The answer is SSH for secure remote administration and TLS for web login traffic. Both are appropriate uses for encryption in transit because they protect data as it moves across a network, preventing eavesdropping and tampering. SSH encrypts the entire session for remote command-line access, while TLS encrypts the communication between a client and server, such as when a user submits a password on a login page. On the Security+ SY-701 exam, this concept tests your understanding of encryption at the transport layer versus encryption at rest. A common trap is confusing encryption in transit with disk encryption or hashing—remember that encryption in transit always involves data moving over a network. A useful memory tip: think “moving data, moving encryption”—if the data is traveling between two points, it needs TLS or SSH, not a static file-level cipher.
SY0-701 General Security Concepts Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of general security concepts. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which two uses are appropriate for encryption in transit? Select two.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Protecting web login traffic with TLS
TLS (Transport Layer Security) encrypts web login traffic between a client and server, protecting credentials and session data from eavesdropping or tampering during transmission. This is a classic use of encryption in transit, as TLS operates at the transport layer to secure data moving across a network.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Protecting web login traffic with TLS
Why this is correct
TLS encrypts data while it travels between the browser and the server.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
Secure remote administration with SSH
Why this is correct
SSH encrypts administrative sessions so commands and credentials stay protected in transit.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Storing a password as a hash
Why it's wrong here
Hashing protects stored password verification data, not network traffic in transit.
✗
Comparing file integrity with a checksum
Why it's wrong here
A checksum checks integrity, but it does not encrypt information while moving.
✗
Sharing a symmetric key by email
Why it's wrong here
Emailing a key is not a secure transit method and can expose the secret.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse encryption in transit with data protection techniques used at rest (like hashing or checksums) or with key management practices, rather than focusing on protocols that actively encrypt data while it moves across a network.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
TLS uses a handshake process involving asymmetric cryptography (e.g., RSA or ECDHE) to establish a shared session key, then switches to symmetric encryption (e.g., AES-GCM) for bulk data protection. SSH similarly uses a key exchange (e.g., Diffie-Hellman) to negotiate a session key and then encrypts the entire remote administration session, including authentication credentials and commands, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SY0-701 question in full detail.
General Security Concepts — This question tests General Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Protecting web login traffic with TLS — TLS (Transport Layer Security) encrypts web login traffic between a client and server, protecting credentials and session data from eavesdropping or tampering during transmission. This is a classic use of encryption in transit, as TLS operates at the transport layer to secure data moving across a network.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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