The answer is 802.1X with RADIUS and WPA3-SAE. 802.1X with RADIUS is common because it provides port-based network access control, requiring users to authenticate individually against a central RADIUS server, which is essential for enterprise environments. WPA3-SAE, or Simultaneous Authentication of Equals, replaces the older WPA2-PSK with a secure password-based protocol that uses a Diffie-Hellman key exchange to resist offline dictionary attacks and ensure forward secrecy. On the ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity CC exam, this question tests your understanding of modern wireless security standards versus legacy methods; a common trap is selecting WPA2-PSK or open authentication, which are not considered secure common methods for user authentication. Remember the memory tip: “Enterprise uses 802.1X, Personal uses SAE” — if you see RADIUS or a password exchange that prevents dictionary attacks, those are your two correct picks.
ISC2 CC Network Security Practice Question
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.
Which TWO of the following are common methods to authenticate users on a wireless network? (Select TWO)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
WPA3-SAE
WPA3-SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) is a common method to authenticate users on a wireless network because it replaces the pre-shared key (PSK) exchange with a secure password-based authentication protocol that is resistant to offline dictionary attacks. It uses a Diffie-Hellman key exchange combined with a shared password to derive a Pairwise Master Key (PMK), ensuring forward secrecy and mutual authentication.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
WEP
Why it's wrong here
WEP is an outdated, insecure protocol that does not provide strong user authentication.
✓
WPA3-SAE
Why this is correct
WPA3-SAE provides secure password-based authentication for personal mode.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
802.1X with RADIUS
Why this is correct
802.1X with RADIUS authenticates individual users against an authentication server.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
WPA2-PSK
Why it's wrong here
WPA2-PSK uses a pre-shared key, which is not user authentication but device authentication.
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MAC address filtering
Why it's wrong here
MAC filtering is a weak access control based on hardware addresses, not user authentication.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
ISC2 often tests the distinction between encryption protocols (like WEP and WPA2-PSK) and actual authentication methods, leading candidates to mistakenly select WPA2-PSK or MAC address filtering as user authentication mechanisms when they are only device-based access controls.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
802.1X with RADIUS provides port-based network access control, where the supplicant (client) authenticates to an authentication server (RADIUS) using EAP methods such as EAP-TLS or PEAP, and the authenticator (access point) enforces access based on the RADIUS response. In WPA3-SAE, the Dragonfly handshake uses a password-authenticated key exchange (PAKE) defined in RFC 7664, which prevents offline dictionary attacks by requiring an attacker to interact with the network for each password guess. A real-world scenario where this matters is in enterprise deployments where 802.1X with RADIUS is used to integrate with Active Directory or LDAP for centralized user management, while WPA3-SAE is ideal for home or small office networks needing strong password-based security without a backend server.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CC question in full detail.
Network Security — This question tests Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: WPA3-SAE — WPA3-SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) is a common method to authenticate users on a wireless network because it replaces the pre-shared key (PSK) exchange with a secure password-based authentication protocol that is resistant to offline dictionary attacks. It uses a Diffie-Hellman key exchange combined with a shared password to derive a Pairwise Master Key (PMK), ensuring forward secrecy and mutual authentication.
What should I do if I get this CC question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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