The answer is SSL VPN with clientless web access and port forwarding. This technology is the correct choice because it provides secure remote access without installing client software, using the browser for HTTPS-based web applications and port forwarding to tunnel legacy TCP-based client-server apps through the SSL VPN. On the CISSP exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how SSL VPNs can bridge the gap between modern web apps and older client-server systems while strictly adhering to a zero-install requirement—a common trap is assuming a full VPN client is always necessary for non-web traffic. Remember the memory tip: “Browser for web, port forward for the rest” to quickly recall that clientless access handles web apps via HTTPS, while port forwarding handles legacy apps without a client.
CISSP Communication and Network Security Practice Question
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 company needs to provide secure remote access to employees using company-issued laptops. The solution must support both web applications and legacy client-server apps without installing client software on the laptops. Which VPN technology is best?
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 the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
SSL VPN with clientless web access and port forwarding
SSLVPN with clientless web access and port forwarding is the best choice because it meets the requirement of supporting both web applications and legacy client-server apps without installing client software. Clientless web access provides secure HTTPS-based access to internal web applications via a browser, while port forwarding allows legacy TCP-based client-server applications to be tunneled through the SSL VPN without requiring a full VPN client on the laptop. This approach leverages the existing browser and OS capabilities, eliminating the need for additional software installation.
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.
✓
SSL VPN with clientless web access and port forwarding
Why this is correct
SSLVPN offers clientless access for web apps and port forwarding for legacy apps, meeting the requirement.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
L2TP over IPsec
Why it's wrong here
L2TP over IPsec requires a VPN client on the laptop, not clientless.
✗
MPLS Layer 3 VPN
Why it's wrong here
MPLS is a WAN technology between sites, not for remote access.
✗
IPsec tunnel mode
Why it's wrong here
IPsec tunnel mode requires a VPN client, not clientless.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume IPsec (Option D) is the only 'secure' VPN option and overlook that SSL VPNs can provide equivalent security with clientless access, or they confuse MPLS (Option C) as a remote access solution when it is actually a WAN technology for site-to-site connectivity.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
SSL VPNs typically use TLS 1.2/1.3 to encrypt traffic and can operate in two modes: clientless (via a web portal using reverse proxy) and thin-client (using a lightweight Java/ActiveX component for port forwarding). Port forwarding in SSL VPNs works by mapping a local port on the client to a remote service, allowing legacy apps (e.g., RDP, SSH, custom TCP) to function without a full VPN tunnel. Real-world implementations like Cisco AnyConnect or OpenVPN Access Server often combine both modes, but the clientless approach strictly uses the browser and OS networking stack, avoiding any install.
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 security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this CISSP question in full detail.
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: SSL VPN with clientless web access and port forwarding — SSL VPN with clientless web access and port forwarding is the best choice because it meets the requirement of supporting both web applications and legacy client-server apps without installing client software. Clientless web access provides secure HTTPS-based access to internal web applications via a browser, while port forwarding allows legacy TCP-based client-server applications to be tunneled through the SSL VPN without requiring a full VPN client on the laptop. This approach leverages the existing browser and OS capabilities, eliminating the need for additional software installation.
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.
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