GIAC Foundational Cybersecurity Technologies Practice Test

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Prepare for the GIAC Cybersecurity Technologies Test. Use practice questions and detailed explanations to enhance your understanding and readiness. Start your journey to certification today!

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What is the primary function of DNS in a network?

  1. To assign IP addresses

  2. To translate domain names into IP addresses

  3. To encrypt data transmitted over the internet

  4. To balance network traffic

The correct answer is: To translate domain names into IP addresses

The primary function of DNS, or Domain Name System, is to translate domain names into IP addresses. This process is essential for web browsing, as humans use easily memorable domain names (like www.example.com) to access websites, while computers communicate using numerical IP addresses (like 192.0.2.1). When a user enters a domain name into their web browser, the DNS system queries a DNS server to resolve that name into an IP address, allowing the browser to locate the appropriate server hosting the desired website. The simplicity of DNS makes it a critical component of the Internet's infrastructure, facilitating the navigation and accessibility of web resources. Without DNS, users would need to remember complex numerical addresses, making the internet much less user-friendly. Therefore, understanding the role of DNS in translating names into addresses is fundamental for anyone studying networking and cybersecurity. This foundational knowledge underscores why option B accurately describes the primary function of DNS in a network.