SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
A company is deploying a VPN for remote employees. They require strong encryption and authentication, and the solution must be compatible with native OS clients without additional software. Which VPN protocol is most appropriate?
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
✓
IPsec with IKEv2
IKEv2 with IPsec is widely supported natively on major operating systems, provides strong security, and is suitable for remote access VPNs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
PPTP
Why it's wrong here
PPTP is outdated and insecure.
- ✗
SSL VPN with proprietary client
Why it's wrong here
Proprietary clients may not be native to all OSes.
- ✓
IPsec with IKEv2
Why this is correct
IKEv2/IPsec is natively supported on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
- ✗
L2TP/IPsec with pre-shared keys
Why it's wrong here
L2TP/IPsec is supported but often requires additional configuration and may be less secure.
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.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This SSCP 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 SSCP exam.