Which Device Monitoring Protocol Provides Authentication and Encryption?
A network administrator is planning to implement device monitoring to enhance network visibility. The security team requires that the solution provides authentication and encryption. Which of the following meets these requirements?
Community Votes
100% of anonymous learners picked answer D. Votes are pick records left by other test-takers — they are not the verified answer.
Community Insight
Tests knowledge of network protocol security enhancements, with the common trap being the assumption that general logging tools like Syslog or SIEM inherently provide encrypted device communication.
SNMPv3 is the correct network management protocol when both authentication and encryption are mandatory. Community consensus confirms that unlike legacy protocols, SNMPv3 natively secures monitoring traffic to meet modern security requirements.
Syslog is frequently selected incorrectly because it is heavily used for network logging, but standard Syslog transmits data in plaintext and lacks native authentication or encryption capabilities.
Community Discussion (3 comments)
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Expert Analysis
Why the Answer Is Correct
SNMPv3 introduces the User-based Security Model (USM), which explicitly mandates both strong authentication and data privacy (encryption) for network management traffic. This version was specifically engineered to replace the insecure SNMPv1 and v2c standards, making it the ideal choice for monitoring devices while satisfying strict security policies. By enabling MD5/SHA authentication and AES/DES encryption, administrators gain full visibility without exposing credentials or telemetry data.Why the Other Options Are Wrong
SIEM platforms aggregate and correlate logs from various sources but do not function as the underlying transport protocol for device monitoring, nor do they inherently encrypt the management channel by default. Standard Syslog and NetFlow historically transmit collected data in plaintext; while they can be secured via external tunnels like TLS or IPsec, they lack built-in, native authentication and encryption mechanisms comparable to SNMPv3. Consequently, these alternatives fail to meet the exam question’s strict requirement for a solution that natively provides both security features.Community Comment Notes
Multiple verified candidates confirmed D as the definitive answer, consistently highlighting SNMPv3’s security upgrades over earlier iterations. Comments emphasized that this question tests theoretical protocol capabilities rather than implementation workarounds, aligning perfectly with N10-008 objectives. The unanimous vote distribution and repeated confirmation across threads reinforce that this is a straightforward knowledge-check item focused on protocol selection.Official Reference
Exam Strategy
When exam questions specify "authentication and encryption" for network management or monitoring, immediately eliminate plaintext protocols (SNMPv1/v2c, Syslog, Telnet) and select the versioned protocol with enhanced security features. Memorize the security evolution of core protocols to quickly match requirement keywords to the correct protocol version.