CAS-004 Security Engineering Practice Question
A security administrator is configuring a firewall to allow only encrypted remote administration traffic to a server. The administrator wants to use a protocol that provides confidentiality and integrity for the management session. Which of the following should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is thinking that changing the port number (e.g., HTTP on 8080) provides security; it does not add encryption.
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
SSH is designed for secure remote administration, providing encryption and integrity. Telnet and HTTP are plaintext, and SNMPv3 without privacy lacks encryption. Only SSH meets the requirement for encrypted management traffic.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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HTTP over port 8080
Why it's wrong here
HTTP is an unencrypted protocol. Using port 8080 does not add encryption; it is simply an alternate port. Management traffic sent over HTTP would be in plaintext. This does not provide confidentiality or integrity, so it is not suitable for secure remote administration.
- ✓
SSH
Why this is correct
SSH provides strong encryption, integrity, and authentication for remote administration. It protects the session against eavesdropping and tampering. It is the standard protocol for secure command-line management. Using SSH meets the requirement for confidentiality and integrity of the management session.
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Telnet
Why it's wrong here
Telnet transmits all data, including credentials, in plaintext. It provides no confidentiality or integrity, making it unsuitable for secure remote administration. An attacker could easily sniff the session and capture sensitive information. Therefore, Telnet does not meet the requirement for encrypted management traffic.
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SNMPv3 without privacy
Why it's wrong here
SNMPv3 without privacy (no encryption) provides authentication and integrity but not confidentiality. The management traffic would be sent in plaintext, violating the requirement for encrypted administration. While SNMPv3 can be configured with privacy (encryption), the option specifies without privacy, so it fails.
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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 CAS-005 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 CAS-005 exam.