AOS-CX switches support various management protocols for administrative access, such as SSH, Telnet, HTTPS, and TFTP. Security best practices for managing network devices, including AOS-CX switches, emphasize using secure protocols to protect management traffic from eavesdropping and unauthorized access.
Option B, "Make sure that Telnet is disabled and use SSH instead," is correct. Telnet is an insecure protocol because it sends all data, including credentials, in plaintext, making it vulnerable to eavesdropping. SSH (Secure Shell) provides encrypted communication for remote management, ensuring that credentials and commands are protected. HPE Aruba Networking recommends disabling Telnet and enabling SSH for secure management access on AOS-CX switches.
Option A, "Make sure that SSH is disabled and use HTTPS instead," is incorrect. SSH and HTTPS serve different purposes: SSH is for CLI access, while HTTPS is for web-based management. Disabling SSH would prevent secure CLI access, which is not a recommended practice. Both SSH and HTTPS should be enabled for secure management.
Option C, "Make sure that Telnet is disabled and use TFTP instead," is incorrect. TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) is used for file transfers (e.g., firmware updates), not for management access like Telnet or SSH. TFTP is also insecure (no encryption), so it’s not a suitable replacement for Telnet.
Option D, "Make sure that HTTPS is disabled and use SSH instead," is incorrect. HTTPS is used for secure web-based management and should not be disabled. Both HTTPS and SSH are secure protocols and should be used together for different management interfaces (web and CLI, respectively).
The HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX 10.12 Security Guide states:
"For secure management of AOS-CX switches, disable insecure protocols like Telnet, which sends data in plaintext, and use SSH instead. SSH provides encrypted communication for CLI access, protecting credentials and commands from eavesdropping. Use the command no telnet-server to disable Telnet and ssh-server to enable SSH. Additionally, enable HTTPS for web-based management with https-server to ensure all management traffic is encrypted." (Page 195, Secure Management Protocols Section)
Additionally, the HPE Aruba Networking Security Best Practices Guide notes:
"A key guideline for managing AOS-CX switches is to disable Telnet and enable SSH for CLI access. Telnet is insecure and should not be used in production environments, as it transmits credentials in plaintext. SSH ensures secure remote management, and HTTPS should also be enabled for web access." (Page 25, Management Security Section)
[References:, HPE Aruba Networking AOS-CX 10.12 Security Guide, Secure Management Protocols Section, Page 195., HPE Aruba Networking Security Best Practices Guide, Management Security Section, Page 25.===========]
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