CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

What protocol should you implement to ensure internal network traffic encryption?

1. SSL

2. TLS

3. IPSec

4. VPN

The correct answer is: IPSec

Implementing IPSec (Internet Protocol Security) is an effective choice for ensuring the encryption of internal network traffic. IPSec operates at the network layer and provides secure communication between devices on an IP network. It functions by authenticating and encrypting the packets of data that are transmitted across a network, thereby safeguarding the integrity and confidentiality of the information being shared. IPSec is particularly useful for creating Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) which allow secure connections over less secure networks such as the internet. By encrypting data at the IP layer, it protects data while in transit, regardless of the application's security measures. While SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) are both protocols designed to secure communication over a network, they primarily operate at higher layers (transport layer) and are typically used for web traffic, making them less suitable for general internal network traffic encryption compared to IPSec. VPN, on the other hand, is a broader concept that can use IPSec as its protocol for secure connections, thus covering both remote users and site-to-site connectivity. Thus, for specifically ensuring encryption on internal network traffic, IPSec remains the most direct and effective option.