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 needs to provide secure remote access to internal resources for employees working from home. The solution must encrypt all traffic and authenticate users before granting access. Which protocol should be used?
SSH
Why wrong: SSH is for terminal access, not general remote network access.
IPsec
Why wrong: IPsec is more commonly used for site-to-site VPNs, not typically for remote user access.
SSL/TLS VPN
SSL/TLS VPN provides encrypted remote access with user authentication, suitable for this requirement.
SNMPv3
Why wrong: SNMPv3 is for network management, not remote access.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SSL/TLS VPN
C is correct because SSL/TLS VPNs (e.g., Cisco AnyConnect) provide encrypted tunnels over HTTPS (port 443) and support user authentication via certificates, RADIUS, or LDAP. This allows secure remote access to internal resources without requiring a persistent IPsec tunnel, making it ideal for home workers with dynamic IPs.
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 distinction between site-to-site IPsec (which is network-layer and device-oriented) and remote-access SSL/TLS VPNs (which are user-oriented and firewall-friendly), leading candidates to pick IPsec for any 'secure remote access' scenario.
Detailed technical explanation
SSL/TLS VPNs operate at the transport layer (Layer 4) and can be clientless (via a web portal) or client-based (e.g., AnyConnect). They use TLS handshakes to negotiate encryption (e.g., AES-256-GCM) and authenticate users via certificates or SAML, often integrating with Cisco ISE for posture assessment. A real-world scenario: a user behind a restrictive firewall can still connect because SSL/TLS VPNs use port 443, which is typically allowed outbound.
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
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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: SSL/TLS VPN — C is correct because SSL/TLS VPNs (e.g., Cisco AnyConnect) provide encrypted tunnels over HTTPS (port 443) and support user authentication via certificates, RADIUS, or LDAP. This allows secure remote access to internal resources without requiring a persistent IPsec tunnel, making it ideal for home workers with dynamic IPs.
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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