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200-201 Practice Question: Which TWO of the following are common network…
Which TWO of the following are common network security protocols? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
Cisco often tests the distinction between protocols that are inherently secure (like IPsec and SSL/TLS) versus those that are not (like FTP, HTTP, and SNMPv1/v2c), leading candidates to mistakenly select common but insecure protocols as security protocols.
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
✓
IPsec
IPsec is a suite of protocols used to secure IP communications by authenticating and encrypting each IP packet in a data stream. It operates at the network layer (Layer 3) and is commonly used in VPNs to provide confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. This makes it a fundamental network security protocol.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
IPsec
Why this is correct
IPsec provides secure IP communications.
- ✗
FTP
Why it's wrong here
FTP is for file transfer, not security.
- ✓
SSL
Why this is correct
SSL (now TLS) provides encryption for network communications.
- ✗
HTTP
Why it's wrong here
HTTP is a web protocol without inherent security.
- ✗
SNMP
Why it's wrong here
SNMP is for network management, not security.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
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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.