200-201 Security Concepts Practice Question
A security analyst is selecting a symmetric encryption algorithm for encrypting data at rest. Which of the following is a suitable symmetric algorithm?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
AES
AES is a widely used symmetric encryption algorithm.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
AES
Why this is correct
AES is a symmetric block cipher.
- ✗
ECC
Why it's wrong here
ECC is asymmetric (elliptic curve cryptography).
- ✗
RSA
Why it's wrong here
RSA is asymmetric, not symmetric.
- ✗
SHA-256
Why it's wrong here
SHA-256 is a hashing algorithm, not encryption.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 200-201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Cisco certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 200-201 exam.