- A
RSA with 2048-bit keys
Why wrong: RSA keys are large and computationally expensive for resource-constrained devices.
- B
Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) with 256-bit keys
ECC provides strong security with smaller keys, ideal for IoT.
- C
Diffie-Hellman with 2048-bit keys
Why wrong: DH also requires large key sizes for equivalent security.
- D
3DES with 168-bit keys
Why wrong: 3DES is symmetric, not asymmetric, and is legacy.
Question 469 of 1,000
SSCP Cryptography Practice Question
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of cryptography. 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 security engineer needs to choose an asymmetric algorithm for a system with limited computational resources, such as an IoT device. The algorithm must provide equivalent security to RSA 2048-bit while using smaller key sizes. Which algorithm should they choose?
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
✓
Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) with 256-bit keys
Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) with 256-bit keys provides equivalent security to RSA 2048-bit because the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem is significantly harder to solve than the integer factorization problem for the same key length. This allows ECC to achieve strong security with much smaller key sizes, making it ideal for resource-constrained IoT devices where memory, power, and processing are limited.
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.
- ✗
RSA with 2048-bit keys
Why it's wrong here
RSA keys are large and computationally expensive for resource-constrained devices.
- ✓
Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) with 256-bit keys
Why this is correct
ECC provides strong security with smaller keys, ideal for IoT.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Diffie-Hellman with 2048-bit keys
Why it's wrong here
DH also requires large key sizes for equivalent security.
- ✗
3DES with 168-bit keys
Why it's wrong here
3DES is symmetric, not asymmetric, and is legacy.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Cisco often tests the misconception that larger key sizes always mean stronger security, leading candidates to pick RSA 2048-bit or Diffie-Hellman 2048-bit, while the trap is that ECC with much smaller key sizes (e.g., 256-bit) provides equivalent security with lower computational overhead, which is the exact requirement for IoT devices.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
ECC achieves its efficiency by relying on the algebraic structure of elliptic curves over finite fields, where the best-known attacks (e.g., Pollard's rho) have exponential complexity in the key size, unlike the sub-exponential attacks (e.g., Number Field Sieve) on RSA and Diffie-Hellman. For IoT devices, ECC 256-bit keys are often implemented using curves like secp256r1 or Curve25519, which offer fast point multiplication and small footprint, critical for constrained environments like ARM Cortex-M0 microcontrollers. A real-world scenario is TLS 1.3, which mandates ECDHE (Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Ephemeral) for key exchange, replacing larger RSA/DH keys to reduce handshake latency and power consumption.
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.
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 |
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this SSCP question test?
Cryptography — This question tests Cryptography — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) with 256-bit keys — Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) with 256-bit keys provides equivalent security to RSA 2048-bit because the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem is significantly harder to solve than the integer factorization problem for the same key length. This allows ECC to achieve strong security with much smaller key sizes, making it ideal for resource-constrained IoT devices where memory, power, and processing are limited.
What should I do if I get this SSCP 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.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
Last reviewed: Jul 4, 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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