Quick Answer
The correct choice is WPA2-PSK with AES, as it delivers strong encryption through AES-CCMP and authenticates users via a pre-shared key, perfectly suiting a small office environment without the need for a RADIUS server. This protocol ensures robust data confidentiality and integrity, making it far superior to older options like WEP or TKIP, which are vulnerable to attacks. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this scenario tests your understanding of wireless security standards and their appropriate deployment contexts; a common trap is confusing WPA2-PSK with WPA2-Enterprise, which requires 802.1X authentication. Remember that for a small office with limited infrastructure, PSK is the practical choice, and AES must be specified over TKIP to meet modern security requirements. A helpful memory tip: “PSK for small, AES for strong” — pairing pre-shared keys with Advanced Encryption Standard ensures both simplicity and robust protection.
This CC practice question tests your understanding of network security. 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.
A network administrator is configuring a wireless network for a small office. Security requirements include strong encryption and pre-shared key authentication. Which protocol should be used?
WPA2-PSK with AES
Provides strong encryption with PSK.
WPA3-Enterprise with 802.1X
Why wrong: Requires RADIUS server, not suitable for small office with PSK requirement.
Open with MAC address filtering
Why wrong: Open is insecure despite MAC filtering.
WEP with TKIP
Why wrong: WEP is deprecated and insecure.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
WPA2-PSK with AES
WPA2-PSK with AES is the correct choice because it provides strong encryption (AES-CCMP) and uses a pre-shared key for authentication, meeting the requirements for a small office without a RADIUS server. WPA2-PSK is widely supported and offers robust security against common attacks when a strong passphrase is used.
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.
WPA2-PSK with AES
Why this is correct
Provides strong encryption with PSK.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
WPA3-Enterprise with 802.1X
Why it's wrong here
Requires RADIUS server, not suitable for small office with PSK requirement.
Open with MAC address filtering
Why it's wrong here
Open is insecure despite MAC filtering.
WEP with TKIP
Why it's wrong here
WEP is deprecated and insecure.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the distinction between PSK and Enterprise modes, where candidates mistakenly choose WPA3-Enterprise because it is newer, ignoring the explicit requirement for pre-shared key authentication.
Detailed technical explanation
WPA2-PSK uses the 4-way handshake to derive a pairwise transient key (PTK) from the pre-shared key and nonces, with AES-CCMP providing authenticated encryption. In a small office, the PSK is shared among all devices, so it is critical to use a complex passphrase to resist offline dictionary attacks; WPA3-Personal (SAE) would be even stronger but may not be supported by older clients.
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.
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FAQ
Network Security — This question tests Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: WPA2-PSK with AES — WPA2-PSK with AES is the correct choice because it provides strong encryption (AES-CCMP) and uses a pre-shared key for authentication, meeting the requirements for a small office without a RADIUS server. WPA2-PSK is widely supported and offers robust security against common attacks when a strong passphrase is used.
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.
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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.
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