SSCP Network and Communications Security Practice Question
Which of the following network protocols operates on TCP port 22 and provides secure remote administration of network devices?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse port numbers and protocol purposes — candidates may associate RDP with 'remote administration' and pick it, forgetting that RDP is GUI-based on port 3389, while the question specifies TCP port 22 and secure CLI administration.
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
✓
SSH
SSH (Secure Shell) operates on TCP port 22 and provides encrypted remote administration of network devices, replacing insecure protocols like Telnet. It uses strong cryptography for authentication and session confidentiality, making it the standard for secure CLI management of routers, switches, and servers.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
SSH
Why this is correct
SSH listens on TCP port 22 and encrypts the entire session, providing secure remote administration of network devices. Telnet offers similar administration but transmits credentials in cleartext on port 23, so SSH uniquely satisfies both the port and security constraints.
- ✗
Telnet
Why it's wrong here
Telnet listens on TCP port 23 and transmits credentials and session data in cleartext, so it neither uses port 22 nor provides secure administration. It is tempting as the classic remote-administration protocol, and it would be the correct choice only where a legacy device offers no encrypted alternative.
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RDP
Why it's wrong here
RDP listens on TCP port 3389 and delivers a graphical desktop session, so it neither uses port 22 nor provides the command-line secure administration described. It is tempting because RDP is genuinely encrypted remote administration, and it would be correct when the requirement is GUI access to Windows hosts.
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FTP
Why it's wrong here
FTP listens on TCP ports 20 and 21 and transfers files without encryption, so it neither uses port 22 nor offers remote administration. It is tempting as a long-standing remote-access protocol, and it would be the correct choice when the task is moving files to a server rather than administering it.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official ISC2 exam blueprint
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.