Palo Alto Networks (PANW) Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET) Practice Exam

Which VPN would you expect to see in use between two of an organization's data centers?

1. SSL/TLS

2. IPsec

3. SSH

4. PPP

The correct answer is: IPsec

The use of IPsec (Internet Protocol Security) between two data centers is particularly appropriate because it is designed specifically for securing Internet Protocol communications by authenticating and encrypting each IP packet within a communication session. IPsec provides robust security features, including integrity, origin authentication, and anti-replay protection, making it suitable for the transmission of sensitive data over potentially untrusted networks. When establishing a connection between data centers, which may be geographically separated but are still part of the same organization, the primary goal often includes ensuring confidentiality and integrity of data as it traverses the wide area network (WAN). IPsec achieves this through protocols that work at the network layer, allowing it to protect all applications that communicate over IP. On the other hand, while SSL/TLS can secure data communications, it is primarily used for web applications and is not typically implemented for site-to-site connections between data centers. Similarly, SSH (Secure Shell) is a protocol used for secure command-line access to servers but does not serve as a primary means for establishing a secure tunnel between two data centers. PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) is older and mostly used for direct connections over serial cables or phone lines, making it less relevant for modern data center interconnections.