ISC2 CC Network Security Practice Question
Which port number is associated with HTTPS, and what protocol encrypts the communication?
⚠ Common exam trap
CC often tests the pairing of port number and protocol — candidates sometimes confuse 8080 with 443 or assume SSH encrypts HTTPS, but the correct mapping is 443 + SSL/TLS.
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
✓
Port 443, SSL/TLS
HTTPS uses TCP port 443 by default, and the communication is encrypted using SSL/TLS (with TLS 1.2/1.3 being the modern versions). Port 443 is the IANA-assigned port for HTTP over TLS, and SSL/TLS provides the encryption, integrity, and server authentication for the session.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Port 80, SSL/TLS
Why it's wrong here
Port 80 carries cleartext HTTP; HTTPS listens on 443. SSL/TLS is the correct encryption protocol, so the pairing fails on the port. Port 80 with SSL/TLS would apply if the question asked about redirecting HTTP or non-standard TLS web services.
- ✗
Port 8080, SSL/TLS
Why it's wrong here
8080 is an alternative HTTP port for proxies and application servers, not the registered HTTPS port. SSL/TLS is correct, but the port is wrong. Port 8080 with SSL/TLS would fit a scenario using a non-standard web listener behind a reverse proxy.
- ✓
Port 443, SSL/TLS
Why this is correct
HTTPS is assigned TCP port 443 by IANA, and the transport encryption is provided by SSL/TLS, with TLS being the modern successor to SSL. This pairing satisfies both the port and encryption protocol elements of the question.
- ✗
Port 443, SSH
Why it's wrong here
SSH encrypts terminal sessions on port 22, not web traffic; HTTPS uses TLS on 443. The port number is right, which tempts candidates who skim. SSH would be the answer if the question asked how administrators securely access network devices remotely.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Authentication and Authorization Methods
Key term
Authentication
Authentication is the process of verifying that someone or something is who or what it claims to be before granting access to a system or resource.
Key term
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, or HTTPS, is the secure version of HTTP that encrypts data between a web browser and a website using SSL/TLS to protect sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers.
About these practice questions
This CC question is part of Courseiva's 989-question bank — original exam-style content with full explanations and wrong-answer analysis, never real exam questions or exam dumps. 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 September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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.