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SSCP Practice Question: A network administrator is configuring a VPN…
A network administrator is configuring a VPN using IPsec. Which two protocols are used within IPsec to ensure data integrity and confidentiality? (Choose two.)
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse IKE as a protocol that provides data integrity or confidentiality, when in fact it only handles key exchange and SA negotiation, not the actual data protection.
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
✓
ESP (Encapsulating Security Payload)
C is correct because ESP (Encapsulating Security Payload) provides both data confidentiality (via encryption) and data integrity (via authentication), making it the primary IPsec protocol for securing payloads. E is correct because AH (Authentication Header) ensures data integrity and origin authentication but does not provide confidentiality, as it does not encrypt the payload. Together, ESP and AH are the two core IPsec protocols that handle integrity and confidentiality, though ESP alone is typically used in modern deployments.
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 (Secure Sockets Layer)
Why it's wrong here
SSL is used for secure web traffic and is not part of the IPsec protocol suite.
- ✗
L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol)
Why it's wrong here
L2TP is a tunneling protocol often used with IPsec for VPNs but does not itself provide security.
- ✓
ESP (Encapsulating Security Payload)
Why this is correct
ESP provides both confidentiality and integrity, making it essential for data security in IPsec.
- ✗
IKE (Internet Key Exchange)
Why it's wrong here
IKE is used to negotiate and manage security associations, not to directly provide integrity or confidentiality.
- ✓
AH (Authentication Header)
Why this is correct
AH provides integrity and authentication but not confidentiality; however, it is a core IPsec protocol.
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.
Go deeper
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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.