This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of network and communications 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 wants to secure wireless communication for guests. Which protocol provides the strongest encryption for a wireless network?
WEP with 128-bit key
Why wrong: WEP is broken and should not be used.
WPA2-PSK with TKIP
Why wrong: TKIP is deprecated and vulnerable.
WPA2-PSK with AES
Why wrong: WPA2-PSK with AES is secure but not as strong as WPA3.
WPA3-SAE
WPA3-SAE offers the strongest encryption and authentication.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
WPA3-SAE
WPA3-SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) provides the strongest encryption for wireless networks, using 128-bit AES in CCMP mode for encryption and replacing the Pre-Shared Key (PSK) exchange with a more secure handshake that resists offline dictionary attacks. This makes it the most secure option among the choices, especially for guest networks where authentication security is critical.
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.
WEP with 128-bit key
Why it's wrong here
WEP is broken and should not be used.
WPA2-PSK with TKIP
Why it's wrong here
TKIP is deprecated and vulnerable.
WPA2-PSK with AES
WPA3-SAE
Why this is correct
WPA3-SAE offers the strongest encryption and authentication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often assume WPA2-PSK with AES is the strongest because it uses AES encryption, but they overlook the vulnerability of the PSK authentication method to offline dictionary attacks, which WPA3-SAE specifically addresses with SAE.
Detailed technical explanation
WPA3-SAE uses a Dragonfly handshake (based on Diffie-Hellman key exchange) to provide forward secrecy, meaning that even if the passphrase is later compromised, past session keys remain secure. In real-world deployments, this is critical for guest networks where users may have weak passwords, as WPA3-SAE prevents attackers from capturing the handshake and cracking it offline. The protocol also mandates 128-bit AES-CCMP encryption, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity at the same level as WPA2 but with a more robust authentication mechanism.
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
Network and Communications Security — This question tests Network and Communications Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: WPA3-SAE — WPA3-SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) provides the strongest encryption for wireless networks, using 128-bit AES in CCMP mode for encryption and replacing the Pre-Shared Key (PSK) exchange with a more secure handshake that resists offline dictionary attacks. This makes it the most secure option among the choices, especially for guest networks where authentication security is critical.
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 25, 2026
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.
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