Western Governors University (WGU) ITEC2801 D415 Software Defined Networking Practice Exam

The correct answer is that GRE (Generic Routing Encapsulation) does not provide encryption on its own but relies on other protocols to ensure encryption. GRE is primarily a tunneling protocol designed to encapsulate a variety of network layer protocols in point-to-point links. It allows for the creation of a virtual point-to-point connection, enabling the encapsulation of packets from one protocol to another. While GRE is effective for creating these tunnels, it does not include any built-in mechanisms for encrypting the data it encapsulates. To provide security features such as encryption, GRE is often used alongside protocols like IPsec, which can encapsulate and encrypt the data being transported through the GRE tunnel. This combination enhances the security of the data payloads carried by GRE. In contrast, other options like SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and IPSec both provide encryption capabilities directly as part of their protocol specifications. SSL is widely used for securing communications over a computer network, while IPsec is designed for securing Internet Protocol (IP) communications through cryptographic services. PPP, or Point-to-Point Protocol, can also support encryption through extensions but does not encrypt data on its own either. However, GRE is traditionally recognized for lacking inherent encryption capabilities, making it the correct answer to