Quick Answer
The answer is fewer round trips during the handshake. TLS 1.3 achieves this efficiency by compressing the cryptographic negotiation into a single round trip (1-RTT) for a full handshake, compared to TLS 1.2’s two round trips (2-RTT), and it supports 0-RTT for resumed sessions. This is accomplished by sending the ClientHello and ServerHello together with key exchange parameters, eliminating the separate round trip previously needed for the Certificate exchange. On the CISSP exam, this concept tests your understanding of how protocol improvements directly impact network security and performance; a common trap is confusing the reduced round trips with stronger encryption algorithms, which are a separate benefit. Remember the memory tip: “TLS 1.3 cuts the handshake in half—one trip for full, zero for resume.”
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of communication and 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.
A security analyst is evaluating the impact of upgrading web servers from TLS 1.2 to TLS 1.3. Which advantage does TLS 1.3 offer in terms of handshake efficiency?
It supports the same cipher suites as TLS 1.2
Why wrong: TLS 1.3 removes older, insecure cipher suites.
Fewer round trips during handshake
TLS 1.3 handshake takes 1 RTT, down from 2 in TLS 1.2.
More round trips during handshake
Why wrong: TLS 1.3 actually reduces round trips.
It eliminates the need for asymmetric encryption
Why wrong: TLS 1.3 still uses asymmetric encryption for key exchange.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Fewer round trips during handshake
TLS 1.3 reduces the handshake from two round trips (2-RTT) in TLS 1.2 to one round trip (1-RTT) for a full handshake, and offers 0-RTT for resumed sessions. This is achieved by combining the ClientHello and ServerHello with key exchange parameters, eliminating the separate round trip for the ServerHello and Certificate exchange. The result is lower latency and faster connection establishment, which is critical for performance-sensitive applications.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
It supports the same cipher suites as TLS 1.2
Why it's wrong here
TLS 1.3 removes older, insecure cipher suites.
Fewer round trips during handshake
Why this is correct
TLS 1.3 handshake takes 1 RTT, down from 2 in TLS 1.2.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
More round trips during handshake
Why it's wrong here
TLS 1.3 actually reduces round trips.
It eliminates the need for asymmetric encryption
Why it's wrong here
TLS 1.3 still uses asymmetric encryption for key exchange.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may confuse 'fewer round trips' with 'eliminating asymmetric encryption,' but TLS 1.3 still relies on asymmetric key exchange (e.g., ECDHE) for forward secrecy, just in a more streamlined handshake.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, TLS 1.3 achieves its efficiency by sending the client's key share (e.g., an ephemeral Diffie-Hellman public key) in the ClientHello, allowing the server to derive the shared secret immediately and respond with its own key share and finished messages in a single round trip. For 0-RTT, the client can send application data in the first flight using a pre-shared key (PSK) from a previous session, but this introduces risks of replay attacks that must be mitigated with anti-replay mechanisms. In real-world scenarios, this reduction in round trips significantly improves page load times for HTTPS connections, especially on high-latency networks like mobile or satellite links.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Communication and Network Security — This question tests Communication and Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Fewer round trips during handshake — TLS 1.3 reduces the handshake from two round trips (2-RTT) in TLS 1.2 to one round trip (1-RTT) for a full handshake, and offers 0-RTT for resumed sessions. This is achieved by combining the ClientHello and ServerHello with key exchange parameters, eliminating the separate round trip for the ServerHello and Certificate exchange. The result is lower latency and faster connection establishment, which is critical for performance-sensitive applications.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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