- A
EAP-TLS
Why wrong: EAP-TLS is used in enterprise mode, not personal.
- B
TKIP
Why wrong: TKIP is a deprecated encryption protocol.
- C
Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE)
SAE provides forward secrecy and protects against offline dictionary attacks.
- D
Pre-shared key (PSK)
Why wrong: PSK is used in WPA2, not WPA3.
Question 669 of 1,000
CISSP Communication and Network Security Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of communication and network security. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 is deploying a wireless network for a small business and wants to ensure strong security. Which of the following is the best choice for authentication in a WPA3 Personal network?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
✓
Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE)
Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) is the correct choice because WPA3 Personal replaces the vulnerable Pre-Shared Key (PSK) handshake with SAE, which provides a secure key exchange resistant to offline dictionary attacks. SAE uses a Dragonfly handshake based on a zero-knowledge proof, ensuring that even if an attacker captures the handshake, they cannot brute-force the password without being present for each guess.
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.
- ✗
EAP-TLS
Why it's wrong here
EAP-TLS is used in enterprise mode, not personal.
- ✗
TKIP
Why it's wrong here
TKIP is a deprecated encryption protocol.
- ✓
Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE)
Why this is correct
SAE provides forward secrecy and protects against offline dictionary attacks.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Pre-shared key (PSK)
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse WPA2 Personal (PSK) with WPA3 Personal, assuming PSK is still acceptable, but the exam expects you to know that WPA3 Personal mandates SAE as the authentication method, not PSK.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SAE is defined in IEEE 802.11-2016 and uses a finite cyclic group (e.g., elliptic curve P-256 or 3072-bit MODP group) to perform a password-authenticated key exchange based on the Dragonfly protocol (RFC 7664). Each authentication attempt requires an active connection to the AP, as the handshake incorporates the MAC addresses of both parties, making parallel or offline brute-force attacks computationally infeasible. In real-world deployments, SAE also provides forward secrecy, so compromising the long-term password does not decrypt past session traffic.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Communication and Network Security — This question tests Communication and Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) — Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) is the correct choice because WPA3 Personal replaces the vulnerable Pre-Shared Key (PSK) handshake with SAE, which provides a secure key exchange resistant to offline dictionary attacks. SAE uses a Dragonfly handshake based on a zero-knowledge proof, ensuring that even if an attacker captures the handshake, they cannot brute-force the password without being present for each guess.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISSP 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 CISSP exam.
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