Which of the following protocols/functions is associated with the Presentation Layer?

Question

Accepted Answer

SSL/TLS - SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) are protocols that work closely with the Presentation Layer of the OSI Model.

The Presentation Layer (Layer 6) is responsible for preparing data for the Application Layer. This includes formatting, encryption, compression, and translation of data. SSL/TLS are used for encrypting data before transmission and decrypting it upon reception, ensuring that data exchanged between devices remains secure and confidential.

Why SSL/TLS belongs to the Presentation Layer:

It performs data encryption and decryption — key responsibilities of this layer.
It ensures data is protected from unauthorized access or tampering during transmission.
It makes sure data remains readable to only the intended recipient by managing secure sessions.


Important Note: While SSL/TLS are also used in practice alongside the Application Layer (like HTTPS), their functional role of data security, formatting, and encryption maps logically to the Presentation Layer.

Conclusion: The correct answer is SSL/TLS because these protocols are directly involved in securing data through encryption and are most closely associated with the responsibilities of the Presentation Layer in the OSI model.

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