WGU D830 YCN1 TASK 1:
SYMMETRIC & ASYMMETRIC
ENCRYPTION LABS | RSA,
LATEST MOCK PRACTICE SET
140 Questions with Answers and Detailed Rationales
100 PERCENT GUARANTEED PASS
INSTANT DOWNLOAD ANSWERS INCLUDED
IMPORTANCE OF THIS DOCUMENT
This comprehensive examination preparation guide has been meticulously developed to help you succeed in the
WGU D830 YCN1 TASK 1: SYMMETRIC & ASYMMETRIC ENCRYPTION LABS | RSA, AES-256, OPENSSL &
SCP | COMPLETE LAB REPORT 2026.. It contains 140 carefully selected questions that reflect the most current
exam content and testing strategies. Each question is accompanied by a correct answer and a detailed rationale
that explains the underlying pathophysiology, pharmacology, or clinical reasoning.
Self-Assessment – Test your knowledge and Exam Preparation – Familiarize yourself with the
identify areas requiring further question format and content
study areas
Concept Reinforcement – Deepen your Confidence Building – Develop test-taking
understanding through strategies and reduce
evidence-based exam anxiety
rationales
Time Management – Practice answering
questions under simulated
exam conditions
Review Summary 140 Questions
Foundations - Application - WGU D830 YCN1 TASK 1 Symmetric & Asymmetric Encryption LABS RSA
Aes-256 Openssl & SCP Complete LAB Report 2026 Cryptography AND Network Security Graduate
All answers with rationales
,Table of Contents
Content Area Questions Key Topics
Symmetric Encryption 1-24 Openssl, Command, KEY PAIR, Encrypt, Security
Fundamentals
Asymmetric Encryption 25-48 Openssl, Encryption, Command, Student, Private
Fundamentals
RSA Algorithm AND KEY 49-72 Openssl, Public, Encryption, Student, Private
Generation
Aes-256 Encryption AND 73-96 Public, Openssl, Command, Encryption, Correctly
Modes OF Operation
Openssl Command-line Tools 97-120 Openssl, Encrypted, Certificate, Symmetric, RSA KEY
FOR Encryption
Secure COPY SCP AND 121-140 Openssl, Command, Transfer, Private, Correctly
Secure FILE Transfer
TOTAL 140 All questions include answers and detailed rationales
,Section A - Symmetric Encryption Fundamentals
Q1.
In an RSA lab, a student generates a 2048-bit key pair and uses it to encrypt a 256-bit AES
session key. Which of the following best describes the security relationship between the
RSA and AES keys?
A. The RSA key provides confidentiality for B. The RSA key provides both key
the AES key, while AES provides data exchange and data encryption, making AES
confidentiality; the overall security is unnecessary.
bounded by the AES key strength.
C. The AES key encrypts the RSA private D. The security of the hybrid system is equal
key, ensuring that only the intended recipient to the sum of RSA and AES key sizes.
can decrypt.
Correct: A - The RSA key provides confidentiality for the AES key, while AES provides
data confidentiality; the overall security is bounded by the AES key strength.
Rationale:In hybrid encryption, RSA encrypts the AES session key, and AES encrypts the
actual data. The overall security is typically limited by the weaker of the two, which is the AES
key (256-bit) compared to RSA's 2048-bit modulus. RSA does not encrypt data directly due to
performance, and AES does not encrypt RSA keys.
Q2.
When using OpenSSL to encrypt a file with AES-256-CBC, which command correctly
includes a salt and outputs the encrypted data in Base64?
A. openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -salt -a -in B. openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -nosalt
plaintext.txt -out encrypted.txt -base64 -in plaintext.txt -out encrypted.txt
C. openssl aes-256-cbc -salt -base64 -in D. openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -salt -a -in
plaintext.txt -out encrypted.txt encrypted.txt -out plaintext.txt
Correct: A - openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -salt -a -in plaintext.txt -out encrypted.txt
Rationale:The correct syntax uses 'enc' with the cipher, '-salt' to include a salt, and '-a' for
Base64 encoding. Option B lacks salt, C uses deprecated syntax, and D reverses
input/output for decryption.
Q3.
In the context of RSA, what is the mathematical relationship between Euler's totient (n)
and the public exponent e that ensures a unique private key d exists?
