentication. Candidates might incorrectly believe that encryption alone replaces authentication, but SSH requires users to authenticate before access is granted. Another trap is confusing SSH’s role with unrelated network functions like VLAN trunking, which is a Layer 2 concept unrelated to remote management protocols. Misunderstanding these distinctions can lead to incorrect answers despite SSH’s clear security benefits over Telnet.
Technical deep dive
How to think about this question
Secure Shell (SSH) is a network protocol that provides encrypted communication for remote management of network devices. Unlike Telnet, which sends all data in plaintext, SSH uses cryptographic techniques to secure the session, including the authentication process and all subsequent command traffic. This encryption ensures that sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and configuration commands cannot be intercepted or read by unauthorized parties on the network. When a Cisco device is configured for remote management, SSH is the preferred protocol because it establishes a secure channel over an insecure network. The device authenticates the user credentials and then encrypts all transmitted data, protecting against common network threats like packet sniffing and session hijacking. Telnet, by contrast, does not provide any encryption, making it inherently insecure for production environments where confidentiality and integrity are critical. A common exam trap is assuming that SSH eliminates the need for authentication or that it is related to VLAN trunking, which it is not. SSH still requires valid user credentials to establish a session, and it operates independently of VLAN configurations. Practically, network administrators must enable SSH and disable Telnet on Cisco devices to comply with security policies and protect management access from interception or unauthorized use.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- SSH encrypts all remote management traffic, including usernames, passwords, and commands, preventing eavesdropping on network sessions.
- Telnet transmits remote management data in clear text, making it vulnerable to interception and unauthorized access.
- Cisco devices prefer SSH over Telnet for secure remote access due to SSH's use of strong cryptographic algorithms.
- Authentication is required in SSH sessions to verify user identity before granting remote access.
- SSH operates over TCP port 22 by default, while Telnet uses TCP port 23, which is less secure.
- Using SSH aligns with Cisco’s security best practices for device management in production networks.
- Encryption in SSH protects against man-in-the-middle attacks and replay attacks during remote management.
- Telnet’s lack of encryption makes it unsuitable for environments where sensitive configuration data must be protected.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Related practice questions
Related 200-301 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
CCNA subnetting practice questions
Practise IPv4 subnetting, CIDR, masks, host ranges and subnet selection.
CCNA OSPF practice questions
Practise OSPF neighbours, router IDs, metrics, areas and routing-table interpretation.
CCNA VLAN practice questions
Practise VLANs, access ports, trunks, allowed VLANs and switching scenarios.
CCNA STP practice questions
Practise spanning tree, root bridge election, port roles and STP troubleshooting.
CCNA EtherChannel practice questions
Practise LACP, PAgP, port-channel behaviour and bundle requirements.
CCNA ACL practice questions
Practise standard and extended ACLs, permit/deny logic and traffic filtering.
CCNA NAT practice questions
Practise static NAT, dynamic NAT, PAT and inside/outside address translation.
CCNA DHCP practice questions
Practise DHCP scopes, relay, leases and troubleshooting.
CCNA show ip route practice questions
Practise routing-table output, longest-prefix match, AD and route selection.
CCNA show interfaces trunk practice questions
Practise trunk verification and VLAN forwarding across switches.
CCNA wireless security practice questions
Practise WLAN security, authentication and wireless architecture concepts.
CCNA IPv6 practice questions
Practise IPv6 addressing, routes, neighbour discovery and common IPv6 exam traps.
More questions from this exam
Keep practising from the same exam bank, or move into a focused topic page if this question exposed a weak area.
Question 1
A router learns the same prefix from both OSPF and EIGRP. Which route is installed by default?
Question 2
A router shows this output: R1#show ip ospf neighbor Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 10.1.1.2 1 FULL/DR 00:00:34 192.168.12.2 GigabitEthernet0/0 10.1.1.3 1 2WAY/DROTHER 00:00:39 192.168.12.3 GigabitEthernet0/0 Which statement is correct?
Question 3
What is the OSPF metric called?
Question 4
A non-root switch has two uplinks toward the root bridge. One path has a lower total STP cost than the other. What role will the lower-cost uplink have?
Question 5
A router interface applies this ACL inbound: 10 deny tcp any any eq 80 20 permit ip any any A user reports that web browsing to a server by IP address fails, but ping works. Which statement best explains the behavior?
Question 6
A router learns route 198.51.100.0/24 from OSPF with AD 110 and also has a static route to the same prefix configured with AD 150. Which route is installed?
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 200-301 question test?
SSH encrypts all remote management traffic, including usernames, passwords, and commands, preventing eavesdropping on network sessions.
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SSH encrypts the remote management session, while Telnet does not. — SSH is safer because it encrypts the management session. In practical terms, usernames, passwords, and command traffic are protected while crossing the network. Telnet sends the same information in clear text, which makes it much weaker in production environments. This is one of the most fundamental management-security comparisons in networking. The correct answer is the one focused on session encryption.
What should I do if I get this 200-301 question wrong?
Then try more questions from the same exam bank and focus on understanding why the wrong options are tempting.
Discussion
Loading comments…
Sign in to join the discussion.