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SY0-701 · Question #682

In which of the following will unencrypted network traffic most likely be found?

The correct answer is D. SCADA. SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems are industrial control systems designed decades ago for reliability and real-time performance, not security - they commonly transmit sensor and control data in plaintext over legacy protocols like Modbus and DNP3 that…

Submitted by salim_om· Mar 6, 2026Threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations

Question

In which of the following will unencrypted network traffic most likely be found?

Options

  • ASDN
  • BIoT
  • CVPN
  • DSCADA

How the community answered

(41 responses)
  • A
    7% (3)
  • B
    2% (1)
  • C
    2% (1)
  • D
    88% (36)

Explanation

SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems are industrial control systems designed decades ago for reliability and real-time performance, not security - they commonly transmit sensor and control data in plaintext over legacy protocols like Modbus and DNP3 that predate modern encryption standards. SDN (Software-Defined Networking) is a modern architecture that can enforce security policies centrally, including encryption. IoT devices can transmit unencrypted traffic, but modern IoT standards increasingly mandate TLS/HTTPS, and the question asks where unencrypted traffic is most likely found - SCADA's legacy industrial context makes it the stronger answer. VPNs exist specifically to encrypt traffic, making them the opposite of the correct answer.

Memory tip: Think "SCADA = Scary CAn't Do Authentication" - these legacy industrial systems (power grids, water treatment, manufacturing) were built for uptime, not cybersecurity, making them notorious for unencrypted, unauthenticated communications.

Topics

#SCADA#Operational Technology (OT)#Unencrypted Traffic#Legacy Systems

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