SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
Which of the following is a characteristic of TLS 1.3 that improves security over previous versions?
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
✓
Mandatory forward secrecy
TLS 1.3 mandates forward secrecy by requiring ephemeral Diffie-Hellman key exchange, ensuring that session keys cannot be derived if the server's private key is compromised later.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reduced cipher suite options including CBC mode
Why it's wrong here
TLS 1.3 removes CBC mode, but the key improvement is forward secrecy.
- ✗
Use of RC4 cipher
Why it's wrong here
RC4 is deprecated and removed in TLS 1.3.
- ✗
Support for static RSA key exchange
Why it's wrong here
TLS 1.3 removes static RSA and other non-forward-secret modes.
- ✓
Mandatory forward secrecy
Why this is correct
TLS 1.3 requires ephemeral key exchange, providing forward secrecy.
Quick reference
Asymmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Exchange | Signatures | Equivalent Security Key | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSA-3072 | Yes | Yes | 128-bit | Widely deployed; slow for bulk data |
| ECDSA P-256 | No | Yes | 128-bit | Fast signatures; standard TLS certs |
| ECDH / ECDHE | Yes | No | 128-bit | Perfect forward secrecy in TLS 1.3 |
| DH / DHE | Yes | No | 128-bit (3072-bit key) | Replaced by ECDHE in modern TLS |
| Ed25519 | No | Yes | ~128-bit | SSH keys, modern PKI |
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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.