A. e must be a prime number greater than B. e must be coprime to (n), meaning gcd(e,
(n). (n)) = 1.
Page 3
, Section A - Symmetric Encryption Fundamentals
C. e must be a divisor of (n) to ensure d is D. e must be less than n and share a
an integer. common factor with (n).
Correct: B - e must be coprime to (n), meaning gcd(e, (n)) = 1.
Rationale:For RSA, e must be coprime to Æ(n) so that e has a modular inverse modulo Æ(n),
which is d. If e shares a factor, no unique d exists. e is typically small (e.g., 65537) and not
necessarily prime, but it must satisfy gcd(e, (n))=1.
Q4.
You need to securely transfer a file from a local machine to a remote server using SCP.
Which command ensures that the file is encrypted during transit and uses the default SSH
port?
A. scp file.txt user@remote:/path/ B. scp -p 22 file.txt user@remote:/path/
C. scp -r file.txt user@remote:/path/ D. scp -C file.txt user@remote:/path/
Correct: A - scp file.txt user@remote:/path/
Rationale:The default SCP command uses SSH on port 22 and encrypts the file in transit.
Option B is redundant because port 22 is default, C is for recursive directory copy, and D
enables compression but does not change encryption.
Q5.
In a lab report, you must document the performance difference between RSA and AES.
Which statement accurately reflects the computational overhead when encrypting a large
file (e.g., 1 GB) with each algorithm?
A. RSA is faster than AES for large data B. AES is significantly faster than RSA for
because it uses smaller key sizes. bulk data encryption due to symmetric key
operations.
C. Both algorithms have similar performance D. RSA is faster than AES when using
because they rely on modular hardware acceleration, but slower in
exponentiation. software.
Correct: B - AES is significantly faster than RSA for bulk data encryption due to symmetric
key operations.
Rationale:AES is a symmetric algorithm optimized for high-speed encryption of large data,
using simple operations like substitution and permutation. RSA involves modular
exponentiation with large numbers, making it orders of magnitude slower for bulk data.
Hence, hybrid systems use RSA for key exchange and AES for data.
Page 4
SYMMETRIC & ASYMMETRIC
ENCRYPTION LABS | RSA,
LATEST MOCK PRACTICE SET
140 Questions with Answers and Detailed Rationales
100 PERCENT GUARANTEED PASS
INSTANT DOWNLOAD ANSWERS INCLUDED
IMPORTANCE OF THIS DOCUMENT
This comprehensive examination preparation guide has been meticulously developed to help you succeed in the
WGU D830 YCN1 TASK 1: SYMMETRIC & ASYMMETRIC ENCRYPTION LABS | RSA, AES-256, OPENSSL &
SCP | COMPLETE LAB REPORT 2026.. It contains 140 carefully selected questions that reflect the most current
exam content and testing strategies. Each question is accompanied by a correct answer and a detailed rationale
that explains the underlying pathophysiology, pharmacology, or clinical reasoning.
Self-Assessment – Test your knowledge and Exam Preparation – Familiarize yourself with the
identify areas requiring further question format and content
study areas
Concept Reinforcement – Deepen your Confidence Building – Develop test-taking
understanding through strategies and reduce
evidence-based exam anxiety
rationales
Time Management – Practice answering
questions under simulated
exam conditions
Review Summary 140 Questions
Foundations - Application - WGU D830 YCN1 TASK 1 Symmetric & Asymmetric Encryption LABS RSA
Aes-256 Openssl & SCP Complete LAB Report 2026 Cryptography AND Network Security Graduate
All answers with rationales
,Table of Contents
Content Area Questions Key Topics
Symmetric Encryption 1-24 Openssl, Command, KEY PAIR, Encrypt, Security
Fundamentals
Asymmetric Encryption 25-48 Openssl, Encryption, Command, Student, Private
Fundamentals
RSA Algorithm AND KEY 49-72 Openssl, Public, Encryption, Student, Private
Generation
Aes-256 Encryption AND 73-96 Public, Openssl, Command, Encryption, Correctly
Modes OF Operation
Openssl Command-line Tools 97-120 Openssl, Encrypted, Certificate, Symmetric, RSA KEY
FOR Encryption
Secure COPY SCP AND 121-140 Openssl, Command, Transfer, Private, Correctly
Secure FILE Transfer
TOTAL 140 All questions include answers and detailed rationales
,Section A - Symmetric Encryption Fundamentals
Q1.
