Cisco Cyber Security Practice Exam

Which of the following protocols employs asymmetric key algorithms?

1. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)

2. File Transfer Protocol (FTP)

3. Secure Shell (SSH), Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

4. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)

The correct answer is: Secure Shell (SSH), Pretty Good Privacy (PGP), Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)

The reason this answer is correct lies in the nature of the protocols listed in this option, which employ asymmetric key algorithms as part of their security mechanisms. Secure Shell (SSH) uses asymmetric encryption primarily for authenticating clients and servers, allowing secure remote logins over unsecured networks. Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) is a data encryption and decryption program that provides cryptographic privacy and authentication for data communication, utilizing asymmetric key algorithms for securely sharing keys. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) also incorporates asymmetric encryption to establish a secure connection between clients and servers, initially exchanging a session key that will be used for symmetric encryption during the actual data transfer. The other protocols listed do not utilize asymmetric key algorithms in the same way. Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is a foundational web protocol that does not incorporate any security features inherently; it transmits data in plaintext. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is another protocol used for transferring files but does not provide encryption or authentication through asymmetric keys inherently, although secure variants like FTPS exist. Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) is primarily designed for sending emails and, similar to HTTP, does not implement asymmetric encryption as part of its standard operations. Thus, option C is validated as the correct answer as it