200-201 Security Monitoring Practice Question
Which protocol and port combination is commonly used for secure remote administration of network devices?
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between Telnet and SSH, where candidates mistakenly choose Telnet because it is historically common for device management, forgetting that the question explicitly asks for 'secure' remote administration.
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
✓
SSH on port 22
SSH (Secure Shell) on port 22 is the correct answer because it provides encrypted, authenticated remote administration of network devices, replacing insecure protocols like Telnet. SSH uses public-key cryptography to establish a secure channel over an unsecured network, ensuring confidentiality and integrity of management traffic. This is the standard for secure CLI-based device management in enterprise environments.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Telnet on port 23
Why it's wrong here
Telnet on port 23 transmits credentials and session data in cleartext, so it cannot satisfy a requirement for secure remote administration. It is tempting because Telnet genuinely provides remote command-line access to network devices, and would be the right choice only where traffic confidentiality is irrelevant, such as an isolated lab segment.
- ✓
SSH on port 22
Why this is correct
SSH encrypts the entire session, including credentials and commands, unlike Telnet on port 23, which transmits everything in cleartext. Port 22 is SSH's registered port, so it satisfies the requirement for secure remote administration of network devices.
- ✗
RDP on port 3389
Why it's wrong here
RDP on 3389 provides graphical desktop access to Windows hosts, not command-line administration of network devices such as routers and switches, which typically expose SSH on port 22. It is tempting because RDP genuinely secures remote Windows server management, making it the right choice when administering Windows graphical sessions rather than network infrastructure.
- ✗
HTTP on port 80
Why it's wrong here
HTTP on port 80 is cleartext and unauthenticated, exposing credentials and commands to interception, so it cannot secure device administration. It is intended for serving web content, where confidentiality of the session is not required.
Quick reference
Asymmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Exchange | Signatures | Equivalent Security Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSA-3072 | Yes | Yes | 128-bit | Widely deployed; slow for bulk data |
| ECDSA P-256 | No | Yes | 128-bit | Fast signatures; standard TLS certs |
| ECDH / ECDHE | Yes | No | 128-bit | Perfect forward secrecy in TLS 1.3 |
| DH / DHE | Yes | No | 128-bit (3072-bit key) | Replaced by ECDHE in modern TLS |
| Ed25519 | No | Yes | ~128-bit | SSH keys, modern PKI |
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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.