CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) Practice

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What data unit does the ATM protocol use?

Packet
Cell
Segment
Frame

The correct answer is: Cell

The ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) protocol primarily utilizes a unit known as a cell. This cell is a fixed-size data packet that consists of 53 bytes in total—48 bytes designated for data and 5 bytes for the header. The fixed length of the ATM cell allows for predictable processing and is one of the key features of the protocol, enabling it to support various types of traffic, including voice, video, and data. Unlike other networking protocols that may use variable-sized packets, segments, or frames, ATM's use of fixed-size cells facilitates efficient switching and queuing, minimizes latency, and supports high throughput. This consistency is particularly beneficial in environments where time-sensitive data transmission is crucial, such as in multimedia services. Understanding the significance of the ATM cell is essential for recognizing how ATM effectively manages bandwidth and prioritizes different forms of data traffic in a networked environment.