CCST Cisco IT Exam Prep Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (1–10)

Question 1

What is the primary difference between TCP and UDP?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

TCP is connection-oriented while UDP is connectionless. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is connection-oriented, providing reliable, ordered, and error-checked delivery of data packets. UDP (User Datagram Protocol) is connectionless and does not guarantee delivery, order, or error checking, making it faster but less reliable.

Question 2

Which protocol would be most appropriate for time-sensitive applications like video streaming or online gaming?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

UDP. UDP is preferred for time-sensitive applications because it has lower latency due to no handshaking, acknowledgments, or retransmissions. While some packets might be lost, this is generally preferable to the delays that TCP's reliability mechanisms would introduce.

Question 3

What is the default port number for HTTPS?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

443. HTTPS (HTTP Secure) uses port 443 by default. This is the secure version of HTTP that encrypts the data being transmitted using SSL/TLS.

Question 4

Which protocol is used to automatically assign IP addresses to devices on a network?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

DHCP. DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) automatically assigns IP addresses and other network configuration parameters to devices when they join a network, eliminating the need for manual IP configuration.

Question 5

What is the primary purpose of DNS?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

To translate domain names to IP addresses. DNS (Domain Name System) translates human-readable domain names (like www.example.com) into IP addresses that computers use to identify each other on the network.

Question 6

Which protocol would you use to securely transfer files while maintaining SSH authentication and encryption?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

SFTP. SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) provides secure file transfer capabilities using SSH encryption and authentication, protecting both credentials and data during transfer.

Question 7

What network protocol is primarily used for troubleshooting and is the foundation of the ping command?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

ICMP. ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) is used for network diagnostics and error reporting. The ping command uses ICMP Echo Request and Echo Reply messages to test connectivity between hosts.

Question 8

Which of the following protocols offers the LEAST security for file transfers?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

FTP. FTP (File Transfer Protocol) transmits data and credentials in plaintext without encryption, making it vulnerable to packet sniffing and credential theft. TFTP is even simpler but typically only used in controlled environments.

Question 9

What is the primary purpose of NTP?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

To synchronize time across network devices. NTP (Network Time Protocol) is designed to synchronize the clocks of computers over a network to a common time reference, ensuring consistent timestamps across systems.

Question 10

Which protocol is typically used for simple network management tasks in resource-constrained environments like embedded devices or network bootstrapping?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

TFTP. TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) is a simplified version of FTP that uses minimal resources and lacks authentication features, making it suitable for basic file transfers in environments with limited resources or during device initialization.

CCST Cisco IT Exam Prep Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (1–10)

More CCST Cisco IT Exam Prep practice questions

Free practice here. Timed mocks when you are ready.