SSCP Cryptography Practice Question
A security analyst is evaluating the cryptographic settings for a new application that requires both confidentiality and integrity for data in transit. The analyst needs to choose a symmetric cipher that provides authenticated encryption. Which of the following is the best choice?
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
✓
AES in GCM mode
AES in GCM mode provides both encryption and authentication, making it the preferred choice for authenticated encryption. ECB lacks diffusion and is insecure, CBC provides only encryption, and RC4 is a broken stream cipher.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
RC4 stream cipher
Why it's wrong here
RC4 is deprecated due to numerous vulnerabilities (e.g., BEAST attack).
- ✗
AES in ECB mode
Why it's wrong here
ECB mode is deterministic and insecure for most uses; it does not provide authentication.
- ✓
AES in GCM mode
Why this is correct
GCM mode provides both confidentiality and integrity (authenticated encryption) using a counter mode for encryption and a Galois field for authentication.
- ✗
AES in CBC mode
Why it's wrong here
CBC mode provides confidentiality but no built-in authentication; it is susceptible to padding oracle attacks.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
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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.