hardMultiple Choice
220-1201 Practice Question: A technician is migrating a database from an…
A technician is migrating a database from an on-premises server to a cloud platform. The database contains sensitive customer information. The company requires that data be encrypted both at rest and in transit. Which combination of technologies should the technician implement?
⚠ Common exam trap
220-1201 often tests whether candidates confuse transit vs. at-rest controls and whether they mistakenly treat hashing or VPNs as substitutes for encryption at rest.
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
✓
TLS for in transit and AES-256 for at rest
TLS (Transport Layer Security) is the standard protocol for encrypting data in transit over networks, and AES-256 is a symmetric block cipher widely used for encryption at rest in databases and storage. Combining TLS for transit and AES-256 for storage satisfies both requirements with industry-standard, FIPS-approved algorithms. This is the canonical pairing for regulatory frameworks like PCI DSS and HIPAA.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
TLS for in transit and AES-256 for at rest
Why this is correct
Transport Layer Security (TLS) is the industry standard protocol for encrypting data as it traverses a network, ensuring confidentiality and integrity during the database migration. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) with a 256-bit key (AES-256) is a robust symmetric encryption algorithm widely used for encrypting data stored on disks or in databases. This combination correctly addresses both the security of data during transmission and its protection while stored, making it the most appropriate solution.
- ✗
SSL for at rest and IPsec for in transit
Why it's wrong here
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is an older, deprecated protocol primarily designed for encrypting data in transit over a network, not for data at rest. Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) also operates at the network layer to secure data during transmission. Therefore, this option incorrectly assigns SSL to at-rest encryption, leaving the stored database data vulnerable and unencrypted, while providing two in-transit encryption methods.
- ✗
VPN for in transit and hashing for at rest
Why it's wrong here
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) establishes a secure, encrypted tunnel for all network traffic between two points, effectively securing data in transit. However, hashing is a one-way cryptographic function used for data integrity verification or password storage, not for reversible encryption of data that needs to be retrieved and used. Applying hashing to a database at rest would render the data permanently unreadable and unusable, failing to meet the requirement for data protection.
- ✗
SSH tunneling for at rest and TLS for in transit
Why it's wrong here
Secure Shell (SSH) tunneling creates an encrypted channel for network services over an insecure network, making it an in-transit encryption method, not suitable for data at rest. While TLS is correctly identified for in-transit encryption, proposing SSH tunneling for at-rest protection is a fundamental misunderstanding of its function. This combination would redundantly encrypt data in transit while leaving the critical database data unencrypted when stored.
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 |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Laptop Storage: HDD, SSD, NVMe, eMMC
Key term
PCI
PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) is a standard bus interface used in computers to connect hardware devices like graphics cards, network adapters, and storage controllers to the motherboard.
Key term
Peripheral Component Interconnect
Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) is a standard slot and bus system inside a computer that allows you to connect expansion cards like network cards, sound cards, and graphics cards to the motherboard.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This 220-1201 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA 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 220-1201 exam.