What is the function of authenticating SMTP sessions using client certificates?

Question

Options

• AThe Secure Email Gateway requests a client certificate from a user's mail client during connection
• BIf the Secure Email Gateway is configured to require users to provide a certificate when sending
• CUsers must configure a mail client to send messages through a secure SSL connection and accept
• DIf the certificate is valid, the Secure Email Gateway allows an SMTP connection from the mail

• A
  2% (1)
• B
  2% (1)
• C
  7% (3)
• D
  88% (37)

Explanation

When Cisco Secure Email Gateway is configured for client certificate authentication, it requests a TLS client certificate from the connecting mail client during the SMTP session handshake. The gateway validates the certificate against a trusted CA and checks that it has not been revoked. If the certificate is valid and trusted, the Secure Email Gateway permits the SMTP connection to proceed - this is the core function described in option D. Option A describes only one step (requesting the certificate) but not the overall function. Option B is an incomplete fragment. Option C describes general SSL/TLS configuration requirements for the client, not the authentication function itself. The complete purpose is the trust-based access decision in option D.

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