CompTIA CASP+ Practice Test

Which security solution is ideal for centrally managed protection against known and unknown threats on workstations?

1. HIPS

2. Firewall

3. VPN

4. Endpoint Protection Software

The correct answer is: HIPS

The most suitable security solution for centrally managed protection against known and unknown threats on workstations is endpoint protection software. This type of software is designed to provide comprehensive security measures that can detect, prevent, and respond to a wide variety of threats, including malware, ransomware, and zero-day attacks. Endpoint protection software typically includes features such as antivirus, anti-malware, intrusion detection, and behavior analysis, which work together to protect devices from both established threats and emerging, unknown risks. Importantly, this software can be managed from a central console, making it easier for administrators to deploy updates, manage policies, and monitor security incidents across multiple workstations. In contrast, the other options serve different purposes. A host intrusion prevention system (HIPS) primarily focuses on monitoring and controlling activities on individual endpoints but might not have the same level of comprehensive threat detection or centralized management capabilities. Firewalls are essential for controlling traffic entering or leaving a network, but they do not inherently provide protection for individual workstations against internal threats. A VPN encrypts data and provides secure remote access but does not protect against threats that may affect the devices themselves. Thus, endpoint protection software stands out as the ideal solution for the specified scenario.