Network Defense Essentials (NDE) Practice Exam

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What is the primary purpose of a digital signature in network security?

Data encryption
Authentication and integrity
Confidentiality
Access control

The correct answer is: Authentication and integrity

The primary purpose of a digital signature in network security is to provide authentication and integrity for digital messages or documents. A digital signature uses cryptographic techniques to ensure that a document was created by a specific individual or entity, making it possible to verify the identity of the sender. This authentication ensures that the person sending a message is who they claim to be. In addition to authentication, digital signatures also guarantee the integrity of the message. If the content of the message is altered in any way after it has been signed, the digital signature can no longer be validated, indicating that the message has been tampered with. This means recipients can trust that the message remains unchanged from the time it was signed, supporting the integrity of the communications. While data encryption focuses primarily on confidentiality—protecting data from unauthorized access—digital signatures do not encrypt the content but rather enhance the trustworthiness of the data being communicated. Access control involves regulating who can access or use resources in a computing environment, which is not the primary function of digital signatures.