CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) Practice

For which protocol is Port 161 (UDP) principally used?

1. Simple Network Management Protocol

2. Server Management Block

3. Network Management Protocol

4. Simple Message Block

The correct answer is: Simple Network Management Protocol

Port 161 (UDP) is principally used for the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). SNMP is a widely used protocol for managing devices on IP networks, allowing for monitoring and controlling network devices such as routers, switches, servers, and other hardware. The use of UDP for SNMP allows for faster communication, as it is a connectionless protocol that does not require the overhead of establishing a connection, which is beneficial for the tasks SNMP performs, such as polling devices or receiving traps for event notifications. Understanding the context of this protocol is crucial for any security analyst, as SNMP plays a significant role in network management and monitoring. Through SNMP, network administrators can collect and analyze data about system performance and health, manage configuration settings, and automate network management tasks. Thus, familiarity with SNMP and its operation over UDP port 161 is vital for effective network management and security practices. The other mentioned protocols do not utilize this port for their operations. Server Management Block, Network Management Protocol, and Simple Message Block refer to different concepts and protocols without the specific association with UDP port 161, highlighting the unique role of SNMP in network management.