Quick Answer
The answer is SSH, as it provides the encrypted tunnel necessary to ensure both confidentiality and integrity when transferring log files. SSH achieves this through strong cryptographic algorithms like AES or ChaCha20 for encryption, combined with HMAC-based integrity checks that prevent tampering during transit, making it ideal for secure file transfer over untrusted networks. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this question tests your understanding of secure protocols for data in motion, often appearing in scenarios where a candidate must distinguish between SSH and unencrypted alternatives like FTP or Telnet. A common trap is to choose SFTP or SCP as separate protocols, but remember that both are actually subsystems running over the SSH protocol itself—so SSH is the foundational answer. Memory tip: think of SSH as the “secure shell” that wraps your logs in a cryptographic armor, ensuring no one can read or alter them while they travel to the collector.
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of security operations and administration. 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 system administrator needs to securely transfer log files from a Linux server to a central log collector. Which protocol should be used to ensure confidentiality and integrity?
SSH
SSH provides secure encrypted file transfer via SCP or SFTP.
SMTP
Why wrong: SMTP is for email, not file transfer.
NFS
Why wrong: NFS is for file sharing, not secure transfer.
FTP
Why wrong: FTP transfers data in cleartext.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
SSH
SSH (Secure Shell) provides encrypted tunnels for data transfer, ensuring both confidentiality and integrity of log files in transit. It uses strong cryptographic algorithms (e.g., AES, ChaCha20) and HMAC-based integrity checks, making it the correct choice for secure file transfer over untrusted networks.
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.
SSH
Why this is correct
SSH provides secure encrypted file transfer via SCP or SFTP.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
SMTP
Why it's wrong here
SMTP is for email, not file transfer.
NFS
Why it's wrong here
NFS is for file sharing, not secure transfer.
FTP
Why it's wrong here
FTP transfers data in cleartext.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often choose FTP or NFS because they are familiar file transfer protocols, overlooking that neither provides native encryption or integrity, while SSH is the only option that guarantees both through its secure channel.
Detailed technical explanation
SSH uses a client-server model with public-key authentication and symmetric session keys negotiated via Diffie-Hellman key exchange. For file transfers, SCP (Secure Copy) or SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) leverage the same SSH channel, providing end-to-end encryption and integrity via MAC (Message Authentication Code) algorithms like HMAC-SHA2. In real-world scenarios, syslog-ng or rsyslog can be configured to forward logs over SSH tunnels, ensuring logs are not tampered with during transit.
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
Security Operations and Administration — This question tests Security Operations and Administration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: SSH — SSH (Secure Shell) provides encrypted tunnels for data transfer, ensuring both confidentiality and integrity of log files in transit. It uses strong cryptographic algorithms (e.g., AES, ChaCha20) and HMAC-based integrity checks, making it the correct choice for secure file transfer over untrusted networks.
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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