Quick Answer
The answer is SSH with public key authentication. This is the most secure replacement for Telnet because SSH (Secure Shell) establishes an encrypted tunnel for all remote access traffic, preventing eavesdropping and credential theft, while public key authentication eliminates the risk of brute-force password attacks by requiring possession of a private key file. On the Systems Security Certified Practitioner SSCP exam, this question tests your understanding of secure remote access protocols and the principle of defense in depth; a common trap is choosing SSH with password authentication alone, which still leaves you vulnerable to password guessing. Remember that Telnet sends everything in cleartext, so the core concept here is encryption plus strong authentication. A useful memory tip: think of SSH as “Secure Shell” and public keys as “possession plus encryption” — two layers of security for remote management.
This SSCP practice question tests your understanding of network and communications security. 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.
During a security audit, it is discovered that network devices are using Telnet for management. Which of the following is the most secure replacement to ensure encrypted remote access?
SNMPv3 with authentication and encryption
Why wrong: SNMPv3 is for monitoring, not interactive management.
SSH with public key authentication
Public key authentication is more secure and supports encryption.
HTTPS with self-signed certificate
Why wrong: HTTPS is for web interfaces, not CLI remote access.
SSH with password authentication
Why wrong: Password authentication is vulnerable to brute-force attacks.
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 with public key authentication
SSH (Secure Shell) provides encrypted remote access and authentication, replacing the insecure Telnet protocol. Public key authentication adds a second factor (the private key) and is resistant to brute-force password attacks, making it the most secure option for managing network devices.
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.
SNMPv3 with authentication and encryption
Why it's wrong here
SNMPv3 is for monitoring, not interactive management.
SSH with public key authentication
Why this is correct
Public key authentication is more secure and supports encryption.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
HTTPS with self-signed certificate
Why it's wrong here
HTTPS is for web interfaces, not CLI remote access.
SSH with password authentication
Why it's wrong here
Password authentication is vulnerable to brute-force attacks.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse SNMPv3's encryption capabilities with remote shell access, or they assume that any encrypted protocol (like HTTPS) is a direct replacement for Telnet, ignoring that SSH is the standard for secure command-line management.
Detailed technical explanation
SSH operates on TCP port 22 and uses a client-server model with key exchange algorithms (e.g., Diffie-Hellman) to establish a secure channel. Public key authentication leverages asymmetric cryptography: the client proves possession of the private key corresponding to a public key stored in the server's authorized_keys file, which prevents password-based attacks like dictionary or brute-force attempts. In real-world deployments, disabling password authentication and using only key-based SSH is a common hardening step in Cisco IOS and other network OS configurations.
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
Network and Communications Security — This question tests Network and Communications Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: SSH with public key authentication — SSH (Secure Shell) provides encrypted remote access and authentication, replacing the insecure Telnet protocol. Public key authentication adds a second factor (the private key) and is resistant to brute-force password attacks, making it the most secure option for managing network devices.
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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