Question

Client Certificate Authentication typically requires a specific port on the firewall. Which port is commonly used for this purpose?

a) Port 80
b) Port 443
c) Port 25
d) Port 8080

Answer 1

Client Certificate Authentication is linked to secure HTTPS communications, which are conducted over Port 443. This port must be open in the firewall to support encrypted information exchanges using certificates, as opposed to Port 80 for HTTP, Port 25 for SMTP email, or Port 8080 for alternative HTTP traffic.

Step-by-step explanation:

Client Certificate Authentication is a security mechanism utilized in network communications to ensure that the communicating parties are authenticated using digital certificates. This type of authentication is commonly used in conjunction with HTTPS, which is the secure version of HTTP. The port commonly used for HTTPS, and by extension client certificate authentication, when a firewall is involved is Port 443. Unlike Port 80, which is used for standard HTTP traffic, Port 443 is designated for encrypted communications over the internet, making it the standard for secure web traffic.

When setting up a firewall for an environment that requires secure communication and authentication, it is critical to make sure that Port 443 is open to allow for this type of traffic. In contrast, Port 25 is typically used for SMTP email protocols, and Port 8080 is often used as an alternative to Port 80 for HTTP, especially in cases where the standard web service port is occupied or when non-root privileges are required.

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