In a network security design where traffic is routed through a VPN, which element is the WEAKEST in ensuring data protection?

The selection of the option indicating that encrypted VPN traffic will not be inspected when entering or leaving the network highlights a significant vulnerability in network security design. When traffic is encrypted within a VPN tunnel, it provides a layer of confidentiality, preventing unauthorized users from accessing the data. However, this encryption also means that any monitoring tools or security appliances, such as intrusion detection systems (IDS) or data loss prevention (DLP) solutions, cannot effectively analyze the contents of the traffic.

Without this ability to inspect, malicious activities or data exfiltration can go unnoticed as the data flows unhindered over the VPN. Consequently, even though the data is protected while in transit, the lack of inspection poses a risk because it may allow harmful activities to bypass security protocols unchallenged. Thus, while the VPN itself plays an important role in securing data in transit, its effectiveness is diminished if the contents of that encrypted traffic cannot be analyzed for security threats. This illustrates why relying solely on encryption is insufficient for comprehensive data protection in a network security strategy.