easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
CCSP IPsec Practice Question
A cloud administrator needs to ensure that all data transferred between an on-premises data center and a cloud VPC is encrypted in transit. Which solution should be used?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often assume a dedicated private connection inherently encrypts traffic because it is a private connection, but it does not; encryption must be explicitly implemented, and the VPN is the direct solution for encryption in transit.
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
✓
A site-to-site VPN connection
A site-to-site VPN connection creates an encrypted tunnel between an on-premises data center and a cloud VPC using IPsec (IKEv1/IKEv2) to protect all data in transit. This directly meets the requirement for encryption, as traffic traverses the public internet or a dedicated private connection with encryption enabled.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
A cloud transit hub
Why it's wrong here
A cloud transit gateway provides connectivity between networks but does not inherently encrypt traffic.
- ✗
A cloud DNS resolver
Why it's wrong here
A cloud DNS resolver service is used for DNS resolution, not for encrypting network traffic.
- ✓
A site-to-site VPN connection
Why this is correct
An IPsec VPN tunnel creates an encrypted connection between the on-premises network and the cloud virtual network, ensuring data in transit is encrypted.
- ✗
A dedicated private connection
Why it's wrong here
A dedicated private connection provides a private, low-latency link but does not encrypt traffic by default; additional encryption (e.g., VPN) is needed.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CCSP 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 CCSP exam.