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.
Which TWO of the following are characteristics of a VPN that uses TLS?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Provides confidentiality
TLS-based VPNs, such as OpenVPN in TLS mode, provide confidentiality through encryption of the tunneled traffic using symmetric ciphers (e.g., AES) negotiated during the TLS handshake. They also provide integrity via message authentication codes (e.g., HMAC) applied to each record, ensuring data has not been altered in transit. These are fundamental security services of the TLS protocol itself.
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.
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse TLS VPNs with IPsec VPNs, incorrectly associating UDP port 500 or network layer operation with TLS, or assuming a digital certificate is mandatory for all TLS VPN deployments.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
TLS VPNs encapsulate application-layer traffic within TLS records, which are themselves carried over TCP (or optionally DTLS over UDP for performance). The TLS handshake negotiates cipher suites, exchanges certificates (or PSKs), and derives session keys; the record layer then provides authenticated encryption (e.g., AES-GCM) that bundles confidentiality and integrity. In practice, a TLS VPN like OpenVPN can run over TCP or UDP, but when using TLS mode, it relies on the TLS record layer for security, not on IPsec's ESP or AH.
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 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: Provides confidentiality — TLS-based VPNs, such as OpenVPN in TLS mode, provide confidentiality through encryption of the tunneled traffic using symmetric ciphers (e.g., AES) negotiated during the TLS handshake. They also provide integrity via message authentication codes (e.g., HMAC) applied to each record, ensuring data has not been altered in transit. These are fundamental security services of the TLS protocol itself.
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.
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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