SSCP Question #1057: Real Exam Question with Answer & Explanation

The correct answer is C: Transport layer. Encrypted authentication between a client software package and a firewall is performed at the Transport layer (Layer 4). Protocols such as TLS/SSL, which establish encrypted and authenticated channels, operate at this layer. Circuit-level proxy firewalls - which use protocols lik

Submitted by katya_ua· Apr 18, 2026Network and Communications Security

Question

At which OSI/ISO layer is an encrypted authentication between a client software package and a firewall performed?

Options

ANetwork layer
BSession layer
CTransport layer
DData link layer

Explanation

Encrypted authentication between a client software package and a firewall is performed at the Transport layer (Layer 4). Protocols such as TLS/SSL, which establish encrypted and authenticated channels, operate at this layer. Circuit-level proxy firewalls - which use protocols like SOCKS - also authenticate client connections at Layer 4 before forwarding traffic, without inspecting the application-layer content. This is distinct from packet filtering (Network layer) or application-level gateway inspection (Application layer).

Topics

#OSI Model#TLS/SSL#Network Security Protocols#Authentication

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