CEH Wireless, IoT and Cloud Security Practice Question
A company deploys IoT sensors in a remote facility with limited bandwidth. The sensors send small data packets every few seconds. Which wireless technology is most appropriate for this application?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse 'low power' and 'short range' technologies like Bluetooth 5 with the specific requirements of remote, long-range IoT, failing to recognize that LoRaWAN is the only option explicitly designed for low-power wide-area networks (LPWAN) with kilometer-scale range.
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
✓
LoRaWAN
LoRaWAN is designed for low-power, long-range communication with small data payloads, making it ideal for IoT sensors in remote facilities with limited bandwidth. It operates in sub-GHz ISM bands (e.g., 868 MHz or 915 MHz) and supports data rates from 0.3 kbps to 50 kbps, perfectly matching the requirement of sending small packets every few seconds over kilometers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
4G LTE
Why it's wrong here
4G LTE, while offering wide area coverage and high bandwidth, is fundamentally unsuitable for battery-powered IoT sensors in a remote facility due to its significantly higher power consumption. The continuous cellular connection and data transmission rates required by 4G LTE would rapidly deplete sensor batteries, making long-term, low-maintenance operation impractical in a power-limited environment. This technology is designed for higher data throughput, not extreme power efficiency over extended periods.
- ✗
Wi-Fi 6
Why it's wrong here
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is designed for high-throughput, short-to-medium range local area networks, making it a poor choice for remote IoT sensors with limited power. Its power consumption, even with advanced power-saving features, remains too high for sensors expected to operate for years on small batteries. Furthermore, its limited range, typically tens to hundreds of meters, would necessitate extensive and costly infrastructure deployment across a remote facility, contradicting the 'limited power' and 'remote' constraints.
- ✗
Bluetooth 5
Why it's wrong here
Bluetooth 5, particularly Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), excels in short-range, low-power personal area network applications, but it is not suitable for wide-area remote sensor deployments. Its maximum effective range, even with enhancements, is generally limited to a few hundred meters line-of-sight, which would require an impractical number of gateways to cover a potentially large remote facility. This technology is optimized for local device-to-device communication or hub connectivity, not expansive remote monitoring.
- ✓
LoRaWAN
Why this is correct
LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is the optimal choice for IoT sensors in a remote facility with limited power because it is specifically engineered for low-power, wide-area (LPWAN) applications. It provides exceptional long-range communication capabilities, often spanning several kilometers in rural settings, combined with extremely low power consumption. This allows sensors to operate efficiently for many years on small batteries, perfectly aligning with the requirements for remote, power-constrained IoT deployments.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CEH practice question is part of Courseiva's free EC-Council 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 CEH exam.