CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) Practice 2026 - Free CPSA Practice Questions and Study Guide

In the context of the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP), TCP refers to a transport layer protocol. This is significant because TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) is responsible for ensuring that data transmitted over the network is delivered reliably and in the correct order. SNMP can operate over both TCP and UDP (User Datagram Protocol), but when TCP is used, it benefits from TCP's features, such as error checking and retransmission of lost packets, which are essential for the reliable transfer of management messages in network environments.

Understanding the layers of the OSI model is crucial here. SNMP operates at the application layer and needs a reliable transport mechanism, which is where TCP, being a transport layer protocol, fits perfectly. TCP handles the data segmentation, reassembly, flow control, and error correction necessary for proper communication between SNMP agents and managers. This is particularly important in network management scenarios where accurate monitoring and management of systems are critical.