This CC practice question tests your understanding of network security. Compare every option against the stated constraints before choosing — the best answer satisfies all requirements, not just the most obvious one. 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.
A company wants to allow remote employees to securely access internal resources over the internet. Which technology is most appropriate?
NAT
Why wrong: NAT hides internal IPs but does not provide encryption.
VLAN
Why wrong: VLAN segments internal network, not remote access.
DMZ
Why wrong: DMZ hosts public services.
VPN
VPN provides secure remote connectivity.
Answer choices
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.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Common exam traps
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.
Detailed technical explanation
VPNs operate at Layer 3 (IPsec) or Layer 4 (TLS/SSL) of the OSI model, encapsulating packets with encryption and authentication headers. In a typical remote-access VPN, the client uses IKEv2 or OpenSSL to negotiate a secure session with a VPN concentrator or firewall, which then decrypts traffic and forwards it to internal resources. A subtle behavior is that split tunneling can be configured to route only corporate traffic through the VPN, while internet-bound traffic uses the local gateway, reducing bandwidth load but potentially exposing the corporate network to lateral attacks if the client is compromised.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Network Security — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
Network Security practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
All CC questions
500 questions across all exam domains
ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
CC practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Practise CC questions linked to Access Controls Concepts.
Practise CC questions linked to Business Continuity, DR & Incident Response.
Practise CC questions linked to Security Principles.
Practise CC questions linked to Network Security.
Practise CC questions linked to Security Operations.
Practise CC questions linked to CC fundamentals.
Practise CC questions linked to CC scenario.
Practise CC questions linked to CC troubleshooting.
Practice this exam
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Network Security — This question tests Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: 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.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.