SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
An organization is planning to deploy a remote access VPN for employees. The solution must support strong encryption, mutual authentication, and work through firewalls without requiring additional ports. Which technology is most suitable?
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
✓
SSL/TLS VPN
SSL/TLS VPNs (e.g., Cisco AnyConnect) operate over port 443 (HTTPS), which is commonly allowed through firewalls, and provide strong encryption and authentication.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
L2TP/IPsec
Why it's wrong here
L2TP/IPsec uses UDP port 1701 and IPsec ports, potentially blocked.
- ✗
PPTP
Why it's wrong here
PPTP uses TCP port 1723 and is considered insecure.
- ✗
IPsec tunnel mode
Why it's wrong here
IPsec may require specific UDP ports (500, 4500) which could be blocked.
- ✓
SSL/TLS VPN
Why this is correct
SSL VPN uses port 443, widely allowed, and provides strong security.
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
Related to this question
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on SSCP
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Which of the following is a secure remote access VPN protocol that uses TLS for encryption and is commonly used with Cisco AnyConnect?
easy- A.IPsec
- ✓ B.SSL/TLS VPN
- C.L2TP/IPsec
- D.PPTP
Why B: SSL/TLS VPNs use TLS to provide secure remote access, often with AnyConnect client.
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.