In an RSA lab, a student generates a 2048-bit key pair and uses it to encrypt a 256-bit AES
session key. Which of the following best describes the security relationship between the
RSA and AES keys?
A. The RSA key provides confidentiality for B. The RSA key provides both key
the AES key, while AES provides data exchange and data encryption, making AES
confidentiality; the overall security is unnecessary.
bounded by the AES key strength.
C. The AES key encrypts the RSA private D. The security of the hybrid system is equal
key, ensuring that only the intended recipient to the sum of RSA and AES key sizes.
can decrypt.
Correct: A - The RSA key provides confidentiality for the AES key, while AES provides
data confidentiality; the overall security is bounded by the AES key strength.
Rationale:In hybrid encryption, RSA encrypts the AES session key, and AES encrypts the
actual data. The overall security is typically limited by the weaker of the two, which is the AES
key (256-bit) compared to RSA's 2048-bit modulus. RSA does not encrypt data directly due to
performance, and AES does not encrypt RSA keys.
Q2.
When using OpenSSL to encrypt a file with AES-256-CBC, which command correctly
includes a salt and outputs the encrypted data in Base64?
A. openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -salt -a -in B. openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -nosalt
plaintext.txt -out encrypted.txt -base64 -in plaintext.txt -out encrypted.txt
C. openssl aes-256-cbc -salt -base64 -in D. openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -salt -a -in
plaintext.txt -out encrypted.txt encrypted.txt -out plaintext.txt
Correct: A - openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -salt -a -in plaintext.txt -out encrypted.txt
Rationale:The correct syntax uses 'enc' with the cipher, '-salt' to include a salt, and '-a' for
Base64 encoding. Option B lacks salt, C uses deprecated syntax, and D reverses
input/output for decryption.
Q3.
In the context of RSA, what is the mathematical relationship between Euler's totient (n)
and the public exponent e that ensures a unique private key d exists?
A. e must be a prime number greater than B. e must be coprime to (n), meaning gcd(e,
(n). (n)) = 1.
Page 3
, Section A - Symmetric Encryption Fundamentals
C. e must be a divisor of (n) to ensure d is D. e must be less than n and share a
an integer. common factor with (n).
Correct: B - e must be coprime to (n), meaning gcd(e, (n)) = 1.
Rationale:For RSA, e must be coprime to Æ(n) so that e has a modular inverse modulo Æ(n),
which is d. If e shares a factor, no unique d exists. e is typically small (e.g., 65537) and not
necessarily prime, but it must satisfy gcd(e, (n))=1.
Q4.
You need to securely transfer a file from a local machine to a remote server using SCP.
Which command ensures that the file is encrypted during transit and uses the default SSH
port?
A. scp file.txt user@remote:/path/ B. scp -p 22 file.txt user@remote:/path/
C. scp -r file.txt user@remote:/path/ D. scp -C file.txt user@remote:/path/
Correct: A - scp file.txt user@remote:/path/
Rationale:The default SCP command uses SSH on port 22 and encrypts the file in transit.
Option B is redundant because port 22 is default, C is for recursive directory copy, and D
enables compression but does not change encryption.
Q5.
In a lab report, you must document the performance difference between RSA and AES.
Which statement accurately reflects the computational overhead when encrypting a large
file (e.g., 1 GB) with each algorithm?
A. RSA is faster than AES for large data B. AES is significantly faster than RSA for
because it uses smaller key sizes. bulk data encryption due to symmetric key
operations.
C. Both algorithms have similar performance D. RSA is faster than AES when using
because they rely on modular hardware acceleration, but slower in
exponentiation. software.
Correct: B - AES is significantly faster than RSA for bulk data encryption due to symmetric
key operations.
Rationale:AES is a symmetric algorithm optimized for high-speed encryption of large data,
using simple operations like substitution and permutation. RSA involves modular
exponentiation with large numbers, making it orders of magnitude slower for bulk data.
Hence, hybrid systems use RSA for key exchange and AES for data.
Page 4
