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ISC2 CC Practice Question: Which THREE of the following are best practices…
Which THREE of the following are best practices for securing a remote access VPN?
⚠ Common exam trap
ISC2 often tests the misconception that pre-shared keys are acceptable for remote access VPNs because they are simple to configure, but the exam expects you to recognize that PSKs are a weak, shared secret that should be replaced with certificate-based or EAP authentication for secure remote access.
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
✓
Enable multi-factor authentication.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an additional layer of security beyond just a password, requiring a second factor such as a one-time code from a token or biometric. For a remote access VPN, this mitigates the risk of credential theft or brute-force attacks against the VPN gateway. Even if an attacker obtains a user's password, they cannot authenticate without the second factor, significantly reducing the likelihood of unauthorized access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Enable multi-factor authentication.
Why this is correct
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) satisfies the "best practices for securing a remote access VPN" constraint by enforcing a second verification factor—such as a time-based one-time password (TOTP) from an authenticator app or a biometric check—beyond the primary username and password. This mitigates credential theft risks inherent in VPN gateways exposed to the internet, as an attacker compromising a password still cannot authenticate without the second factor, which is typically validated against a directory service like Microsoft Entra ID.
- ✓
Keep VPN client software up to date.
Why this is correct
Patches vulnerabilities that could be exploited.
- ✗
Use pre-shared keys for authentication.
Why it's wrong here
Pre-shared keys are less secure than certificate-based authentication.
- ✓
Enforce strong password policies.
Why this is correct
Reduces risk of credential compromise.
- ✗
Implement split tunneling by default.
Why it's wrong here
Exposes the internal network to threats from insecure external connections.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Security Principles
Key term
VPN
A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel over a public network to securely connect remote users or sites to a private network.
Key term
Risk
Risk is the possibility that an event or action will negatively affect an organization's ability to achieve its goals, often measured in terms of likelihood and impact.
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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.