A systems administrator is providing encrypted command-line access to a *nix server to allow for administration from another site. Which of the following protocols would MOST likely be configured?

RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) is a Microsoft protocol for graphical desktop remote access, not command-line access to *nix servers.

SCP (Secure Copy Protocol) is used for secure file transfer between hosts, not for interactive command-line administration sessions.

SSH operates on port 22 and provides encrypted command-line access to *nix systems, making it the standard protocol for secure remote administration. It uses public-key cryptography to authenticate the remote computer and the user, encrypting all traffic to prevent eavesdropping. It is specifically designed for secure terminal sessions, which matches the requirement of encrypted command-line access.

Telnet provides command-line access but transmits all data including credentials in plaintext, offering no encryption and thus failing the security requirement.