Network Protocols and Security Questions

Foundational knowledge of core network protocols and their security implications. Topics include transmission control protocol and internet protocol fundamentals, domain name system behavior, hypertext transfer protocol and hypertext transfer protocol secure, file transfer protocol, secure shell, and transport layer security. Candidates should understand ports, packet and header structure, session establishment and teardown, and differences between connection oriented and connectionless protocols. Focus also includes how encryption protects data in transit, certificate validation and trust chains, which protocols are considered secure versus legacy insecure protocols, and common protocol level attacks. Practical skills include interpreting network traffic, using diagnostics and packet capture tools such as ping, traceroute, and packet capture analyzers, reading packet captures to troubleshoot connectivity and performance issues, and understanding network security controls such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and secure network design patterns.