ISC Infrastructure And System Security Practice Question
A security engineer is designing a zero-trust architecture for a hybrid environment. They need to ensure that local service-to-service communication is encrypted without modifying application code. Which tool should be used?
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
✓
Configure Istio with an mTLS PeerAuthentication policy.
A service mesh, such as Istio, provides mutual TLS (mTLS) for all service-to-service communication transparently through sidecar proxies, requiring no application changes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Implement IPsec tunnels between all application servers.
Why it's wrong here
IPsec is heavy, difficult to manage at the application layer, and does not provide service identity.
- ✗
Hardcode SSL libraries into each application binary.
Why it's wrong here
This is not scalable and violates the principle of separation of concerns.
- ✗
Deploy a global VPN concentrator for all intra-datacenter traffic.
Why it's wrong here
VPNs do not provide granular service-level identity or encryption for microservices.
- ✓
Configure Istio with an mTLS PeerAuthentication policy.
Why this is correct
This enforces mTLS for all services within the mesh automatically.
About these practice questions
One of 208 original ISC practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed August 2026 · checked against the official (ISC)² exam blueprint
This ISC practice question is part of Courseiva's free (ISC)² 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 ISC exam.