easyMultiple Choice
ISC2 CC Practice Question: Allow remote employees to securely access…
A company wants to allow remote employees to securely access internal resources over the internet. Which technology is most appropriate?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the misconception that NAT or a DMZ alone can secure remote access, but candidates must recognize that only VPN provides the required encryption and tunneling for secure internet-based connectivity.
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
✓
VPN
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates an encrypted tunnel over the internet, typically using protocols like IPsec or TLS, to securely connect remote users to internal resources. This ensures confidentiality, integrity, and authentication of data in transit, making it the standard solution for remote access security.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
NAT
Why it's wrong here
NAT translates private addresses to public ones for outbound traffic; it cannot authenticate remote users or grant them inbound access to internal resources. It is tempting because it hides internal addressing, and it would be correct for letting internal hosts reach the internet without exposing their private IP addresses.
- ✗
VLAN
Why it's wrong here
A VLAN segments Layer 2 broadcast domains within a local network; it provides no encrypted tunnel or user authentication across the public internet. It is tempting because it isolates traffic, and it would be correct for separating departments or guest devices on the same physical LAN infrastructure.
- ✗
DMZ
Why it's wrong here
A DMZ is a screened subnet hosting externally reachable services; it does not authenticate remote employees or connect them to internal resources. It is tempting because it sits at the network edge, and it would be correct for publishing public-facing servers such as web or mail gateways.
- ✓
VPN
Why this is correct
A VPN builds an encrypted tunnel between the remote employee's device and the corporate network, so internal resources are reachable as if on-site. This satisfies the requirement for secure internet-based access, unlike a public-facing endpoint or unencrypted connection.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Secure Network Architecture and Design
Key term
Standard
A standard is an agreed-upon set of rules, guidelines, or specifications that ensure consistency, compatibility, and quality across IT products, services, and processes.
Key term
Transport Layer Security
Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol that provides secure, encrypted communication between two devices over a network, such as between a web browser and a server.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 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 CC exam.